Podcasts about Imputed righteousness

Practical Righteousness is the Necessary Fruit of Imputed Righteousness. Pastor Bob La Tour explains this essential element of the Christian life and testimony.

Cloverdale Bibleway 25-0209M

Galatians 3:13 Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

Your words were found and I ate them

Find the accompanying PowerPoint Here. Sin & Grace: Imputed Righteousness, by Donnie V. Rader. 12/22/2024 Sunday PM Sermon.

Topics: Doug Wilson and Jared Longshore's conversation with Chris Gordon (Westminster Seminary; Moscow & Escondido); dispensationalism and covenantalism, active obedience, justification, imputed righteousness, John MacArthur, The Master's Seminary, Shepherd's Theological SeminaryWatch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere

Pastor Perry Shockley | BFBC: Williston | Sunday 9.1.24

A new VIDEO from Harvest Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Imputed Righteousness (Rm4) Subtitle: Romans Speaker: Lance Waldie Broadcaster: Harvest Bible Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 8/11/2024 Bible: Romans 4:1-8 Length: 51 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Free Grace Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: [Romans-034] Romans 3: Justification and Imputed Righteousness Subtitle: Romans Speaker: Dr. John Brumett Broadcaster: Free Grace Bible Church Event: Midweek Service Date: 7/31/2024 Bible: Romans 3:19-24 Length: 49 min.

Even when we were unfaithful, Jesus Christ came to us and made us His bride. In this episode, Barry Cooper portrays the shocking yet dazzling marriage between Christ and the church. Read the transcript: https://simplyputpodcast.com/imputed-righteousness/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Is this really fair? "That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone."   This is how God chose how people would be saved, "By the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in the truth" 

Join us as Pastor Jared and Pastor Tyler answer questions concerning Genesis 15! 1) Why is Genesis 15:6 so significant? 2) Why does God want to wipe out the Amorites? 3) Why do covenants in the bible matter to me?

Pastor Al Dagel has good teaching for us on the subject of Imputed righteousness.  Paul's teaching in the Book of Romans proves to be very helpful in understanding our blessings in Jesus!

In this episode of the Reformed Brotherhood Podcast, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb dive into the topic of the breastplate of righteousness as part of their series on the Armor of God. They discuss the significance of righteousness as both imputed and infused, emphasizing the vital role it plays in the Christian faith. Drawing from Romans and other biblical passages, they explore the concept of justification and how it covers and protects believers, enabling them to walk worthy of their calling. Join them as they unpack the deep theological truths behind this piece of spiritual armor and its practical implications for the Christian life. Tune in and be equipped with insights and encouragement for your own spiritual journey.

Series: N/AService: Sun AMType: SermonSpeaker: Warren King

September 24, 2023: Cole Deike

Dan discusses a recent article put out by Doug Wilson discussing infused and imputed righteousness. Is infused righteousness the means of imputed righteousness? We discuss. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-particular-baptist/support

Anyone know what Body Armor is? It is worn by the police, military and others in a protective role. It was first known to be used in about 1400 BC in southern Iraq. It is commonplace in today’s world and comes in many different styles and levels, depending on the threat that might be encountered. So Body Armor sort of defines who you are and what you will encounter by the type you wear or use. Body Armor was used in biblical times from Kings to warriors, to fight the enemy. But there is another kind of Body Armor. Spiritual Body Armor. You may never have to be in physical body armor in your life but you will certainly need spiritual body armor, because Satan is your enemy and he is coming for you. This series talks about this spiritual body armor and how it works together to protect you. First is the duty belt and ballistic vest.

Anyone know what Body Armor is? It is worn by the police, military and others in a protective role. It was first known to be used in about 1400 BC in southern Iraq. It is commonplace in today’s world and comes in many different styles and levels, depending on the threat that might be encountered. So Body Armor sort of defines who you are and what you will encounter by the type you wear or use. Body Armor was used in biblical times from Kings to warriors, to fight the enemy. But there is another kind of Body Armor. Spiritual Body Armor. You may never have to be in physical body armor in your life but you will certainly need spiritual body armor, because Satan is your enemy and he is coming for you. This series talks about this spiritual body armor and how it works together to protect you. First is the duty belt and ballistic vest.

