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NASB | Romans 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 4:6 And in this same way David speaks of the blessing on the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: |
Bible Question:
Thanks Joe Now for the anticipated (obligatory?) follow-up based on a portion of an e-mail that prompted my original question: "[The Reformers] taught that the believer is still under the Law as a 'code of conduct'. Christ's death certainly paid for my sins, and now I am to serve God by keeping the Law. Of course, I cannot keep it in its entirety. So, the doctrine states that Christ's perfect righteousnes, as having kept the Law perfectly, is given to me. So, as the common expression goes, when God looks at me, He sees Christ. The more important Biblical doctrine is the Righteousness of God. We are made the Righteousness of God in Christ - that is, while sinful men were allowed to roam the earth and experience God's blessings, God's righteousness was NOT revealed. Why was this sin not judged?!? Rom 1 tells us that the righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel: the death of Christ on the cross reveals what God really thinks about sin, what His righteousness demanded. So, in Rom 3, death of Christ is seen as declaring God's righteousness apart from the Law. If God were to manifest His righteousness according to the Law, the sinner would die when he commits his first sin. The death of Christ shows how God could be 'just' in two distinct spheres: for the 'sins that are past', that is all of God's dealings with man before the cross; and for 'this time', 'justifying' the one who believes in Jesus. In Rom 4:6 (KVJ) we have the word 'imputeth righteousness', but that is a serious mistranslation, reflecting the bias of the reformers. The word is the same as 'counted' in Rom 4:5, and 'reckon' in Rom 6. It does not mean, in any sense, 'give to'; it describes the action of the beholder, not something done to the object beheld. So, we are 'reckoned' righteous by God - when He looks at me, He does not see Christ, He sees (I cannot fathom this!) me, but He sees me as _righteous_. I have been justified, declared righteous, because all of my sins have been removed. Now, it is true that He sees me _in Christ_. But this is a different thing than 'seeing Christ.'" 1. Is the Reformed position given accurately? 2. What are comments concerning the "more important" doctrine of the righteousness of God? Are these things mutually exclusive, or are they possibly mutually misunderstood? Steve |
Bible Answer: Hi Steve, I'll do my best to answer your question from the scriptures without examining Reformed beliefs (which I know nothing about). God calls the righteousness that we have in Christ a gift - Rom 6:23. A gift is something that is given freely by one party to another party. It can be "given" and it can be "received." God does not simply see us as righteous. He does not pretend that we are righteous. He does not see what is not there. He sees us as righteous because we ARE righteous. But this righteousness doesn't not come from ourselves or our actions, it comes from God. We are MADE righteous at salvation - Rom 5:17,19. Specifically, how does God do this? He accomplishes this by giving us a brand new human spirit that is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Now, before you label me a heretic or a mystic, let's examine the scriptures. In Eze 36:26, God promises those under the New Covenant a new spirit, does He not? Why? Because man's "in Adam" spirit is dead in trespasses and sin. Dead to God but alive to sin. We, as New Testament believers, partake in the New Covenant. Paul calls this new spirit the "new self" or the "new man" and at spiritual birth, God creates this in us in RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS - Eph 4:24. Because of this, Paul calls us a "new creation" - 2 Cor 5:17. We have been given something new, a new human spirit that is as righteous and holy as Christ. In fact, it is indwelt by Christ - 1 Cor 6:17; 1 Cor 3:16; 1 cor 6:19. This new spirit that has been born of God - John 3:3,6 - is a treasure inside us that the Holy Spirit Himself guards by uniting Himself with us - 2 Tim 1:14. Therefore nothing can separate us from God. So, when we are spiritual born again, God creates a new spirit within us and also puts the Holy Spirit within us to seal us - Eze 36:27; 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; Eph 4:30. Because this new part of us is created in righteousness and holiness, God can freely join Himself to it. This part of us, the spirit (not the soul, not the body) is "born of God" - John 3:6 - and therefore cannot sin - 1 John 3:9. I can sin out of my flesh, but my new spirit cannot. It is not the source of sin. It is my source of righteousness and holiness and it has been given to me as a free gift. Therefore, when God looks at me as His new creation, He sees what is REALLY there, a new spirit indwelt by His Holy Spirit. It is mine, I have received it, but it comes from Him as a free gift because I have placed my faith and trust in Christ. So though my body is still under sin's curse, my new spirit is alive to God - Rom 8:10. I have been (so have you) joined to God forever. He will never leave us or forsake because our sins have been forgiven. And nothing shall separate us from Him. I hope this helps, bro. I may not be exactly the answer that you were looking for but I believe that there is plenty of scriptural support. "But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him." - 1 Cor 6:17. Not in dissolution but in union. Your brother in Christ, ChristLifer |