8.21 Our sin was imputed to Jesus and His righteousness was imputed to us

The righteousness of the law is based on self-ability to attain to. Since no one succeeded, God had to provide His own righteousness – called God’s righteousness. The Bible also calls it the righteousness of faith. This means that the only way to receive it is by faith apart from the works of the law (Rom 3:21-22). Since we did not earn it, we receive it on the basis of IMPUTATION. This is the theme throughout the book of Romans.

Yesterday, we shared that all our sins and lawless deeds have been IMPUTED to Christ.

(Rom 4:7-8)
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall NOT IMPUTE SIN.”

While all our sins have been imputed on Christ, all His righteousness has been IMPUTED to us.

(Rom 4:5-6)
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM WORKS…

We receive it as a FREE GIFT (Rom 5:17). You may ask, “How can we who did no righteousness receive His righteousness?” It is the same as asking, “How can Jesus who did no sin carry our sins on the cross?” This is God’s IMPUTATION system.

The Bible says that we were condemned by Adam’s offense in the Garden of Eden. This is because we were in Adam when he sinned. Today, we receive justification of life through Jesus’ obedience on the cross. He is able to represent us because He is our Creator and we were in Him when He created us.

(Rom 5:18-19)
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Thank God. Thank God for the righteousness of God IMPUTED by faith. Otherwise, no one would have made it. It is His grace that qualified us. It is His goodness that saved us. This is how we should live each day – on the basis of continuous faith in Christ (Rom 1:17). Our boast is not in ourselves. Our total dependence is on Christ.