The Imputed Righteousness

The purpose of this study is to show you through the Scriptures that the righteousness which God demands cannot be achieved by the works of the Law or anything we can accomplish on our own. It can only be by faith – faith in the completed work of Christ only.

Compare the following passage in Deuteronomy to that of Romans:

Deuteronomy 6:24-25  And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

Romans 10:1-4  Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Romans 10:3-4, 10; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21; Philippians 3:9

The righteousness of God is a gift freely given by God to those have put their faith in the completed atoning work of Jesus Christ. This also consists of God not imputing trespasses to the believers and now imputing to them the righteousness of Christ which is of faith.

This is not what anyone can earn through any good work or self-righteousness. It is a gift that can be given only by God which must be received through faith in Christ alone.

In Romans 10, Apostle Paul lamented over the Jews’ ignorance of the doctrine of the righteousness of God. Here is what He says:

Romans 10:1-4  Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

From the above passage, the Jews completely misunderstood the requirement for the righteousness of God by their wrong application of the Law of Moses. They completely missed the purpose of the Law.

But like the Jews in Romans 10, many Christians, and of course Pastors, of our days are unable to tell the difference between the righteousness of the Law which is unique to the Old Testament and the righteousness of God under the dispensation of grace.

As a result of this ignorance, just like the Jews of the Apostle’s days, they go about establishing their own righteousness, and refuse to submit themselves unto the righteousness of God.

My goal in this article is to present a clear difference between the requirement for righteousness under the dispensation of the Law and the requirement under the dispensation of grace. You will also learn how to receive this free justification today.

The righteousness demanded by God for justification cannot be attained by the Law but by faith in Christ’s completed work. The righteousness which is of the Law did not even take the Old Testament saints to heaven. They remained in Paradise, Abraham’s bosom until Jesus died and rose again.

“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” Galatians 3:21.

No one can be made righteous by keeping the Law.

Before the cross, righteousness was by your doing. Carefully read the following passages:

Deuteronomy 6:24-25   And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Deuteronomy 24:12-13   And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: 13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

From the above passages (and Ezekiel 20:11; Habakkuk 2:4; etc.), you can clearly see that under the Law, that is, under the Old Testament, righteousness was granted based upon what they did. The following are true about righteousness under the Law:

1. It was Based upon Obedience to the Law

The blessings of God (including remission of sin) under the Old Testament is based upon obedience to the Law of Moses – all of it. So, you keep and obey the Law, you get the blessing.

But if you break or disobey the Law, you get the curses. Do ye not hear the Law? Galatians 4:21. Take some time to examine the conditions attached to blessing under that Law and the curses attached to disobedience in Deuteronomy 28:1-3, 15-68.

The part that many don’t understand or think about today is that, if you believe something good happened to you because of your good deeds, how much of the wrath or curse of God can you identify in your life as a result of your disobedience?

If things were to be working that way today, that the blessings or material increase you get are because of your good deeds, then you should also get plenty of the curses of God for all your disobedience.

2. It was Based upon the Principle of ‘DO and Live’

Under the Law, you’re justified by what you do. The following verses will shed more light on the issue:

Leviticus 18:4-5  Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 20:10-11  Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

Romans 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Some may even try to do the Law for justification. But then they will have to deal with James 2:10:

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Compare this to what we have now. The Bible says Abraham was justified way before the Law was given (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6). In fact, the promise (popularly known as the blessing of Abraham) of justification through faith in Christ, the Bible says was made to Abraham 430 years before the Law (Galatians 3:17-18). Do you believe that?

God promised that the whole world will be justified through the seed of Abraham, 430 years before Moses showed up. How in the world can the fulfillment of that promised be tied to obedience to the Law? It makes no sense! That is the point of Paul in Galatians 3. Please spend some time and read the entire chapter.

3. It was Imperfect – A Mere Shadow

The Apostle James has this to say: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10. The Law was given for man to see how far away he is from God when it comes to His standard of righteousness.

Because we’re imperfect people, we continue to come short of God’s standard of righteousness. That is why the writer of Hebrews says “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins…” Hebrews 10:11.

In James 2:10 above, the Apostle says that breaking one commandment means breaking all commandments. So if as human, we cannot do without offending, how then can we attain God’s standard of righteousness on our own? It is practically impossible!

See also: Galatians 3:21, 23-25; Hebrews 10:1-4, 11 (required repeated sacrifices); Romans 4:3-5.

After the cross, righteousness was the Lord’s doing.

Romans 1:16-17  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 5:18-19  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

The above passages gives a clue about where and how we get the righteousness of God.

1. It Is Apart From the Law

There is nothing in the Law that suggest that the wicked can or will be justified. The judges under the Law were commanded to condemn the wicked and justify the ‘righteous’.

“If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.” Deuteronomy 25:1.

But compare this to Romans 4:5:

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Many so-called Christians are yet to understand the purpose of the Law and the fact that we are no longer under the Mosaic Law. That of course does not exempt us from keeping the moral laws of God and every commandment repeated in the New Testament. But we should realize that the desire to live the righteous live is a result of salvation, and not something that is required to earn salvation.

The Law was not meant to earn us righteousness before God. It was given not to justify men but to give men the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20), to stop men’s mouth (Romans 3:19), as our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24-25).

