Why do so many stumble over imputed righteousness?

[Enoch111]

Short answer: "They DO NOT believe God". Pure and simple. Instead they use human and humanistic reasoning to declare "That is impossible".

We need to believe God before we will believe that God actually justifies sinners by His grace when they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work of redemption. And when God justifies a sinner, He also imputes righteousness to him or her.

When God told Abraham that he would have descendants as vast in number as the stars in Heaven, Abraham (Abram) was about 76 years old and childless. But here is the key. Abraham believed God, and believed that what God had promised, God would fulfil, regardless of his age, or the age of Sarah. And it is because Abraham believed God it was IMPUTED to him for righteousness. Here is what we read in Genesis 15:1-6:
1 After these things the Word of the LORD [Christ] came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the Word of the LORD [Christ] came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

While it says here "he believed in the LORD" Paul clarifies this in Romans 4:3 and says "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness". Then Paul goes on to explain that "counted unto him" means "imputed unto him" in Romans 4:21,22: And being fully persuaded that, what He [God] had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him [Abraham] for righteousness.

Now this is extremely hard for anyone to swallow. But we believe -- by faith -- that what is revealed in Scripture is absolutely true. So what exactly does "imputed" mean? The Greek word in the text is Ἐλογίσθη (elogisthē) from logizomai, which means "reckoned" or "counted" (or put to one's account).

Strong's Concordance
logizomai: to reckon, to consider
Original Word: λογίζομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: logizomai
Phonetic Spelling: (log-id'-zom-ahee)
Definition: to reckon, to consider
Usage: I reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude; think, suppose.

Now it is God who puts His own righteousness -- the righteousness of Christ -- into our spiritual account when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He exchanges our faith for Christ's righteousness by placing the metaphorical "robe" of righteousness upon us. Hence we are deemed as perfect as Christ, even though we are imperfect. Thus the Christian can say with Isaiah:

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10)

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

I was not aware that this was an issue. What is this in response to?

 

[RedFan]

I've never met a single Christian who stumbles over imputed righteousness. If it's only atheists who so stumble (as the first sentence of the OP suggests), it's because they hold that there is nothing to impute, the concept of God's righteousness being premised in the first instance on God's existence.

 

[mailmandan]

I typically hear works-salvationists talk about "imparted" or "infused" righteousness rather than "imputed" righteousness.

 

[farouk]

I typically hear works-salvationists talk about "imparted" or "infused" righteousness rather than "imputed" righteousness.

It's properly a judicial reckoning; Romans says a lot about it......

 

[mailmandan]

It's properly a judicial reckoning; Romans says a lot about it......

Amen! I certainly have no problem with imputed righteousness. Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.

 

[farouk]

@TLHKAJ Thanks for 'like'; it's an important doctrinal distinctive in Scripture.

 

[Michiah-Imla]

God actually justifies sinners by His grace when they believe

But:

“…do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” (Romans 11:20-22)

 

[Enoch111]

I was not aware that this was an issue. What is this in response to?

There is at least one poster who does not accept this Bible doctrine. There may be others.

 

[farouk]

But:

“…do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” (Romans 11:20-22)

The true believer is by definition humbled before the Cross of Christ......

 

[marks]

There is at least one poster who does not accept this Bible doctrine. There may be others.

There are others, yes.

Imputed righteousness isn't seen, sanctification is. Our walk is by faith and not by sight.

And the more someone fights against this idea of imputed righteousness, the more they will find themselves struggling in their flesh.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Amen! I certainly have no problem with imputed righteousness. Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.

This is a clearly taught Biblilcal doctrine.

Much love!

 

[farouk]

This is a clearly taught Biblilcal doctrine.

Much love!

Romans and Galatians are such great treatises on justification.

cc @mailmandan

 

[Michiah-Imla]

The true believer is by definition humbled before the Cross of Christ......

Huh? By definition? What kinda mumbo jumbo speak is this?

Paul tells the true believers to not be high minded.

And Peter and James wrote the following:

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord.” (James 4:10)

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:6)

If we were by “definition” humble like a programmed robot these things would not have been written!

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Im assuming we’re talking about catholics, but dont all catholics believe in works based salvation??

 

[farouk]

Huh? By definition? What kinda mumbo jumbo speak is this?

Paul tells the true believers to not be high minded.

And Peter and James wrote the following:

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord.” (James 4:10)

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:6)

If we were by “definition” humble like a programmed robot these things would not have been written!

@Michiah-Imla For "is" read "should be"; but I can't imagine a true believer who has not in someway been humbled by the message of the Cross.

 

[Enoch111]

Im assuming we’re talking about catholics, but dont all catholics believe in works based salvation??

Catholics believe in Sacramentalism and redefine "imputed" righteousness calling it "imparted" righteousness. In fact, the Council of Trent had a great deal to say AGAINST this doctrine.

Council of Trent
CANON IV.-If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation, but superfluous; and that, without them, or without the desire thereof, men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification;-though all (the sacraments) are not indeed necessary for every individual; let him be anathema.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Catholics believe in Sacramentalism and redefine "imputed" righteousness calling it "imparted" righteousness. In fact, the Council of Trent had a great deal to say AGAINST this doctrine.

Council of Trent
CANON IV.-If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation, but superfluous; and that, without them, or without the desire thereof, men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification;-though all (the sacraments) are not indeed necessary for every individual; let him be anathema.

so then what you’re saying is, that catholics can be saved, not because they are catholics, but in spite of being catholic.

 

[BloodBought 1953]

so then what you’re saying is, that catholics can be saved, not because they are catholics, but in spite of being catholic.

It’s a fact....I’ve seen it happen in my own family....

 

[mailmandan]

so then what you’re saying is, that catholics can be saved, not because they are catholics, but in spite of being catholic.

I was born and raised in the Roman Catholic church and I have often said that I was saved IN SPITE of what the Roman Catholic church teaches about the plan of salvation and NOT because of what they teach.