Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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: |
Subject: Imputed Righteousness |
Bible Note: "Concerning Romans 5:19: I think you are misreading this verse, brother." No, I think you are misunderstanding/ignoring my point. In your comments on this verse, you are arguing in your post against a position I do not hold and arguments I have not made. I know this verse is not talking about performace. It is talking about our glorification, a separate work of God from our justification. You seem to want to separate righteousness from works. While the righteousness given to us is not based on OUR works, it is inseparable connected to the works of Christ. There is no such thing as INTRINSIC righteousness (our own righteousness) apart from obedience to God. Christ was and is intrinsically righteous. His righteousness is credited to us on the basis of faith. That is to say, HIS perfect obedience is credited to us. HIS works. Works play an important part in our salvation; the only thing is that they are the works that Christ did during his years on earth and not our own works. For us to be declared righteous, it was important not only that Jesus die, but also that he live a perfect, sinless life first. Simply put, inherent righteousness makes no sense apart from works. Again, I do not know why you keep repeating that we receive Christ's righteousness as a gift. I am fully in agreement there. My point is that Scripture does not say that we therefore become righteous instantly. If that were the case, there would have been no need for Christ to come and be righteous as our representative before God. Why do you fail to address the tense issue I raised in the verse? In the entire section comparing the first Adam to the second, justification is described as a past-tense event ("resulted" in justification), while being made righteous is described as a future-tense one? One is past, the other is future. There is no getting around the grammar here. You wrote: 'This verse is NOT talking about performance, bro. It is talking about identification. Are you "in Adam" and therefore a sinner, or are you "in Christ" and therefore have His rigtheousness as a gift (vs. 17). It's that simple.' You are right; it is indeed that simple. And I have HIS righteousness as a gift while at the same time I have not been MADE righteous myself. You fail to distinguish these as the two different things that they are. You keep repeating that righteousness is a gift, as if I am denying that. What I am denying is that Christ's righteousness makes US righteous. And it is your view that is the novelty. Classical Protestantism holds the view that I do. You know, the movement that re-established justification by faith alone in the first place. There likely would have never been a Reformation of the church if Luther had held your view, because it was the same position as Rome. In fact, the very issue we are describing was the defining moment in Luther's conversion, having understood that we are saved by a righteousness not our own, but a foreign righteousness from God. You wrote: "Phil 2:13 - Sure it is God at work in us living out what He has already done." No. "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." --Philippians 2:12-13 What Paul is talking about here is our OBEDIENCE, our sanctification. We are indeed to work, not for our justification (which is wholly a work of God), but in the cooperative effort of sanctification (in which God involves us). And God is at work in us so what WE will will and work for His good pleasure. We are not working toward justification, but we are working toward sanctification, with the power that God supplies in His grace by His Spirit. --Joe! |