Double Imputation?

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I always thought it was Christ's righteousness imputed at the cross for reconciliation and propitiation to God.

 

[FireDragon76]

James chapter 2 verse 14
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
verse 15
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
verse 16
If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
verse 17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
verse 18
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
.

James is talking about how Christians have a righteousness or justification before our fellow human beings- we are justified before humanity by doing good works (which only makes sense, really). We are speaking here specifically about our justification before God, which is based on faith alone. They are related- a person who is justified by God by faith alone should seek to do good for their neighbor- not because they want to be accounted a good person, but because they care about their neighbor's wellbeing.

We Lutherans are not antinomian, we have an ethic based on doing what is in the common good and pursuing our vocations in the service of others. The Reformed tradition is similar in theory, though it seems to me they tend to use the Law in a slightly different way than we do, a regulative way. For us, the Law is less of a guide and more of a way to remind us that we continue to depend upon God's grace.

 

[thesunisout]

Sometimes Justification is thought and taught in terms of "double imputation". I have even usually thought this way until this question came to mind. Double imputation is the idea that Jesus' righteousness is imputed to believers (they get his righteous record credited to their account) and believers righteousness is imputed to Jesus (he gets the sin of sinners credited to his account and pays for it). On the whole, I think this is fine. But I wonder if it's imprecise.

The Westminster Confession of Faith puts it like this:

That in justification, God has "...[imputed] the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them..." (WCF 11.1).

That is to say, that the righteousness of Jesus and the death of Jesus has been imputed to believers. So, in the eyes of God, believers have in their account:

1. A perfectly righteous record. This merits for them heaven.
2. A death that atones for their sin.

But according to this understanding it would appear that the sins of believers are not imputed to Christ.

What's the deal?

2 Corinthians 5:2

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

The word says Jesus was made to be sin for us, so it wasn't just imputed..He actually embodied it. To me that's a whole other level that is seemingly incomprehensible. He is holy yet became sin for us. The perfect one took all of our imperfections.

 

[fhansen]

That is sort of what Lutheran and Reformed theology is about. Christ imputes his own status as a "good guy" to us in justification , and nothing can change that if we have faith in him. Don't like it, take it up with the apostle Paul, because that is what he taught.

Nah, Paul knew better, just as James did. They both knew that if they had faith without love they'd be nothing-and that God wanted them to be something, not merely a forgiven nothing. That's the essence of the New Covenant, God finally making us the something that we were always meant to be-and that we can't be while apart from Him. This communion and the righteousness it automatically bears was made possible by the reconciliation between man and God won for us by Christ via the atonement.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

2 Corinthians 5:21

 

[redleghunter]

The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Who are the least of Christ's brethren?

 

[ladodgers6]

Sometimes Justification is thought and taught in terms of "double imputation". I have even usually thought this way until this question came to mind. Double imputation is the idea that Jesus' righteousness is imputed to believers (they get his righteous record credited to their account) and believers righteousness is imputed to Jesus (he gets the sin of sinners credited to his account and pays for it). On the whole, I think this is fine. But I wonder if it's imprecise.

The Westminster Confession of Faith puts it like this:

That in justification, God has "...[imputed] the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them..." (WCF 11.1).

That is to say, that the righteousness of Jesus and the death of Jesus has been imputed to believers. So, in the eyes of God, believers have in their account:

1. A perfectly righteous record. This merits for them heaven.
2. A death that atones for their sin.

But according to this understanding it would appear that the sins of believers are not imputed to Christ.

What's the deal?

To correct your understanding. Double imputation is that, our sins are imputed to Christ, and Christ's righteousness is imputed to us. Either you believe that our sin is imputed to Christ, or you believe that Christ himself sinned for us. And in like manner, the demands for perfect righteousness under the Law of God, is imputed to us. We have not earn this righteousness, nor can any sinner under the Law. Because we are already condemned sinners in the first Adam. And in the Last Adam we are declared righteous because of Christ and His perfect obedience to God's Law for us!

