Why do so many oppose imputed righteousness?

It would appear that large numbers of Christians are opposed to the Gospel truth of imputed righteousness, and sincerely believe that they must add their own righteousness to the righteousness of Christ (or apart from the righteousness of Christ) in order to be accepted into Heaven. Many even falsely believe that water baptism saves them.

Imputed righteousness is so foreign to human experience that if we did not have the Word of God to show us that God literally credits the righteousness of Christ to every believer’s spiritual account, none of us would believe it.

But imputed righteousness cannot be isolated from justification by grace through faith. Therefore if we believe that God justifies the ungodly because they have trusted wholly in Christ and His finished work of redemption, then we must also believe that at that very moment God places the *robe* of the righteousness of Christ upon the one who repents and believes God.

We first read of imputed righteousness in the Old Testament, but it is brought out clearly in the New Testament in the account of Abel, who was murdered by his brother Cain: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.(Heb 11:4) In the same way Noah was deemed righteous because he believed, trusted, and obeyed God, his obedience being the outcome of his faith: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Gen 6:8) We see here that grace and faith are connected.

But the Holy Spirit uses the example of Abraham as the man who was justified by grace through faith, and to whom God imputed righteousness when he believed God: And, behold, the Word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and He [the LORD] counted it to him for righteousness.

Thus the Holy Spirit also inspired Paul to take Abraham’s example and apply it to every believer in Romans 4. While the New Testament speaks of this critical matter in several places, it is in the fourth chapter of the epistle to the Romans that Paul – under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit – explains the meaning of imputed righteousness.

ROMANS 4
JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS WOULD GLORIFY MAN
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND WAS DEEMED RIGHTEOUS
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

GRACE IS EXCLUDED WHEN MEN BRING THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO GOD
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

WORKS ARE EXCLUDED WHEN GOD JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

CIRCUMCISION DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

CIRCUMCISION SHOULD ONLY BE A SIGN OF FAITH
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

TORAH OBSERVANCE DOES NOT MAKE ANYONE RIGHTEOUS
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

JUSTIFICATION IS PURELY BY GOD'S GRACE THROUGH FAITH
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS STRONG AND GAVE GLORY TO GOD
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS IMPUTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

EVERY BELIEVER’S FAITH IN CHRIST IS ALSO IMPUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

If a person is born again and does not believe in Jesus is he still saved eternally? My answer is Yes. 2 Tim 2:13 - If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself. A born again person has the righteousness of Christ imputed to him.

Perhaps it would help to tell those who may not know what Imputed Righteousness is?
The meaning of Imputation in the Bible(From Easton's Bible Dictionary)
is used to designate any action or word or thing as reckoned to a person. Thus in doctrinal language (1) the sin of Adam is imputed to all his descendants, i.e., it is reckoned as theirs, and they are dealt with therefore as guilty; (2) the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them that believe in him, or so attributed to them as to be considered their own; and (3) our sins are imputed to Christ, i.e., he assumed our "law-place," undertook to answer the demands of justice for our sins. In all these cases the nature of imputation is the same (Romans 5:12-19; Compare Philemon 1:18,19).


See more on the meaning of Imputation in the Bible:
Imputation {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}



The Book of 2nd Timothy 13:11 Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: 13 if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.

What then is the difference between belief and faith?

Put to our account is easy enough to understand......

No one can be born again unless he or she first repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. See Romans 10 and John 1:12,13.

the devils believe =
FGC,
your question is demonic!!!, and you know it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi @Nehemiah6, et al, the RCC teaches against/stands opposed to imputed righteousness (which is the Father's crediting of His Son's righteousness to our accounts).

On the other hand, they fully embrace imputed sin/sinfulness (which is the crediting of our sins to Jesus' account), and they know that salvation is not possible apart from it (just like we do). I wonder why they believe that one side is true, but the other is not, why they think they can have it both ways

Here's a short article to consider from our friends at Got Questions: https://www.gotquestions.org/imputed-righteousness.html

~Deut
p.s. - the imputation of Christ's righteousness is at the very heart of the difference between Catholics and Protestants. It is seen and understood clearly in the positions (doctrines) that we each hold.


Both of us believe in/teach the necessity of our 'sins' being imputed to Christ's account, as I already mentioned above.

Here's a simply amazing verse that shows us that imputation works both ways

It is good to see that you finally believe that God only awards imputed righteousness (Rom.4:5) by Faith placed and maintained exclusively in Christ and the Cross of Calvary where the victory was won. There is no other way we can receive the sanctifying Grace of God daily.

Many, including you believed that this was the Jimmy Swaggart made up version of the bible.

The person who doesn't believe this or understand this is working in a make believe and pretend salvation who may receive many likes from everyone here, but Jesus says that this person is dead (Rev. 3:1) and is going to hell (Matthew 7:14). Christ has become of no effect to them.