The desire to live a righteous live is a result of salvation, and not something that is required to earn salvation.

2. It Is Perfected in Christ – Needs No Addition

Romans 8:33-34  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.  34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Philippians 3:8-9  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Hebrews 10:10-14, 18  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

See also: 1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:13; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:27-28.

One the Cross, Jesus got what He didn’t deserve, our sins. And we get what we don’t deserve, the righteousness of Christ. This is the miracle of the gospel. – Erwin Lutzer.

The righteousness of God is granted as follows:

1. God Will Not (or no longer) Impute Trespasses unto the Sinner  – “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 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.”  2 Corinthians 5:19, 21.
2. God Imputes Sin to Christ, the Spotless Lamb of God – “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” 1 Peter 1:19. “ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;…” 2 Corinthians 5:21.
3. Finally, God imputes Righteousness of Christ to the Sinner’s Account – “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5. See also Romans 5.

This truth may be viewed from the side of justification, whereby the sinner is declared righteous based on the merits of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24-25), or it may be viewed from the side of sanctification, wherein the righteousness of Christ is daily applied (Nelson Study Bible).

So if you could get to heaven with your own works, then Jesus Christ would have died for nothing. But no one is good enough to make it to heaven on their own. So the only way to get around that is through the blood atonement of Jesus Christ.

3. It is Based upon the Principle of ‘Believe and Live’

To receive the righteousness of which of Christ, it does not require any work on the part of the believer. In fact, Jesus in His own words says that the only work required is to believe (John 6:29).

The Bible makes it crystal clear that when we believe and trust in Christ alone, we are justified and are given the gift of eternal life. The life that Jesus promised the believers is received at the moment of belief and not after you’ve believed and lived right for a long time. Righteousness, forgiveness of sin is a gift of God given in response to our faith in Christ.

This is the good news of the gospel: the fact that when we come to Christ with a repentant heart and are willing to put our faith in His blood and trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of our sins, we are at the moment granted forgiveness by God and the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed to our imperfect account.

There is absolutely no work involved. No ‘Sinner’s Prayers’ required.  This is the reason why Jesus Christ came to this word – to reconcile us to God Whom we offended by our transgressions.

Therefore, if you are truly saved today, it means you have been granted the righteousness of Christ. Just believe it!

John 3:16, 18, 36  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. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Acts 13:38-39  Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

1 John 5:9-13  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

See also Acts 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-17.

Righteousness, forgiveness of sin is a gift of God given in response to our faith in Christ.

1. It is a Gift

“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.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:17-18.

You do not have to pay, pay back, or work for a gift. That is why it is a gift.

“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” Romans 3:27

2. It is Imputed to Us When We Believe

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5.

We Need to submit to the righteousness of God by putting our faith in the Gospel Romans 1:16-17.

3. You Have to be Made Righteous by Christ

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19.

Jesus Christ is our righteousness – Romans 5:19; 6:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Romans 5; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 4:9-11,14-16.

Regardless of how much good works you do or can do, you still need Jesus Christ in order to be justified before God.

4. It’s Only by Grace Through Faith

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

See also: Romans 3:24-28,30; 4:5-8, 18-25; 5:1; Titus 3:5-7.

In Romans. 4:5-8, the Bible says he that believes “on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” He inputs His righteousness into us. This means, God imputes His righteousness into us when we put our faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Eternal life!

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21.

The Holy Spirit helps us to obey God – Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 2:11-14 – the grace of God drives holiness, not rules, regulations, or ‘dos and don’ts’. All these are accomplished by the active sanctification work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We just need to submit ourselves completely to the work and leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The grace of God drives holiness, not rules, regulations, or ‘dos and don’ts’.

So, which one would you choose? The righteousness before the cross or the one after the cross.

• One says do and live, the other says it is done, just believe and live.
• One says keep them all or you break them all, the other says Jesus Christ did it all.
• One requires you to keep getting cleansed every now and them by constant blood sacrifices, the other says you have been washed and cleansed once and for all.

Would you simply accept the perfect righteousness of Christ or would you rather do it from scratch by yourself where there is no hope or possibility of completion? You won’t get far with that option! Today could be your last chance!

Jesus says “…he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

Or would you believe and trust Jesus Christ with your life and accept the free gift of Salvation? Jesus says:

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” John 3:36.

The Bible says if we trust in the Gospel, we are saved and sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). We have a mansion of gold in heaven when we die (John 14:1-4). Jesus says I have given eternal life to them that believe (John 10:27-28; 6:47). If you believe today and have decided to put your faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, I congratulate you! You are now born again, you stand fully justified before God.—John 3:36; 5:24; Romans 5:8-9; Acts 13:39.

One Sacrifice for All Sins

Hebrews 10:12-14 makes us to understand that Christ made “…one sacrifice for sin forever.” Jesus Christ died ONCE for ALL sins, past present, and future! All sins are paid for ONCE by His “one sacrifice”!

“By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

So if you’re saved then you are sanctified, and perfected forever – that’s eternal security!

Hebrews 10:18  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Once you’re saved, you’re always saved! You cannot lose your salvation because it’s not based upon your works—

1 Peter 1:18-20  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

Oh how great to be saved and to know it! The only way to know and be sure you’re saved is by believing what the Bible says.

Thank you for reading!