2 Cor. 5:21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

 

[hedrick]

The Reformed tradition is similar in theory, though it seems to me they tend to use the Law in a slightly different way than we do, a regulative way. For us, the Law is less of a guide and more of a way to remind us that we continue to depend upon God's grace.

Both traditions accept the three uses of the Law, but Lutherans tend to emphasize its use in driving us to God's mercy, and Reformed are more willing to see it as restraint and a guide. As liberal Reformed I'd agree, but I would note that our use of Law is not the commandments read legally, but the Law as interpreted by Jesus in Mat. 5.

 

[iwbswiaihl2]

I always thought it was Christ's righteousness imputed at the cross for reconciliation and propitiation to God.

You thought right, 2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. That is why the saved are called saints, those set apart, made holy in Christ. He is our righteousness and thus has set us free from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Notice carefully no condemnation, why, v2 for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. V4 He condemned sin in the flesh that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. It is His working in us and placing in us His purpose for us and that is transforming the called ones into the image of His dear Son. This is why we are called saints, set apart ones, Rom 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Think about it, v28 if all things work together for good to those who are the called according to His purpose, how can sin be imputed to our account, He paid the sin debt, 2Cor5:21 above. That is exactly what scripture says in Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin. Impute, to reckon or charge to ones account. As in Rom 8:2-3 He freed us from the law of sin and death, those in Christ. Reading the words we see what it says, naysayers are the ones who read into the word, words that are not there, His word does not return unto Him void. Have a great day, as I said, you thought right, it was Christ's righteousness imputed at the cross to all who receive Him.

 

[FireDragon76]

Nah, Paul knew better, just as James did. They both knew that if they had faith without love they'd be nothing-and that God wanted them to be something, not merely a forgiven nothing. That's the essence of the New Covenant, God finally making us the something that we were always meant to be-and that we can't be while apart from Him. This communion and the righteousness it automatically bears was made possible by the reconciliation between man and God won for us by Christ via the atonement.

I think that's largely true, that God desires us to be something. But we aren't talking about God's desire, we are talking about the legal ground for our acceptance by God.

 

[AFrazier]

Sometimes Justification is thought and taught in terms of "double imputation". I have even usually thought this way until this question came to mind. Double imputation is the idea that Jesus' righteousness is imputed to believers (they get his righteous record credited to their account) and believers righteousness is imputed to Jesus (he gets the sin of sinners credited to his account and pays for it). On the whole, I think this is fine. But I wonder if it's imprecise.

The Westminster Confession of Faith puts it like this:

That in justification, God has "...[imputed] the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them..." (WCF 11.1).

That is to say, that the righteousness of Jesus and the death of Jesus has been imputed to believers. So, in the eyes of God, believers have in their account:

1. A perfectly righteous record. This merits for them heaven.
2. A death that atones for their sin.

But according to this understanding it would appear that the sins of believers are not imputed to Christ.

What's the deal?

The complication of this whole line of reasoning is resolved in the marriage of the lamb to the church. Marriage makes the husband and wife one body and one spirit, with Christ as the head. What he is, so too are we. He's righteous, and so we are righteous, because we are one. He's sanctified, and so we are sanctified, because we are one. He's justified, and so we are justified, because we are one.

As one person in the eyes of God, when Christ died, we died. When Christ was cursed by hanging on a tree, we were cursed by hanging on a tree.

Through this exchange, his death was ours, his curse was ours, his righteousness was ours, his sanctification was ours, his justification was ours. And at the same time, our sin was his.

I have a good book on the subject if you're interested in the details of this understanding.

