Righteousness Imputed

Let’s now follow, with ardour, eagerness and passion, something of the faith of our father, Abraham. He was given a promise by God and in the eyes of the world it was something impossible to come to pass. But this is what we have been told about Abraham, this man of great faith.

When God spoke the promise to him,

He believed God.

He never staggered through unbelief.

He remained strong in faith, giving glory to God.

He was fully persuaded that what his Almighty God had promised him, He was more than capable of doing.

It has been categorically documented and stated that because of his faith in God, it was imputed to him for righteousness. Romans 4: 22b KJV.  Then we are drawn into this grace, by the Only God and Giver of life. This therefore is our text.

 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. Romans 4: 20– 23 KJV.

Paul, in teaching the Romans, tells them about the Lord’s righteousness and how it works. He assures them that righteousness does not come from the works of law, as many law-keeping believers think. According to such thinking, as long as the law was kept according to human understanding, people were called righteous. It is through the life of Abraham that Paul explains much about righteousness. His words are relevant for you and me, in our day and time. Paul explains that it is because of Abraham’s stubborn belief in God’s Word to him that God is so very pleased with Abraham. Listen carefully to this testimony of faith. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why it was credited to him as righteousness. Romans 4: 20 – 23. 

The words, credited to him and imputed to him, are one and the same in meaning. In other words, to credit righteousness to Abraham is to impute righteousness to him. But what does impute really mean?

The dictionary says that it is something that is attributed vicariously upon another. We know, for example, of persons upon whom degrees have been credited or imputed, based on how they have given their lives to the advancement of an art form or other benevolence.

In the legal sense, the term imputed, is used to describe an action, fact, or quality, which is charged to a person. This is based upon the actions of another, for whom the individual is responsible, rather than on the individual's own acts or omissions even. A person has been credited with good sense, by the judge, who has heard the case for example, and the life history of someone and imputes such judgment upon that individual. It has absolutely nothing to do with what that person has said or not said to the judge about himself or herself, but what the judge has spoken. This reminds me of Gideon and God’s words through His angel. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, The LORD is with you, mighty warrior. Judges 6: 12. Gideon had not done a thing to warrant the title of mighty warrior. Yet, God imputed it to him as God knew what He was going to do in Gideon’s life.

Theologians tell us that to impute is to ascribe, whether it is righteousness, goodness, guilt, or blame for example, to someone, by virtue of a similar quality in another. Is not the Bible replete with such examples? Will you spend a moment thinking of people imputing or ascribing attributes to God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost?