Those Objecting to God Imputing Righteousness

To them who have obtained like precious faith with us through [in] the righteousness of GOD, and [even] our Saviour JESUS CHRIST. 2 Pet. 1:1.

There may be strong faith, where there is no true faith. Persons may pretend to have the assurance of faith—may believe that their sins are forgiven, without one grain of precious faith. Who believes more than a Deist does? He believes he has wisdom to guide, and power to save himself, without either the word, or the grace of God. Who has stronger faith than the self-righteous Pharisee had? He believed he had a right to go to God—to plead his works before God—and to assure his heart that he was accepted of God. He wanted no righteousness from God. This is just such a faith, which all unregenerate men have. It is not a precious faith—it is not obtained through the precious righteousness of Christ—it doth not make his glorious person, and everlasting righteousness precious to the heart—it does not cause such, to renounce the filthy rags of their own righteousness, and to delight in God, as justifying the ungodly, through the righteousness of Christ; and sanctifying the unholy, through the Spirit of his grace. That faith is ever to be suspected, as only a rank weed, which grows in the corrupt soil of human nature, if the possessors of it see not the evils of sin which is in them, the curse it has brought upon them, and that nothing can relieve their conscience, support their mind, bring hope to their heart, and joy to their spirits, but the one spotless righteousness of Christ, in which sinners stand perfectly justified before God. He, who dares open his mouth, in objections against God’s imputing the righteousness of his Son, freely to sinners, and fully justifying them thereby, is shrewdly to be suspected, that so far from having obtained “like precious faith” with the apostles, his heart is not yet convinced of sin. Precious faith will shew itself by its fruits, inward as well as outward. The heart will bow to God’s sovereign will, receive his doctrines of grace, in the love of them, and not object and cavil against them. It will glory, that salvation from first to last, is not of works but of grace. And it will experience, that the grace of God which bringeth salvation, most sweetly, and powerfully, teaches to deny all ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present evil world. Most sweetly says one, “Surely, there can be no greater honor to Christ than this, in the sense of sin, wants, stains, and blemishes, to wrap ourselves in the righteousness of Christ, and with boldness to go clothed in the garments of this our elder Brother, to the throne of grace.” This is the glory of faith, Lord grant it may be ours!

William Mason, "Evening Thought" for June 3, A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 2

 

God imputes righteousness to His elect. Anyone who doesn't believe God's Word on that subject is in a big heap of trouble as believing a false gospel is not exactly a good place to be. Unless God imputes righteousness to a person, then that person has only his own righteousness to plead, and human righteousness is nothing but filthy rags and of no value for salvation.

 

@Van

God imputes Christ's righteousness to His elect. There is no other way to be perfect. As the old hymn says,

"When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found,
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne." (emphasis mine)

 

@Van

Romans 4:6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: (emphasis mine)

 

Romans 5:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, (NKJV)

Romans 4:6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: (NKJV) (emphasis mine)

Verse 6 describes how one's faith is accounted for righteousness - through the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the ungodly whom God regenerates into life in His Son.

 

Romans 4:6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: (NKJV) (emphasis mine)

 

Romans 4:6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: (NKJV) (emphasis mine)

 

Imputation is what is taught in the Bible. Your argument is not with me. Your argument is with God. Heads up for ya, you will lose that argument. Badly.

 

Romans 4:6-8 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying,

Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (KJV)