Topical Bible: Righteousness Imputed is of the Lord

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Topical Encyclopedia

Righteousness imputed is a foundational doctrine in Christian theology, emphasizing that the righteousness of God is credited to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. This concept is rooted in the understanding that human beings, due to their sinful nature, are incapable of achieving righteousness on their own. Instead, it is the righteousness of Christ that is imputed, or attributed, to them by God.

Biblical Foundation

The doctrine of imputed righteousness is primarily derived from the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Romans 4:5-6 , Paul writes, "However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works." Here, Paul underscores that righteousness is credited to individuals not based on their works but through faith in God, who justifies the ungodly.

Further, in 2 Corinthians 5:21 , Paul states, "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 highlights the substitutionary atonement of Christ, where Jesus, who was sinless, took on the sins of humanity so that believers might receive the righteousness of God.

Old Testament Foreshadowing

The concept of imputed righteousness is not solely a New Testament revelation but is foreshadowed in the Old Testament. Genesis 15:6 records, "Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Abraham's faith in God's promises was counted as righteousness, setting a precedent for the New Testament understanding of faith and imputed righteousness.

Theological Implications

Imputed righteousness is central to the doctrine of justification by faith. It asserts that believers are declared righteous before God not because of their own merit but because of the righteousness of Christ credited to them. This is a legal declaration, where God, the righteous judge, imputes the righteousness of Christ to the believer, thus justifying them.

This doctrine also emphasizes the grace of God, as it is solely by His grace that righteousness is imputed. Ephesians 2:8-9 affirms, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." The imputation of righteousness is a divine gift, underscoring the unmerited favor bestowed upon believers.

Practical Application

The imputation of righteousness has profound implications for the believer's life. It provides assurance of salvation, as the believer's standing before God is based on Christ's righteousness, not their own. This assurance fosters a life of gratitude and obedience, as believers live out their faith in response to the grace they have received.

Moreover, the understanding of imputed righteousness encourages humility, as it acknowledges that salvation and righteousness are not earned but are gifts from God. This humility should lead to a life of service and love, reflecting the character of Christ, whose righteousness believers now bear.

In summary, the doctrine of righteousness imputed is a testament to the transformative power of faith in Christ, where believers are clothed in His righteousness and stand justified before God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, said the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Lord Our Righteousness
... the words of the text; therefore, Jer.33:16, "She (ie the church itself) shall be
called, (having this righteousness imputed to her) The Lord our righteousness ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the lord our righteousness.htm

The Lord Our Righteousness
... But when is it that any of us may truly say, "the Lord our righteousness?" In other
words, when is it that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, and in ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 20 the lord our.htm

Jehovah Tsidkenu: the Lord Our Righteousness
... the doctrine of imputed righteousness, I proofed to map out my subject. First, by
way of affirmation; we say of the text"it is so"Christ is the Lord or ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/jehovah tsidkenu the lord our.htm

Salvation
... We do not read a word of that. We read"not that the Lord's righteousness was imputed
to these bad men, but that it sustained the Lord himself."Ah! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxi salvation.htm

Christ, the Believer's Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and ...
... By having Christ's righteousness imputed to them, they are dead to the law, as ... given
them the victory by imputing to them the righteousness of the Lord Jesus ...
/.../christ the believers wisdom righteousness.htm

The Righteousness of Christ, an Everlasting Righteousness
... It is what all reformed divines, that have clear heads and clean hearts, call an
imputed righteousness, or the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ to be ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the righteousness of christ an.htm

Justification
... not deny that the obedience of Christ is imputed to us ... our faith, which has Christ
and his righteousness for its ... who are associated with me in the Lord by the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/justification.htm

The Holy Spirit Convincing the World of Sin, Righteousness, and ...
... his own to recommend him, there is a fullness of grace, a fullness of truth, a fullness
of righteousness in the dear Lord Jesus, which, if once imputed to him ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the holy spirit convincing the.htm

The Righteousness of Faith
... to whom it shall be imputed," to whom faith shall be imputed for righteousness,
shall stand in ... if we believe on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 6 the righteousness of.htm

Perfect Righteousness was Conferred Neither by Circumcision nor by ...
... observance of Sabbaths, "believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness;
and he ... himself says to the people in Deuteronomy: "The Lord thy God ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvi perfect righteousness was conferred.htm