 

[iwbswiaihl2]

Our whole life is, or should be, all about God's desire for us, especially that we as His children are found to be well pleasing and glorying Him in our walk, this is the chief end of a saint. Whatever we do in word or deed, to all to the glory of God, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do. 1 Cor 10:31-33 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 2 Cor 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. His power in us, the Holy Spirit, makes this possible when we yield to Him, walking in the Spirit is yielding to Him as He leads and this is by the word, and He puts the thoughts in our hearts and minds, we must learn to recognize which thoughts are from Him, Phil 2:13 For it is God working in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. By this, He is transforming us into the image of His dear Son.

 

[fhansen]

You thought right, 2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. That is why the saved are called saints, those set apart, made holy in Christ. He is our righteousness and thus has set us free from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Notice carefully no condemnation, why, v2 for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. V4 He condemned sin in the flesh that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. It is His working in us and placing in us His purpose for us and that is transforming the called ones into the image of His dear Son. This is why we are called saints, set apart ones, Rom 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Think about it, v28 if all things work together for good to those who are the called according to His purpose, how can sin be imputed to our account, He paid the sin debt, 2Cor5:21 above. That is exactly what scripture says in Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin. Impute, to reckon or charge to ones account. As in Rom 8:2-3 He freed us from the law of sin and death, those in Christ. Reading the words we see what it says, naysayers are the ones who read into the word, words that are not there, His word does not return unto Him void. Have a great day, as I said, you thought right, it was Christ's righteousness imputed at the cross to all who receive Him.

But not only receive/believe in Him, but those who now walk according to the Spirit rather than the flesh, and continue to do so. This implies a genuine change, in terms of righteous or justice within us, not merely or solely an imputed change, as being the basis for our justification and ultimate eligibility for heaven.

 

[dqhall]

2 Corinthians 5:2

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

The word says Jesus was made to be sin for us, so it wasn't just imputed..He actually embodied it. To me that's a whole other level that is seemingly incomprehensible. He is holy yet became sin for us. The perfect one took all of our imperfections.

If Christ corrects a person and the person stops sinning as a result, sin is taken away. It does not mean Christ becomes sin.

The wicked priestly establishment in Jerusalem condemned what Jesus was doing. They called for his arrest and trial. In their eyes Christ was a sinner. Jesus risked being called a sinner in order to try to save the righteous.

Righteousness may be imputed in as much as people may be taught or corrected. It is not transferred like funds from one account to another.

 

[iwbswiaihl2]

But not only receive/believe in Him, but those who now walk according to the Spirit rather than the flesh, and continue to do so. This implies a genuine change, in terms of righteous or justice within us, not merely or solely an imputed change, as being the basis for our justification and ultimate eligibility for heaven.

True, but one does not receive Him do you think that is not coming with a sincere heart known by God. Those who come for any other pretense or reason are not fooling Him and therefore would not come into the family by adoption. All the promises of God are for believers, and His imputation of righteousness is eternal. Does not scripture say that the believer after hearing the word of God believed on Him and were sealed with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption? Eph 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Did He not buy us at Calvary, and pay the redemption for our inheritance? Is this passage not true? God knows every heart as I am sure you agree, why would He say He sealed us with the Holy Spirit as our guarantee until the redemption if it were not until the redemption of His purchased possession. 1 Cor 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

But not only receive/believe in Him, but those who now walk according to the Spirit rather than the flesh, and continue to do so. This implies a genuine change, in terms of righteous or justice within us, not merely or solely an imputed change, as being the basis for our justification and ultimate eligibility for heaven.

Positionally we`re placed correctly to receive justification just as the whole world is because all have been created to receive the Spirit. Justification comes thru grace by faith, accepting that which is offered. Romans 3:24 I like to visualize His righteousness as the armor covering my heart. Ephesians 6:14
Sanctification is the process of change, not to make our righteousness more righteous or to prove how just we are but to allow His righteousness to prove itself in us. That takes time because Christ`s wisdom needs to replace knowledge. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Reasonable service is holding ourselves positionally in acceptance of truth without turning back to falsehoods imo.

