IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS
After these things the Word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward And He [the LORD] brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and He counted [Heb. chashab] it to him for righteousness (Gen.15:1,5-6 see Heb.11:8-12 for full significance).
One of the greatest truths in the Word of God is that of imputed righteousness. The entire 4th chapter of the book of Romans, the entire 3rd chapter of the book of Galatians, the entire 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews, are devoted to this doctrine: He believed in the LORD and He [God] counted/reckoned/imputed/passed to his account it [faith] to him [the believer] for righteousness. When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, all of God's righteousness is placed freely into our "spiritual bank account".
WHAT DOES IMPUTED MEAN? [Strongs]
Hebrew chashab {khaw-shab'}
1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count
4) to esteem, value, regard
b) (Niphal)
1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed
2) to be computed, be reckoned
3) to be imputed
Greek logizomai {log-id'-zom-ahee} This word deals with reality. If I "logizomai" or reckon that my bank book has $25 in it, it has $25 in it. Otherwise I am deceiving myself. This word refers to facts not suppositions.
1) to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over
a) to take into account, to make an account of
1) metaph. to pass to one's account, to impute
2) a) thing is reckoned as or to be something, i.e. as availing for or equivalent to something, as having the like force and weight
c) to reckon or account
2) to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, to deliberate
b) to suppose, deem, judge
WHOSE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THIS?
Since all have sinned and come short of the glory [holiness, righteousness, perfection] of God (Romans 3:23), it stands to reason that it is God's own righteousness, which is also Christ's own righteousness, since He is God indeed:
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:5-6 see also Jer.33:15; Zech.3:8; 6:2). Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; therefore, GOD, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (Psalm 45:6-7). But unto the Son He [God] saith, Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD, even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (Heb.1:8-9. )In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ(John 1:1,14,17) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, THE ALMIGHTY I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold I am alive for ever more, Amen. And have the keys of hell and death (Revelation 1:8,17-18) And one [seraph] cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory And they [the seraphim] rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
All these Scriptures refer to the same Lord God Almighty (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) the one true and living God, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Hebrew YHWH Tsidkenu).
WHY DOES GOD GIVE US HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A GIFT?
1. We have none of our own. Isa 64:6 But we are ALL as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as FILTHY RAGS; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Rom 3:23 For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
2. Gods holiness demands it. Hbr 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
3. Gods grace provides for it. *** 3:4-7 But after that the KINDNESS and LOVE of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His MERCY he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His GRACE, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
4. Gods gift of eternal life requires it. Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.
HOW DO WE RECEIVE THIS GREAT GIFT?
By faith and by faith alone. Jn 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: not of works, lest any man should boast.
DOES GOD SEE US AS RIGHTGEOUS IMMEDIATELY?
Yes, indeed. For in Him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] bodily. AND YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ (Col. 2:9-12).
Knowing, BY FAITH, that we are presently as righteous as God, allows us to enter into the true sabbath rest -- God's Sabbath Rest (Hebrews 4:1-16].
After these things the Word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward And He [the LORD] brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and He counted [Heb. chashab] it to him for righteousness (Gen.15:1,5-6 see Heb.11:8-12 for full significance).
One of the greatest truths in the Word of God is that of imputed righteousness. The entire 4th chapter of the book of Romans, the entire 3rd chapter of the book of Galatians, the entire 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews, are devoted to this doctrine: He believed in the LORD and He [God] counted/reckoned/imputed/passed to his account it [faith] to him [the believer] for righteousness. When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, all of God's righteousness is placed freely into our "spiritual bank account".
WHAT DOES IMPUTED MEAN? [Strongs]
Hebrew chashab {khaw-shab'}
1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count
4) to esteem, value, regard
b) (Niphal)
1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed
2) to be computed, be reckoned
3) to be imputed
Greek logizomai {log-id'-zom-ahee} This word deals with reality. If I "logizomai" or reckon that my bank book has $25 in it, it has $25 in it. Otherwise I am deceiving myself. This word refers to facts not suppositions.
1) to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over
a) to take into account, to make an account of
1) metaph. to pass to one's account, to impute
2) a) thing is reckoned as or to be something, i.e. as availing for or equivalent to something, as having the like force and weight
c) to reckon or account
2) to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, to deliberate
b) to suppose, deem, judge
WHOSE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THIS?
Since all have sinned and come short of the glory [holiness, righteousness, perfection] of God (Romans 3:23), it stands to reason that it is God's own righteousness, which is also Christ's own righteousness, since He is God indeed:
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:5-6 see also Jer.33:15; Zech.3:8; 6:2). Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; therefore, GOD, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (Psalm 45:6-7). But unto the Son He [God] saith, Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD, even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (Heb.1:8-9. )In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ(John 1:1,14,17) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, THE ALMIGHTY I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold I am alive for ever more, Amen. And have the keys of hell and death (Revelation 1:8,17-18) And one [seraph] cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory And they [the seraphim] rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
All these Scriptures refer to the same Lord God Almighty (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) the one true and living God, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Hebrew YHWH Tsidkenu).
WHY DOES GOD GIVE US HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A GIFT?
1. We have none of our own. Isa 64:6 But we are ALL as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as FILTHY RAGS; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Rom 3:23 For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
2. Gods holiness demands it. Hbr 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
3. Gods grace provides for it. *** 3:4-7 But after that the KINDNESS and LOVE of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His MERCY he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His GRACE, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
4. Gods gift of eternal life requires it. Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.
HOW DO WE RECEIVE THIS GREAT GIFT?
By faith and by faith alone. Jn 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: not of works, lest any man should boast.
DOES GOD SEE US AS RIGHTGEOUS IMMEDIATELY?
Yes, indeed. For in Him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] bodily. AND YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ (Col. 2:9-12).
Knowing, BY FAITH, that we are presently as righteous as God, allows us to enter into the true sabbath rest -- God's Sabbath Rest (Hebrews 4:1-16].
God bless, Al