The most quoted and well-known verses of the Bible is "love one another". John outlines in this letter to the church throughout the Roman empire what that really means. It is a teaching that is relevant for all times and all situations! But our culture has redefined it from the original meaning. We need to understand what John really meant in order for us to truly follow its command.POINT 1: PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESSA. Imputed Righteousness B. Imparted Righteousness POINT 2: LAY DOWN OUR LIVES1. Resources2. ActionsPOINT 3: LOVE FROM GOD'S APPROVAL

In these evil times, it is essential that we stand firm in the Lord and do not compromise our faith to the spirit of the world. The Lord is seeking those whose hearts are loyal to Him, so that He can show Himself strong on their behalf (2Chronicles 16:9). Derek relates the events in 2Chronicles 16 to our present life in the world, and reveals from Ephesians 6:10-17 the keys to being able to stand strong and stay loyal to God in the present spiritual warfare. First, we need to be filled with the Power of His SPIRIT (v10), and second we need to put on the whole Armour of God, which God provides to us through His WORD (v11-17). Derek describes all the pieces of God's Armour, and how to put them on, so that they become effectual in our fight of faith.

Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Lots of ways to translate that one word – imputed, reckoned, counted, credited, and accounted. But we don't have righteousness without Christ, but by grace through faith in Jesus we can be credited His righteousness. And that makes all the difference. Romans 4:1-8 Taught … Continue reading Imputed Righteousness →

Living by faith starts by (1) submitting our heart to Christ as our Lord and trusting in Him as our Source, and then (2) building our lives upon Him as our Foundation by HEARING and DOING His WORDS (1Cor 3:11, Matt 7:24-25, Col 2:6-7). There are 3 Dimensions to the problem of SIN: *(1) IMPUTED SIN. Through our union to Adam, we were in a legal state of guilt in Adam. *(2) IMPARTED SIN – we inherited a SIN-NATURE in our flesh from Adam through physical birth. When Adam sinned his spirit died (cut off from God's life) and a sin-nature came into his flesh (bringing his body under the power of death), and he became a slave of the sin-nature (SIN). SIN acts on man's soul to cause him to live independently from God (the independent soul-life). SIN was transmitted by physical birth from Adam to every human being through their father, with the exception of Jesus, who had no sin-nature (2Cor 5:21). So, we all have SIN in our flesh (1John 1:8). The inherited sin-nature made us all sinners by nature. We were all conceived in sin (Ps 51:5), born slaves of sin (John 8:34), under the power of sin (Rom 3:9). commit SINS. *(3) Our PERSONAL SINS, which we commit when we yield to SIN. (1) On the Cross, Jesus has set us free from the PENALTY of sin. (2) Now by His Spirit within us He is setting us free from the POWER of sin. (3) At the future Resurrection, He will set us free from even the PRESENCE of sin. (1) Christ dealt with our state of sin (our imputed sin from Adam) by becoming the 2nd Adam, offering Himself as our Representative Head, instead of the first Adam. He lived a perfectly righteous life, and on the Cross He accomplished a Great Exchange, by offering up His perfect righteousness to God on our behalf, and taking all our sin. So when we receive Christ as our Lord, we are taken out of Adam and put (baptised) into Christ. Then this exchange is immediately accomplished in us, so all our sin is remitted, and we are given His perfect righteousness (imputed to us as a free-gift), putting us in right relationship with God. As IN ADAM we were all in a state of sin, before we committed any sin, even so IN CHRIST we were put into a state of perfect righteousness before God, even before we committed any righteous act. On this basis, we are declared righteous (justified) and fully accepted by God in Christ. On this legal basis, we can now receive life from God through faith (Romans 5:1,2,17-19). Now we are under grace (Romans 6:14,15), and qualify to receive God's abundant grace. (2) However, believers still have a sin-nature in their flesh, as the new birth only changed our spirit; so as long as we live in our flesh, we still have SIN to deal with (1John 1:8). But Jesus came to set us free from SIN (John 8:34-36). He did 2 things to make it possible for us to live in victory over sin: *(1) He provided a NEW BIRTH for our SPIRIT, and put His Holy Spirit within our spirit. Our spirit was made alive with Christ, and raised with Christ far above all sin and evil powers (Ephesians 2:5-6). Our spirit consists of His resurrection life, which has already overcome sin and is perfect in Christ. Also, the Holy Spirit indwells our spirit, so He has set our spirit, the core of our being, completely free from sin (2Cor 3:17). God has restored our spirit as His base of operation in us, and as we live by His grace thru faith and walk in the Spirit we will not sin, for the power of the Spirit is greater than the power of sin in the flesh (Gal 5:16). Thus, He gave us His imparted righteousness in our spirit, by which we can live in victory over the imparted sin in our flesh, by the power of His Spirit. The more we let the Spirit fill our soul, the more our soul is freed from the power of sin-nature, by His Presence within us (2Cor 3:17). Romans 8 describes how to walk in victory over SIN in the flesh. It starts by establishing that through His imputed righteousness, we are in a legal state of righteousness before God, and so have full access to His Spirit of grace to walk in victory over sin. This is the foundational truth for victory (v1,2). *(2) The 2nd thing Christ did for us is that on the Cross, is He JUDGED SIN in the flesh, so that it no longer has any right to rule over you, so now you can choose to submit to Christ and His righteousness and grace flowing from the Spirit, rather than to your old slave-master of SIN in your flesh (v3-4).

