Topical Bible: Righteousness Imputed: Saints: Desire to be Found In

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Topical Encyclopedia

Righteousness imputed refers to the theological concept where the righteousness of Christ is credited to believers, allowing them to be justified before God. This doctrine is central to the understanding of salvation in Christian theology, emphasizing that it is not by human works but by faith in Jesus Christ that one is deemed righteous.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of imputed righteousness is rooted in several key biblical passages. In Romans 4:5-6 , the Apostle Paul writes, "However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works." This passage highlights that righteousness is a gift from God, credited to those who have faith in Him.

Desire of the Saints

The saints, or believers, have a profound desire to be found in the righteousness of Christ rather than their own. This longing is expressed in Philippians 3:9 , where Paul articulates his own desire: "and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God on the basis of faith." Here, Paul contrasts the righteousness that comes from the law with the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, underscoring the believer's yearning to be clothed in Christ's righteousness.

The Role of Faith

Faith is the means by which righteousness is imputed to the believer. In Galatians 2:16 , Paul states, "know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." This passage reinforces the idea that it is through faith, not adherence to the law, that believers receive the righteousness of Christ.

Transformation and Sanctification

While righteousness is imputed to believers at the moment of faith, it also initiates a process of sanctification, where the believer is progressively transformed into the likeness of Christ. This transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit, as described in 2 Corinthians 3:18 : "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

The Hope of Glory

The imputed righteousness of Christ not only justifies believers but also gives them the hope of eternal glory. In Colossians 1:27 , Paul speaks of "Christ in you, the hope of glory." This hope is rooted in the assurance that, through Christ's righteousness, believers will be presented blameless before God.

Conclusion

The desire of the saints to be found in the righteousness of Christ is a central theme in the Christian life. It reflects a deep understanding of the insufficiency of human righteousness and the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work. Through faith, believers are justified, sanctified, and given the hope of eternal life, all grounded in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Lord Our Righteousness
... were we in their place, we would desire for ourselves ... was asked, "Unto which of the
saints wilt thou ... But in what sense is this righteousness imputed to believers ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 20 the lord our.htm

The Lord Our Righteousness
... great mysteries, which the angels desire to look into ... to join the intercession of
saints with the ... not only implies Christ's personal righteousness imputed to us ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the lord our righteousness.htm

Justification
... deny that the obedience of Christ is imputed to us ... our faith, which has Christ and
his righteousness for its ... an approved reputation in the church of the saints. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/justification.htm

Justification by an Imputed Righteousness;
... The righteousness of the second Adam, the Lord from heaven ... as the disobedience of
the first Adam, imputed to all ... they were, in the esteem of God's saints, in a ...
/.../justification by an imputed righteousness.htm

Jehovah Tsidkenu: the Lord Our Righteousness
... linen, which is the righteousness of the saints, had been ... And therefore granted the
desire of our hearts ... in the faith of Christ's imputed righteousness which no ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/jehovah tsidkenu the lord our.htm

The Righteousness of Christ, an Everlasting Righteousness
... called an everlasting righteousness, because all the saints that have ... the pulpit;
I now offer this righteousness, this free, this imputed, this everlasting ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the righteousness of christ an.htm

The Wedding Garment
... May it lead us to desire to be searched and ... the figure is sometimes applied to saints
in reference ... the idea that they possess imputed righteousness, while they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the wedding garment.htm

The Fourfold Treasure
... Not only is Christ's righteousness imputed to me, but ... Righteousness and sanctification
must always go together, and ... then the bodies of his saints, which have ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the fourfold treasure.htm

Its Results
... thepresent and immutable standing of His saints in all ... who works within him the desire
to serve ... preaching of justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the doctrine of justification/10 its results.htm

The Epistle to the Philippians
... he finds himself, and expresses his desire to remain ... it names not only, "the saints
in Christ ... 3) The doctrine of forensic, imputed righteousness is replaced by ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the epistle to the philippians.htm