What we were saying is that Jimmy Swaggart was failing to speak of the finished work of Christ in His death on the cross, as well as in His resurrection, His ascension, and His exaltation. The resurrection was as important as the crucifixion.

Who [Christ] was delivered for our offences [CRUCIFIED], and was raised again [RESURRECTED] for our justification. (Rom 4:25)

learned way back in Sunday School what salvation is and that there is no name under heaven whereby a person (says man in scripture but means all) might be saved.

that, is the name of Jesus

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, 10then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is

‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’a

12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4

His righteousness is imputed to us

“As it regards the Cross of Christ versus the Resurrection, the great Apostle said:

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect” (I Cor. 1:17). If it is to be noticed, he did not say, “lest the Resurrection of Christ should be made of none effect.”

He also said, “For the preaching (Word) of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us which are Saved it is the Power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).” “He did not say, “For the preaching of the Resurrection is to them. . . .”

The great Apostle also said, “But we preach Christ Crucified” (I Cor. 1:23). He did not say, as it regards the Atonement, “We preach Christ Resurrected. . . .”

Of course, Paul preached the Resurrection of Christ, even as Chapter 15 of I Corinthians bears out, but not as the Atonement.

He also stated to the Church at Corinth and to all others as well, “For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified” (I Cor. 2:2). He did not say, “For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him Resurrected. . . .”

“He also stated, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .” (Gal. 6:14). He did not say, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . .”

As we have stated, while the Resurrection, and the Ascension, and the Exaltation of Christ were of extreme significance, these three tremendous attributes were the result of the Atonement, i.e., “the Cross,” instead of the cause.

Excerpt From
Brother Swaggart, Here Is My Question About The Cross
Jimmy Swaggart
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/br...my-question-about-the-cross/id917790228?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright.

Those who have a zeal of God in Romans 10:1-2-3. have already been born again or they would not have a zeal of God. See 1 Cor 2:14, the natural man cannot discern the things of the Spirit and would never have a zeal o God. Those in Romans needed to be delivered from their lack of knowledge of the gospel just as do most of the ones on this forum. John 1:12-13, even says "which were (past tense) born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God". You are indoctrinated so much with the idea that man plays a part by his choice to be born again, that you can not see the meaning of a scripture that is right there in front of your eyes.

But we are justified by the work of Christ's faith alone according to his three day labor of love. We are freely given his reward of grace (not of our won selves... . Because of it we can repent .Without it. No man could seek after him having no prior understanding . He always make the first move working in us. . If He does not work in us to turn us we in return cannot comfort (repent ) our own selves.

Repentance is a work of God... It works in us to both will and perform His good pleasure (imputed righteousness)

Maybe people are so self righteous that can easily fit thru the eye of the needle just like rich the rich, so says Jesus, and they just have no concept how narrow that rod is....

Hi no expert but spend much time on Catholic, Protestant discussion board looking at that idea. My first experience on message boards.

Not that I would say there are no Christians as Catholics , only God can see into the hearts of all men, but would suggest it is a very dark place.

Although the scriptures inform us that there must be division or heresy, matters of opinion amongst us. . knowing the kingdom of God is not of this world and we must walk by the unseen faith principle . . . when it comes to the grace of Christ confirming the Lord has bought them it is something we can judge as damanble. . not dammed but in a place needing the light of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even "denying the Lord that bought them", and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Because they say only this queen of heaven they name after our blessed sister in the Lord, Mary. That she as a mother of mercy alone had the fulness of grace others receive a unknown remnant of grace and they must work out the unknown amount of time even needed after they pass from this realm under the sun. In a unknown place called purgatory, it continues again for an unknow amount of time or kind of suffering. That clearly does despite to the grace of God denying the Lord has bought them .

Protestants are given another understanding that His grace was sufficient to redeem. He gives us the full amount needed .Not a kick start. . work out your own salvation.

It can also be seen by the use of the patron saints as disembodied workers with familiar spirits. Catholic gods. legion (3500 and rising) they can call on any time and place . Sources of unseen faith, a false zeal for knowing the true God as a our father in heaven.

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.Isiaha8:19-20

The word Seek. . Hebrew darash if defined in two ways depending on its usage. One. . Necromancy a legion of workers with familiar spirit gods . Or seeking after the one manner prescribed in Mathew 6 . Our father in heaven not seen. (not dead saints in heaven)

Darash, Used twice in the first seek as necromancy . The second seeking our father in heaven not seen. . the light bearer the glory of God

A person undermined by their pride wants to make it by their own efforts.. They do not want to recieve a gift.. They want to recieve a payment.. But we know what pride in people leads to..

Proverbs 16: KJV
18 "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Sadly the biggest cult in the "'Christian?"" world is the Works salvation one..

To answer the title question; Because they don't read Romans 8 and apply it to themself, they don't honestly examine themselves to see that even when they do a good thing it is polluted by fleshly motivations, and they think that they have some righteousness within themself that isn't of Christ. It's really a kind of pride.