Living by faith starts by (1) submitting our heart to Christ as our Lord and trusting in Him as our Source, and then (2) building our lives upon Him as our Foundation by HEARING and DOING His WORDS (1Cor 3:11, Matt 7:24-25, Col 2:6-7). There are 3 Dimensions to the problem of SIN: *(1) IMPUTED SIN. Through our union to Adam, we were in a legal state of guilt in Adam. *(2) IMPARTED SIN – we inherited a SIN-NATURE in our flesh from Adam through physical birth. When Adam sinned his spirit died (cut off from God's life) and a sin-nature came into his flesh (bringing his body under the power of death), and he became a slave of the sin-nature (SIN). SIN acts on man's soul to cause him to live independently from God (the independent soul-life). SIN was transmitted by physical birth from Adam to every human being through their father, with the exception of Jesus, who had no sin-nature (2Cor 5:21). So, we all have SIN in our flesh (1John 1:8). The inherited sin-nature made us all sinners by nature. We were all conceived in sin (Ps 51:5), born slaves of sin (John 8:34), under the power of sin (Rom 3:9). commit SINS. *(3) Our PERSONAL SINS, which we commit when we yield to SIN. (1) On the Cross, Jesus has set us free from the PENALTY of sin. (2) Now by His Spirit within us He is setting us free from the POWER of sin. (3) At the future Resurrection, He will set us free from even the PRESENCE of sin. (1) Christ dealt with our state of sin (our imputed sin from Adam) by becoming the 2nd Adam, offering Himself as our Representative Head, instead of the first Adam. He lived a perfectly righteous life, and on the Cross He accomplished a Great Exchange, by offering up His perfect righteousness to God on our behalf, and taking all our sin. So when we receive Christ as our Lord, we are taken out of Adam and put (baptised) into Christ. Then this exchange is immediately accomplished in us, so all our sin is remitted, and we are given His perfect righteousness (imputed to us as a free-gift), putting us in right relationship with God. As IN ADAM we were all in a state of sin, before we committed any sin, even so IN CHRIST we were put into a state of perfect righteousness before God, even before we committed any righteous act. On this basis, we are declared righteous (justified) and fully accepted by God in Christ. On this legal basis, we can now receive life from God through faith (Romans 5:1,2,17-19). Now we are under grace (Romans 6:14,15), and qualify to receive God's abundant grace. (2) However, believers still have a sin-nature in their flesh, as the new birth only changed our spirit; so as long as we live in our flesh, we still have SIN to deal with (1John 1:8). But Jesus came to set us free from SIN (John 8:34-36). He did 2 things to make it possible for us to live in victory over sin: *(1) He provided a NEW BIRTH for our SPIRIT, and put His Holy Spirit within our spirit. Our spirit was made alive with Christ, and raised with Christ far above all sin and evil powers (Ephesians 2:5-6). Our spirit consists of His resurrection life, which has already overcome sin and is perfect in Christ. Also, the Holy Spirit indwells our spirit, so He has set our spirit, the core of our being, completely free from sin (2Cor 3:17). God has restored our spirit as His base of operation in us, and as we live by His grace thru faith and walk in the Spirit we will not sin, for the power of the Spirit is greater than the power of sin in the flesh (Gal 5:16). Thus, He gave us His imparted righteousness in our spirit, by which we can live in victory over the imparted sin in our flesh, by the power of His Spirit. The more we let the Spirit fill our soul, the more our soul is freed from the power of sin-nature, by His Presence within us (2Cor 3:17). Romans 8 describes how to walk in victory over SIN in the flesh. It starts by establishing that through His imputed righteousness, we are in a legal state of righteousness before God, and so have full access to His Spirit of grace to walk in victory over sin. This is the foundational truth for victory (v1,2). *(2) The 2nd thing Christ did for us is that on the Cross, is He JUDGED SIN in the flesh, so that it no longer has any right to rule over you, so now you can choose to submit to Christ and His righteousness and grace flowing from the Spirit, rather than to your old slave-master of SIN in your flesh (v3-4).

