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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: |
Subject: Imputed Righteousness |
Bible Note: You wrote: "But Heb 10:14 says that Christ's offering on the cross has perfected (past tense) for all time (not just when we die) those who are sanctified." The "having perfected for all time" refers to Jesus' self-sacrifice on the Cross, not our natures. Notice that the whole context of the verse refers not to any regeneration on our parts, but the forgiveness in Christ that the blood of animals never could accomplish. Forgiveness of sins is in view here, not regeneration. Even the Old Testament quote is referring to not remembering our sins, not making us perfect in nature. Not to mention that Jesus' sacrifice was one of atonement, being the substitute for our sin. It is His sinless life that is the basis of our imputed righteousness, not His death. If it is the event of Christ's death which has perfected from that moment on those who are being sanctified, then I was perfected 2000 years ago. "For all time" cannot mean "from now on" or else I was born perfected; and as you have accurately pointed out, that is not true at all. More likely, for all time means something akin to "with a view to eternity." You wrote: "No. What I am putting forward is exactly what Eph 4:24 says - the new self (your spirit, your identity) HAS BEEN created (something new) in God's likeness - righteous and holy." You seem to be equating the "new self" that we are to put on (Ephesians 4:24) with the "new creation" that we already are in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Let's see if those are indeed the same thing: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." Several things can be learned from this verse: 1. I am already a new creature in Christ. 2. The old has passed away. 3. The new has come. All of these are completed actions, just as you say. "if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." --Ephesians 4:21-24 We also can get truths from this passage: 1. The old self is to be laid aside, which assumes that it has not been already. 2. The new self is to be put on, which assumes that it hasn't been already. 3. Our spirits and minds need renewal, which would be unnecessary if our spirits were already righteous. Righteous things do not need renewing. Therefore, if our old nature has passed away, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, and we have already been made new, then Paul could not be addressing the same thing in the same way here. The old and new selves are still present and active, and we who are being progressively sanctified are gradually putting on the new self and casting off the old. Whatever the case, Paul specifically addresses the fact that our spirits are not entirely renewed yet. "Joe, if you wait until you die to be born again of the Spirit of God, you've waited to long." I already am born again. No worries about that. "If you wait until you die to become righteous, you won't make it." I am not waiting, but I am not there yet (Philippians 3:12 -- go read this carefully). "You don't go to heaven to get righteous, bro, you go to heaven because you ALREADY are righteous." No I am not. God has declared me so because of Christ. His perfect record has been applied to me, but I am still a work in progress. The entire New Testament testifies to this fact. Righteous things do not need improvement. The Bible makes it clear that his earth-bound saints still do. --Joe! |