 

[Tree of Life]

The complication of this whole line of reasoning is resolved in the marriage of the lamb to the church. Marriage makes the husband and wife one body and one spirit, with Christ as the head. What he is, so too are we. He's righteous, and so we are righteous, because we are one. He's sanctified, and so we are sanctified, because we are one. He's justified, and so we are justified, because we are one.

As one person in the eyes of God, when Christ died, we died. When Christ was cursed by hanging on a tree, we were cursed by hanging on a tree.

Through this exchange, his death was ours, his curse was ours, his righteousness was ours, his sanctification was ours, his justification was ours. And at the same time, our sin was his.

I have a good book on the subject if you're interested in the details of this understanding.

Yeah the doctrine of Union with Christ would appear to include both ideas - that our sin is imputed to Christ and his death and payment for sin is imputed to us.

 

[FireDragon76]

Hedrick, Old Testament saints were justified the same way New Testament saints were justified, by faith in God. In the new dispensation, this Messianic age where Christ already reigns as king through Word and Sacrament, that faith is best represented as faith in Christ. Old Testament saints were justified through the same merits of Christ, the same as New Testament saints.

Perhaps this is an area that Reformed and Lutherans differ. We do not think of humanity's relationship to God primarily in terms of different covenants. The covenant given to the Jews was a pedagogue for living under grace, in preparation for the Messiah, it was not a plan of salvation. Indeed, this is more consonant with how many Jews think of their own relationship to Torah.

I see N.T. Wright's critique as having a very limited scope, because he is mostly addressing Reformed evangelicals who have long since abandoned an emphasis on community, sacramentality, and the preaching of both Law and Gospel. People that believe that Christianity is simply "4 spiritual laws" and so on, who have a more existentialist take on the Christian faith. Once you throw those realities into the equation, much of Protestant theology doesn't seem so objectionable.

I think high-church Protestantism, with a robust ecclessiology, is the perfect remedy to all this, and its one reason I am glad to be in a tradition that actually has a home for that way of being Christian.

 

[fhansen]

Positionally we`re placed correctly to receive justification just as the whole world is because all have been created to receive the Spirit. Justification comes thru grace by faith, accepting that which is offered. Romans 3:24 I like to visualize His righteousness as the armor covering my heart. Ephesians 6:14
Sanctification is the process of change, not to make our righteousness more righteous or to prove how just we are but to allow His righteousness to prove itself in us. That takes time because Christ`s wisdom needs to replace knowledge. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Reasonable service is holding ourselves positionally in acceptance of truth without turning back to falsehoods imo.

As I understand it we're forgiven and cleansed as we respond in faith, a free gift that we accept, but then we're also expected to remain and walk in that cleanness. From there on the Parable of the Talents gives a good description of what we're expected to do with the gifts given with whatever time and opportunities we have, and what will happen if we refuse-and bury them. It's a walk, a package deal, that we work out with He who works in us.

 

[AFrazier]

If Christ corrects a person and the person stops sinning as a result, sin is taken away. It does not mean Christ becomes sin.

The wicked priestly establishment in Jerusalem condemned what Jesus was doing. They called for his arrest and trial. In their eyes Christ was a sinner. Jesus risked being called a sinner in order to try to save the righteous.

Righteousness may be imputed in as much as people may be taught or corrected. It is not transferred like funds from one account to another.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 4:24 — But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Romans 5:17 — For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

The scriptures don't agree with your take on the matter. Righteousness is an imputed gift that comes by faith rather than obedience (though obedience is part of repentance). Jesus was made to be sin for us. Sin is not taken away because we stop sinning (though we should, of course, stop sinning, as other scriptures also attest). Righteousness is not declared of us because we have been taught correctly or corrected of contrary behavior (though we should, of course, learn correctly and accept correction if we are behaving unrighteously). We are declared righteous because we have faith (Romans 4:24). Our sin was taken away because God laid our sins upon his servant, who bore our iniquity (Isaiah 53:4-12).

Lots of people read these forums. In the interest of not leading people astray with incorrect doctrine, be mindful what you say.