The Foundation for our being, character and life is the PERSON of CHRIST Himself (1Cor 3:11, Isa 28:16, Col 2:6-7). Christ is not just the Foundation for our eternal salvation, but for our very being and everyday living (Ro 1:16-17). "The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God is revealed from (saving) FAITH to (living) FAITH; as it is written: “(1) The JUST (by FAITH) shall (2) LIVE by FAITH” (v17). (1) First we are JUSTIFIED (made righteous) by FAITH. When we trust in Christ, His perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS is IMPUTED to us (put to our account) - a legal transaction based on the Great Exchange accomplished on the Cross. We stand before God on the basis of His perfect righteousness, so God accepts us, just as He accepts Jesus. Christ and His imputed righteousness is our forever, firm foundation for our eternal salvation, and our life today, and it ensures our eternal life. On this legal basis God instantly gave us the New Birth. The imparted righteousness of Christ was applied to our spirit. Now we are justified by faith, we are now to LIVE by FAITH in Christ, our living Foundation, looking to Him and leaning on Him as our Source of life, rather than trusting in our own soul. As we trust in His Life in us, He sanctifies us by His Spirit, and we receive His imparted righteousness (grace) into our souls, inspiring and empowering us to do His will (Phil 2:13). The more we submit to Him and trust in Him as our Foundation, the more He fills us with His love and empowers us with His grace. Thus He is our Foundation for our everyday life. Living by faith starts by submitting to the Lordship of Christ and opening our hearts to receive His love-gift of His Spirit and His Word to us. Then by depending on the Spirit of grace, we must put His Word into practice (Matthew 7:24-25). The first 2 Foundational Doctrines of Christ are (1) REPENTANCE from dead works and (2) FAITH toward God (Heb 6:1-2). They describe the necessary attitude of our hearts, to live our lives on Christ, living from the supply of His grace, trusting in Him as our base of operation. We must REPENT from the old way of operating from our independent soul-life, trusting in self, which only produces dead works, and instead embrace the new way of trusting in Christ as our life, which produces the fruit of the Spirit (Matt 10:39, Rom 7:6, John 6:63). The new way is living under grace, by faith in the life of Christ within us. He is the only One who can save us from the penalty, power and presence of sin. In the old way of living under law, we make laws and principles our basis for living, and try to live them out from our own soul. Sin is the opposite of holiness and righteousness. Living under righteousness brings life, but living under sin brings death. God designed us to be holy to God, filled with His Spirit of righteousness, empowering us to live a life of righteousness by trusting Him as our Source, and thereby producing good works. The essence of sin is rejecting this way of depending on God, and instead going our own way, living out from self as the centre. Our own soul-life, rather than God's life, becomes our base of operation (Isaiah 53:6). The problem of sin is on 3 dimensions. *Level 1 of SIN is the STATE of SIN (imputed sin), which is due to Adam's original sin, the representative head of the human race. When he sinned, we all sinned in Adam. This is IMPUTED SIN (Adam's sin was put to our account). All mankind are born legally in a State of Sin, simply because of being in Adam. As a result spiritual and physical death came on all men (Romans 5:12-21). *Level 2 of SIN is the SIN-NATURE or IMPARTED SIN. When Adam sinned (1) his spirit died (disconnected from God's life), (2) he received a sin-nature in his flesh (imparted sin), replacing his spirit as the controlling power over his soul, causing his soul to operate in pride, independently from God (the independent soul-life). The sin-nature is called sin (1Jn 1:8, Ro 6:6,7,11,12,14), sin in the flesh (Ro 8:3), the body of sin (Ro 6:6). We inherited a sin-nature in our flesh from Adam through physical birth (John 3:6).We were born slaves to sin (the sin-nature), and cannot set ourselves free. *Level 3 of SIN is PERSONAL SINS. We commit sins when we yield to the sin-nature in our flesh (John 8:34). Through the Cross, Christ provided the answer for all 3 dimensions of SIN. Daniel 9:24 predicts Christ will: "(1) finish the TRANSGRESSION (Adam's original sin), (2) make an end of SINS (forgiveness for personal sins), (3) make atonement for INIQUITY (our sin-nature).” (1) Jesus dealt with our STATE of SIN in Adam, by coming as the righteous 2nd Adam, offering Himself to us as our new Head. When we receive Him as our Lord, God takes us out of Adam and puts us into Christ, and His perfect righteousness is imputed to us as a free-gift. Instead of the imputed sin of Adam, we now have the imputed righteousness of Christ, and on that basis God declares us forgiven and righteous (justified by faith).

