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 In
Rom. 2:13 (A.S.) the words just and justified nave
footnotes. We are reminded that these could be translated, righteous
and accounted righteous. In Rom. 3:20, and again in 3:2,
the same rotation is found. God's plan for man's justification,
and for man's righteousness, are the same. Whatever it
takes to bring about his justification, it takes to make him
righteous.
Some
tell us that the Son of God was given a "body" so that
lie could live a perfect life in our stead; and that lire,
"imputed" to us, becomes our righteousness. Heb. 10:
5-7 is cited, but the context there clearly refers to body
offered on the cross so that sins maybe offered (vs.
10,12f) But does not Rom. 3:26 say that it is by "his
righteousness" that God can be both just and the justifier
of the believer? Yes, and "his righteousness is "for
the remission of sins". Reference is to the obedience of
Christ upon the cross — to the shedding of His blood. Compare
3:24 with 5:9.
Rom.
4: is the "imputation" chapter and here Paul clearly
identifies the operation as one of forgiveness. Instead
of imputing the perfect life of Christ to us, God does NOT
impute sin Compare Rom. 4:6-8, with 2 Cor. 5:18-21 and see that
God "reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ," the
process being, "not imputing their trespasses unto them."
And how could he, in justice, not impute our trespasses."
His Son, who knew no sin, became our sin (offering), "that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him." In
previous articles (v.14, no. 4) we have shown that Christ lived
a perfect life as His own obligation, qualifying Himself as an
offering
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for the sins of others.
Now
look at Romans 5, A.S.: "the free gift came of many
trespasses unto justification." The footnote reminds
us that the Greek here is "an act of righteousness,"
which would make it refer to Christ's death. Such is
strengthened by v.18, where the text reads,” through one act
of righteousness." In such a setting we can confidently
affirm that "through the obedience of the one shall the
many be made righteous" (v.19), refers to the obedience of
Christ unto death — giving Himself upon the cross for our
sins. Jesus faced the cross with the dread of death common to
man, but determined to do the Father's will. He made the
Father's will His own will (Matt. 26:39-f; Heb. 5:8-9), and
"bare our sins in His body upon the tree, that we, having
died unto sins, might live unto righteousness" (1 Pet.
2:24).
The
teaching that the perfect pre-crucifixion life of Christ is
somehow credited to us for our righteousness, has its root in
Calvinism. Denying any "human implementation," and
seek to explain t h e "preservation of the elect,” this
fanciful dream developed. It is tragic to see gospel preachers,
caught in the web of such error.
The
MEANS of our redemption is Jesus Christ, "delivered up for
our trespasses, and raised for our justification" (Rom,
4:25). (We are saved by HIS life — after death.) THE
OPERATION is forgiveness (via the offering and intercession,
Heb. 7:22-f) and the CONDITION is an obedient faith.
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