On Christ's imputed righteousness
The church had better get busy spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
First, we need to remember (or learn for the first time) what it is. I was in my 20s, and a believer since my childhood, before I ever heard an accurate rendering of the doctrine of imputed righteousness. I was shocked that I spent my whole life in the evangelical setting and never once heard that doctrine.
But Christ's imputed righteouness is the gospel. To hear only about Christ dying on the cross is to not hear the whole story. We have our debt cancelled through Christ's glorious atonement. My sin is paid for. But my balance, rather than being in the red, is now zero. It takes Christ's righteousness to put credit in my account and thereby win heaven for me.
If I don't understand that I have a right standing with God because CHRIST kept the law in my place, then I will think that - as a Christian - my assurance depends on MY keeping the law. That's the practical result. I will think that Jesus Christ paid my sin debt, but now it's up to me to keep the law - or watch out! This naturally leads to lots of silly things like rebaptisms, rededications, re-aisle-walkings, etc. etc. If we really believed Christ accomplished our salvation for us, as we sometimes (OK, rarely!) sing, then we wouldn't keep acting like it all depends on us.
Far from making us antinomians, this good news makes us more zealous for holiness. Our gratitude drives us to our knees.
The blood of Jesus Christ and His righteousness. We can add nothing to it and take nothing away from it. The relief, the relief, the relief! Praise the Lord!
Let's start telling the world again - and let's start inside the church. Please, Lord Jesus, raise up godly men again who will feed us your truth, as did Spurgeon and Edwards. How we need them in our day.
Praying for grace,
mlj
First, we need to remember (or learn for the first time) what it is. I was in my 20s, and a believer since my childhood, before I ever heard an accurate rendering of the doctrine of imputed righteousness. I was shocked that I spent my whole life in the evangelical setting and never once heard that doctrine.
But Christ's imputed righteouness is the gospel. To hear only about Christ dying on the cross is to not hear the whole story. We have our debt cancelled through Christ's glorious atonement. My sin is paid for. But my balance, rather than being in the red, is now zero. It takes Christ's righteousness to put credit in my account and thereby win heaven for me.
If I don't understand that I have a right standing with God because CHRIST kept the law in my place, then I will think that - as a Christian - my assurance depends on MY keeping the law. That's the practical result. I will think that Jesus Christ paid my sin debt, but now it's up to me to keep the law - or watch out! This naturally leads to lots of silly things like rebaptisms, rededications, re-aisle-walkings, etc. etc. If we really believed Christ accomplished our salvation for us, as we sometimes (OK, rarely!) sing, then we wouldn't keep acting like it all depends on us.
Far from making us antinomians, this good news makes us more zealous for holiness. Our gratitude drives us to our knees.
The blood of Jesus Christ and His righteousness. We can add nothing to it and take nothing away from it. The relief, the relief, the relief! Praise the Lord!
Let's start telling the world again - and let's start inside the church. Please, Lord Jesus, raise up godly men again who will feed us your truth, as did Spurgeon and Edwards. How we need them in our day.
Praying for grace,
mlj
posted by MLJ at 5:33 PM
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