The Foundation for our being, character and life is the PERSON of CHRIST Himself (1Cor 3:11, Isa 28:16, Col 2:6-7). Christ is not just the Foundation for our eternal salvation, but for our very being and everyday living (Ro 1:16-17). "The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God is revealed from (saving) FAITH to (living) FAITH; as it is written: “(1) The JUST (by FAITH) shall (2) LIVE by FAITH” (v17). (1) First we are JUSTIFIED (made righteous) by FAITH. When we trust in Christ, His perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS is IMPUTED to us (put to our account) - a legal transaction based on the Great Exchange accomplished on the Cross. We stand before God on the basis of His perfect righteousness, so God accepts us, just as He accepts Jesus. Christ and His imputed righteousness is our forever, firm foundation for our eternal salvation, and our life today, and it ensures our eternal life. On this legal basis God instantly gave us the New Birth. The imparted righteousness of Christ was applied to our spirit. Now we are justified by faith, we are now to LIVE by FAITH in Christ, our living Foundation, looking to Him and leaning on Him as our Source of life, rather than trusting in our own soul. As we trust in His Life in us, He sanctifies us by His Spirit, and we receive His imparted righteousness (grace) into our souls, inspiring and empowering us to do His will (Phil 2:13). The more we submit to Him and trust in Him as our Foundation, the more He fills us with His love and empowers us with His grace. Thus He is our Foundation for our everyday life. Living by faith starts by submitting to the Lordship of Christ and opening our hearts to receive His love-gift of His Spirit and His Word to us. Then by depending on the Spirit of grace, we must put His Word into practice (Matthew 7:24-25). The first 2 Foundational Doctrines of Christ are (1) REPENTANCE from dead works and (2) FAITH toward God (Heb 6:1-2). They describe the necessary attitude of our hearts, to live our lives on Christ, living from the supply of His grace, trusting in Him as our base of operation. We must REPENT from the old way of operating from our independent soul-life, trusting in self, which only produces dead works, and instead embrace the new way of trusting in Christ as our life, which produces the fruit of the Spirit (Matt 10:39, Rom 7:6, John 6:63). The new way is living under grace, by faith in the life of Christ within us. He is the only One who can save us from the penalty, power and presence of sin. In the old way of living under law, we make laws and principles our basis for living, and try to live them out from our own soul. Sin is the opposite of holiness and righteousness. Living under righteousness brings life, but living under sin brings death. God designed us to be holy to God, filled with His Spirit of righteousness, empowering us to live a life of righteousness by trusting Him as our Source, and thereby producing good works. The essence of sin is rejecting this way of depending on God, and instead going our own way, living out from self as the centre. Our own soul-life, rather than God's life, becomes our base of operation (Isaiah 53:6). The problem of sin is on 3 dimensions. *Level 1 of SIN is the STATE of SIN (imputed sin), which is due to Adam's original sin, the representative head of the human race. When he sinned, we all sinned in Adam. This is IMPUTED SIN (Adam's sin was put to our account). All mankind are born legally in a State of Sin, simply because of being in Adam. As a result spiritual and physical death came on all men (Romans 5:12-21). *Level 2 of SIN is the SIN-NATURE or IMPARTED SIN. When Adam sinned (1) his spirit died (disconnected from God's life), (2) he received a sin-nature in his flesh (imparted sin), replacing his spirit as the controlling power over his soul, causing his soul to operate in pride, independently from God (the independent soul-life). The sin-nature is called sin (1Jn 1:8, Ro 6:6,7,11,12,14), sin in the flesh (Ro 8:3), the body of sin (Ro 6:6). We inherited a sin-nature in our flesh from Adam through physical birth (John 3:6).We were born slaves to sin (the sin-nature), and cannot set ourselves free. *Level 3 of SIN is PERSONAL SINS. We commit sins when we yield to the sin-nature in our flesh (John 8:34). Through the Cross, Christ provided the answer for all 3 dimensions of SIN. Daniel 9:24 predicts Christ will: "(1) finish the TRANSGRESSION (Adam's original sin), (2) make an end of SINS (forgiveness for personal sins), (3) make atonement for INIQUITY (our sin-nature).” (1) Jesus dealt with our STATE of SIN in Adam, by coming as the righteous 2nd Adam, offering Himself to us as our new Head. When we receive Him as our Lord, God takes us out of Adam and puts us into Christ, and His perfect righteousness is imputed to us as a free-gift. Instead of the imputed sin of Adam, we now have the imputed righteousness of Christ, and on that basis God declares us forgiven and righteous (justified by faith).

