The term "imputes" in biblical theology refers to the act of attributing or ascribing righteousness, sin, or guilt to someone. This concept is central to understanding key doctrines of sin and salvation within Christian theology. The idea of imputation is primarily discussed in the context of the righteousness of Christ being credited to believers and the sin of Adam being attributed to humanity.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of imputation is not explicitly detailed with the term "imputes," but the principle is evident in various passages. For example, in Genesis 15:6, it is said of Abraham, "Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Here, the Hebrew word "chashab" is used, which can mean to reckon or account, indicating that Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness by God.

New Testament Context

The New Testament provides a more developed understanding of imputation, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Romans 4:3-8, Paul references the Genesis account of Abraham to explain how faith is credited as righteousness. Romans 4:5 states, "However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness." This passage underscores the doctrine that righteousness is imputed to believers through faith, not by works.

Furthermore, the concept of imputation is crucial in understanding the doctrine of original sin and the fall of humanity. In Romans 5:12-19, Paul discusses how sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and how death spread to all men because all sinned. This passage illustrates the imputation of Adam's sin to his descendants, highlighting the need for redemption.

Imputation of Christ's Righteousness

The imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers is a cornerstone of Christian soteriology. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul writes, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." This verse encapsulates the great exchange: Christ takes on the sin of humanity, and His righteousness is imputed to those who believe in Him.

Theological Implications

The doctrine of imputation has profound theological implications. It emphasizes the grace of God in salvation, as righteousness is not earned but granted through faith in Jesus Christ. This understanding aligns with the Protestant Reformation principle of "sola fide," or faith alone, as the means of justification.

Imputation also underscores the believer's union with Christ. Through faith, believers are united with Christ, and His righteousness becomes theirs. This union is both legal and relational, affecting the believer's standing before God and their daily walk in holiness.

Conclusion

The concept of imputation is integral to the biblical narrative of redemption. It highlights the seriousness of sin, the necessity of Christ's atoning work, and the gracious provision of righteousness through faith. As such, it remains a foundational doctrine for understanding the gospel and the believer's relationship with God.

On Justification
... and righteousness, Christ is also the material cause of our justification, so far
as God bestows Christ on us for righteousness, and imputes his righteousness ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xlviii on justification.htm

Its Basis
... shown the inseparability of the two things: God imputing "righteousness" and God
not imputing "sins." The two are never divided: unto whom God imputes not sin ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the doctrine of justification/4 its basis.htm

Justification
... Christ and his obedience are the object of our faith, but not the object of
justification or divine imputation, as if God imputes Christ and his righteousness ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/justification.htm

Other Beings Besides God are in Scripture Called God this ...
... name. In short, Marcion himself, when he imputes this character to his god,
imputes it to the nature, [2406] not to the word. That ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter vii other beings besides god.htm

We all Sinned Adam's Sin.
... Book III. Chapter 15 [VIII.]"We All Sinned Adam's Sin. "It is," they say, "by no
means conceded that God who remits to a man his own sins imputes to him ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 15 viii we all sinned.htm

Certainty of Our Justification.
... and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God,
without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxiii certainty of our justification.htm

It is Said that on a Recent Occasion Where the Letters of ...
... the score of folly, since he has proclaimed me in his works as a man of the highest
culture and eloquence; otherwise such silly verbosity as he imputes is the ...
/.../14 it is said that.htm

Its Meaning
... 5:9. The objects are the same: the persons that are pardoned are justified, and
the same that are justified are pardoned; to whom God imputes the righteousness ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the doctrine of justification/2 its meaning.htm

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... the after death.' According to the New Testament, [1528] the Sadducees denied the
resurrection of the dead, while Josephus, going further, imputes to them ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm

The Narration
... The accuser does not merely say, "You have committed that murder," but shows reasons
to evince its credibility; as, in tragedies, when Teucer imputes the death ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the narration.htm

Imputes (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Imputes (1 Occurrence). Psalms 32:2 O the happiness
of a man, To whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And ...
/i/imputes.htm - 6k

Imputed (9 Occurrences)

/i/imputed.htm - 9k

Imputeth (3 Occurrences)

/i/imputeth.htm - 7k

Eliphaz (14 Occurrences)
... His language is uniformly more delicate and gentle than that of the other two, although
he imputes to Job special sins as the cause of his present sufferings. ...
/e/eliphaz.htm - 15k

Chargeable (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) That may be charged, laid, imposed, or imputes;
as, a duty chargeable on iron; a fault chargeable on a man. ...
/c/chargeable.htm - 11k

Imputation
... It makes no difference, so far as the meaning of imputation is concerned, who it
is that imputes, whether man (1 Samuel 22:15) or God (Psalm 32:2); it makes no ...
/i/imputation.htm - 39k

Purity (16 Occurrences)
... One must go out of his way who imputes sin to a single act or thought that comes
to expression in the poem. The maiden is guileless and the lover is manly. ...
/p/purity.htm - 30k

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