IMPUTED
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND IMPARTED RIGHTEOUSNESS
Imputed righteousness is an act
of God's grace in redemption. Because the Lord Jesus Christ lived in
righteousness upon this earth as our Representative and died under the penalty
of God's law as our Substitute, the law and justice of God declares that we are
righteous. The very righteousness of Christ, his perfect obedience to God as a
man, has been imputed to us. That is to say, righteousness has been laid to our
account. In exactly the same manner as our sins were imputed to Christ, his
righteousness has been imputed to us. When God made Christ to be sin for us, he
charged him with our sin. The Son of God became responsible to the law of God
for the sins of his elect. And the penalty of sin was exacted from him. He died
under the wrath of God. Even so, God, having imputed the righteousness of
Christ to us who believe, we have become responsible for righteousness in the
sight of God's law. And we shall receive the just reward of the law for
righteousness, eternal life and everlasting glory. As our works of sin were
made to be our Lord's, so his works of righteousness have been made ours. As he
received the reward of our sin, we must receive the reward of his
righteousness. That is substitution. Our righteousness before God is perfect,
unalterable righteousness. It is the righteousness of Christ, our Substitute.
Child of God, can you realize this? Your standing, your acceptance with God
never varies. God is always well-pleased with you in his Son!
Imparted righteousness is an act of God's grace in
regeneration. In the new birth God gives his people a new heart, a new will, a
new nature, created in righteousness and true holiness. Your standing before
God is not improved at all by the new birth. That was settled at