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:    Romans 3:21-22 - But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. MENTIONED ON TODAY'S EPISODE: Become a Morning Mindset Media partner: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/partner  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Galatians 5:1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (NKJV). Galatians 5:1: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (NIV). This key verse is transitional, moving the letter of Galatians into a description of Christian life of liberty through the Holy Spirit, moving the emphasis from justification to sanctification. He starts from the conclusion of the last chapter: "Christ has set us FREE", and declares that He has done this, so that we might live and enjoy a life of FREEDOM. Therefore, we should refuse to allow ourselves to return to a life of slavery by embracing legalism. First, we discuss what the Bible means by FREEDOM. It is not freedom to do whatever we want, or to sin as we please. We are not set free to sin, but we are set free from sin. Living under the flesh results in bondage. Freedom means being free to be and live as God created and intended us to be. We were made in God's image to belong to God and to be filled with God's Spirit, and to glorify God by expressing His nature and abilities. There are 2 main aspects to our freedom: (1) Freedom from the Law, and (2) Freedom from sin and self. (1) First, Christ set us free from the external restraint and condemnation of the Law, by bearing our sin and condemnation on the Cross, and then by giving us His imputed righteousness when we believe in Him. On this basis, He justified us and set our conscience free from the guilt of sin. There is therefor no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). Thus, we have been set free from the tyranny of having to keep the Law to win acceptance and favour with God, and access to God and His grace. (2) Second, Christ sets us free from the power of indwelling sin (in our flesh) and our independent self-life, by the gift of His imparted righteousness through the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is, He sets our will free from bondage to sin (the sin-nature in our flesh) - this is sanctification by the Word and by the Spirit, for where the Spirit is there is liberty (2Corinthians 3:17). He initially sanctified our spirit (set it free from sin) in the New Birth, when the Spirit came to indwell it. Now He is progressively sanctifying our soul as we walk in the Spirit, rather than in the flesh. Our justification (freedom from the Law) is the basis for our sanctification, for it gives us legal access to the grace of God in the Spirit, which sanctifies us (Romans 5:1-2, 8:1-6). Thus, in order to enjoy a life of freedom in the Spirit, our hearts must first be established in our justification by grace through faith, which is why Paul first of all emphasised this truth in Galatians 1-4, before moving on to describe our new life in the Spirit (Galatians 5-6).

