OK I see where you are coming from. It can be boiled down to the way you understand the way righteousness works. You are arguing the "imputed righteousness" stance where one is "seen" as something one is not.
How is that wrong? God 'sees' when He looks at me, the perfect life of Jesus. But I'm not Jesus, I have not and though I strive, will not, live the perfect life He did. If what you propose is absolutely true, then you are saying that God doesn't just see perfection
through Christ when He looks at you...you are perfect, and that's what He sees when He looks at you. You may say that your perfection now comes from Jesus living in you now, but there are two very big problems with that. First, as I've said before, the bible does not, anywhere, speak of Jesus 'taking the wheel' of our bodies; thoughts and actions. Secondly, if that were strictly true, and you have 'become the righteousness of God' by receiving Jesus within you, then logically you would then always be perfect....always be that righteousness. Again, you yourself have found this not so. So, does that mean that while you were the righteousness of God 14 years ago, you haven't been since? No, it doesn't work that way. The bible teaches we become the righteousness of God by having faith in Jesus. Not by letting Jesus live 'through' us. We have been saved 'in Christ'...which can also been understood as being saved: 'by Christ', 'through Christ'. It is because we rest 'in' His life and death, that we have become the righteousness of God.
So, rationally, your idea doesn't really add up, I'm sorry. When it comes down to it, I'd rather God 'sees' me as something I'm not because of Jesus' sacrifice, then claim to be something I'm really not...perfect.
I'm kind of pushing this, I know. But it's because a lot of what you say is really good as has great merit. It's just that the bible says certain things that cannot be ignored or side stepped...and one of those things is that man will never be perfect in act, thought or deed, while here on the earth. We are only perfect in the sense that Jesus is, and He has imputed his righteousness onto us, so that God sees us that way. Honestly, if you claim to be perfect, as John says, you are simply a liar. Harsh, I know, but sometimes the truth is, and we should always be more concerned with what God thinks than man. And God is clear, we are pathetically in need of Jesus and His grace.
I disagree most fervently with this. I agree with the Catholic stance of "infused righteousness". We don't become the representation of God's righteousness symbolically...we actually become that righteousness by abiding in the One who IS that righteous. Jesus doesn't inhabit us as an idea..but in the Spirit and truth. This causes anyone to walk as He walked. Protestant theology only skims the surface in my view. Seeing that I have actually experienced this profound truth I cannot but refuse the evangelical stance.
I'm not saying that Jesus only inhabits us as an "idea"...we have the Spirit within us, for sure. And in a way yes, we do 'become' righteousness. But not because we are able to live it, only because it has been given to us. It's like...um...a race. The winner takes gold and we, limping a little, come in very last. The winner, turns to us and the officials and says, I give you my medal and my place. So, while quite simply we didn't win the race, nor, with our limp, ever will, we still receive all the benefits because the one who had them, passed them to us. But just because we recieve the medal and benefits doesn't mean we'll magically be able to be an incredible runner...doesn't work that way. How it does work is that that winner, he then says to us...I'll help you. I train with you, run with you, help you out on your way. We'll always be a crappy runner, but with that marvellous teacher guiding us, and as long as we try, we'll gradually improve over time.
Now, as far as your experience goes, I can't really comment on whether I think it was as you say or not...I didn't see it! But even though I find it hard to believe that during that whole time you were absolutely perfect in every way, I do not doubt that God, should he desire, can do anything for His good will and purpose. So yes, He may have intended that time to be an amazing learning and teaching point in your life. He may have used you during that time to forward His gospel and help others. But I believe you are wrong in now saying that that should be the norm for all Christians in their walk, that in fact, the bible supports it. And I think those things because the bible does not back you up in that thought. And because of the hundreds and thousands of honest, striving, constantly being sanctified Christians, who do not experience it at all in their life times. The disciples themselves never made any mention of such experiences...in fact we know that Peter...the leader of the apostles, even after years walking with the Spirit and Christ, still stuffed up. Christians are not perfect, and while that doesn't stop us striving towards it, we know we'll never get there in this life. And I don't think we should either. Should we ourselves reach perfection...then what need have we for a Saviour? No, this is as it should be...us relying on Jesus, looking to Jesus, walking with and towards Jesus. For His glory and our good.
