so i'm at a lost, why would someone NOT believe in the imputed righteousness of Christ?
The doctrine was an INVENTION of Martin Luther.
It is constructed by selectively quote mining Scripture whilst ignoring the general theme of Scripture.
This doctrine of the "Imputed Righteousness of Christ" serves as a cloak for unrighteousness.
Here is a quote from Martin Luther...
Yesterday we began to speak about the baptism of Christ and said that he accepted it from John for the reason that he was entering into our stead, indeed, our person, that is, becoming a sinner for us, taking upon himself the sins which he had not committed, and wiping them out and drowning them in his holy baptism. And that he did this in accord with the will of God, the heavenly Father, who cast all our sins upon him that he might bear them and not only cleanse us from them through his baptism and make satisfaction for them on the Cross, but also clothe as in his holiness and adorn us with his innocence.Is not this a beautiful, glorious exchange, by which Christ, who is wholly innocent and holy, not only takes upon himself another’s sin, that is, my sin and guilt, but also clothes and adorns me, who am nothing but sin, with his own innocence and purity? And then besides dies the shameful death of the Cross for the sake of my sins, through which I have deserved death and condemnation, and grants to me his righteousness, in order that I may live with him eternally in glorious and unspeakable joy. Through this blessed exchange, in which Christ changes places with us (something the heart can grasp only in faith), and through nothing else, are we freed from sin and death and given his righteousness and life as our own.
Yet the problem is where does the Bible say that Jesus took on the believers guilt? Where does the Bible say that a believer is "adorned" with the "innocence and purity" of Jesus? Where does the Bible state that the believer is "granted the righteousness of Jesus" ?
The Bible teaches no such thing. The "Blessed Exchange" is a MYTH.
The Bible teaches that FAITH IS IMPUTED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. "Faith being imputed as righteousness" is VERY DIFFERENT than the "obedience of Jesus being credited to your account."
Here is how R C Sproul teaches this dangerous doctrine...
[video=youtube;wHqCNEh2y1Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHqCNEh2y1Q[/video]
Yet the Bible says this...
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Are these people trying to deceive you into believing that "righteousness" HAS NOTHING to do with what YOU DO?
The Bible also says this...
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation
he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Ariel, in another post you write this...
- Romans 3:25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
- Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
- 1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
- 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
the above would be what is referred to as the Imputed righteousness of Christ. that Jesus died as a propitiation for our sins.
Do any of those scriptures you referenced teach that the "Righteousness of Christ" is imputed to a believers account? I don't see it.
It is true that the blood is absolutely necessary in purging the conscience of sin in order that believer may approach God in a new and living way seeking mercy and reconciliation. Without the blood there would be no remission of sin.
Yet to twist that into a teaching where the obedience of Jesus is reckoned to the believers account is pure fiction.
Carefully read Romans Chapter 4 and you'll clearly see that it is FAITH which God imputes as righteousness. A faith that has an ASSOCIATED WALK (Rom 11-13). A Faith that is obedient (Heb 11:8). A faith that works by love and fulfills the righteousness of the law (Gal 5:6, Gal 5:14, Rom 8:4) whereby the law is established in the heart (Rom 3:31). In other words God LOOKS AT THE HEART and if an individual LOVES GOD and LOVES THEIR NEIGHBOUR then God reckons that as righteousness APART from the works of the law.
The entire Bible speaks of loving God and loving our neighbour. Nowhere does the Bible teach that "righteousness" or "vice" are transferrable properties. It doesn't even make sense.
This Substitution Theology has no basis in truth whatsoever. Substitution Theology has reduced the Gospel to a judicial abstraction whereby God PRETENDS that a person is righteousness when they are still filthy. It is a doctrine which throws reason out the window.
Look at this passage...
Rev 22:11
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And,
behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
How does that passage fit in with "righteousness" being some abstract legal transaction? It doesn't.
Righteousness is in what YOU DO FROM YOUR HEART.
Look at this passage...
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of
obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Does that fit in with a forensic accreditation of righteousness while one is still filthy?
Paul goes on to say...
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to
righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have y
our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
OUR MANIFEST CONDUCT is related to whether we enter into everlasting life or not. This forensic exchange of Penal Substitution Theology is a MYTH, it is FICTION, it is an idea concocted in the MINDS OF MEN.
Look at this scripture...
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Righteousness is MANIFESTED in CONDUCT. God does not look at you and see Jesus. God looks at you and SEES YOU!
If you are filthy and defiled God sees you as filthy and defiled. If you are pure and holy God sees you as pure and holy. Sinners are sinners and saints are saints.
God does not want anyone to perish but all to come to repentance. God wants all people to be broken on the rock of Christ, to forsake their sin, and to yield to the leading of God. God wants us all to ABIDE IN CHRIST whereby we are YIELDED TO HIS INSTRUCTION. When we YIELD TO GOD from the heart the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts and we become conduits of the light of God. Not of ourselves, but rather, OF GOD. God wants us to be VESSELS of His Spirit.
There is not a single statement in the entire Bible which states that the literal righteousness of Jesus Christ is CREDITED to the believers account. Did Jesus teach anything close to that anywhere? Think about that for a minute. Jesus DID NOT TEACH IT. Nor did Paul, Peter, John or James. Paul's writings are "twisted" to support it.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which
they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Why do people believe this false doctrine then? They believe it because it is what they have been taught and they have
NEVER seriously questioned it.
One has to ask why was it never taught before Martin Luther elaborated on it?