Imputed righteousness. . .it sounds stuffy but it’s not

“We’re good!”

Have you ever had a conflict with a friend, or maybe just a misunderstanding, maybe you hurt their feelings or they hurt yours, and you start to explain, but eyes meet and hearts connect, and you hear, “We’re good.”  You know what that means.  Everything is right between us because of the relationship we have with each other.

Imputed righteousness. . .

I’m “good with God.”  I don’t have to be afraid of the dark places, in my life or in this world.  I am right before God because of the way God now looks at me because of what Christ accomplished at the cross.  When I look God’s way, no matter my failing, he will meet my eyes and I will hear – “We’re good!”

Wow!  How powerful is that!

Not an excuse to sin. . .

This is not an excuse to sin but solid, biblical encouragement to keep going even as we stumble.  Do you see the difference?  Everyone fails and falls. Some simply run for the darkness but some make excuses for their sin or live in denial because they are still afraid of God because they don’t understand who they now are before him.

A reason to confess my sin. . .

Others, like me (and hopefully you), confess their sin.  Do I feel I am at that place too often?  Duh, yes.  Do I feel good when I approach God when I sin? Not especially, I feel the dirty rags of my righteousness.  Do I feel God should forgive and cleanse me. . .again?  Is it fair, or right?  I don’t approach the throne of grace because I deserve it but because I have been given this opportunity by the payment Jesus made on the cross.  I go once again before the throne and confess my sin because God says to and I am “good with God” because I am justified because of Jesus.

Heavy theology with a tender message. . .

I usually stay away from the heavy sounding theological words because, even though the concept is often powerful, the presentation may cause someone to shut down.  But I can’t stay away from this one, and you shouldn’t either.

Have you hugged your theology today?

Embrace this theology, friend.  Imputed righteousness – Since I have believed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, God no longer sees me in the filthy rags of my righteousness but clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  God has put the righteousness of Christ to my account.  I didn’t deserve it or earn it.  By grace through faith we are right before God he tells us.

We were here. . .

Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

But now we are here. . .

Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 4:4-5 (NIV)

4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

I have courage now no matter the darkness, imagined or real. . .

Now as I go forward in the name of Christ, no matter how miserably I fail or how wonderfully I succeed, I keep going because I am “good with God” not because of me or what I have done but because of Christ and what he has done.

Imputed righteousness. . .c’mere, you big ol’ hunk of theological expression, and let me give you a hug!

“Good with God!”  I’m liking that!

This entry was posted in daily thoughts. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.