Trying to be perfect is overrated and never possible. But for those who are in Christ, God sees us as righteous and perfect. Bible Reading: Hebrews 7-9 Verse of the day: Hebrews 7:2, “To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.” Word of the day: Righteousness. It is the Greek word:  δικαιοσύνη (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay).

Sunday Service | A teaching in Romans 4:1-12 through the series The Glorious Gospel with Pastor Josh Black

After showing that salvation by works contradicts the finished work of the Cross (v1), as well as the Galatians' own experience (v2-5), Paul then also proves from the life of father Abraham that salvation must be by faith, and not works. Paul points out that God preached the Gospel to Abraham, declaring that through the coming Messiah (Abraham's seed), all the nations (gentiles) would be justified and blessed with salvation by faith (Genesis 12:3). This promise of salvation was based on God's grace through the Messiah, not on works. Moreover, Abraham himself was justified by faith in Genesis 15: “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (v6). So those who are justified by faith are the spiritual sons of Abraham. Thus salvation by works contradicts God's revelation through Abraham. However, Genesis 15 seems to imply that Abraham was justified by faith through believing that God would give him many children, but saving faith involves faith in the Messiah. We consider the amazing possibility, that God put the Gospel (the Message of the Messiah) in the stars, so that when God showed him the stars, He was preaching the Gospel to Abraham, with the conclusion: "So shall your Seed (the Messiah) be" (v5). Thus Abraham was justified through His faith in the Messiah, just as we are. We look at other Scriptures that support this idea, and point out that astrology is the devil's counterfeit of this original Divine Revelation. Once man possessed the written Word of God, the Gospel story in the Heavens was no longer necessary, and so faded out of use.

In these verses, Paul moves on from the issue of our justification (based on Christ's imputed righteousness) to our sanctification (based on Christ's imparted righteousness). We describe the nature of sanctification, and why we can only really be made perfect, through the nature of Christ being formed in us by the Holy Spirit, who is in us. Our justification is a work of grace accomplished for us and received by faith in Christ. Likewise, our sanctification is a work of grace accomplished in us through our faith in Christ, who continually supplies the Holy Spirit to us. Paul says that trying to perfect oneself by doing the works of law, is fleshly and bound to fail, for if the flesh was impotent to justify us, why do we think it can sanctify us? We can only experience God's life, blessing and be made perfect by grace through faith, for "the righteous by faith shall receive life and live by faith." Although we have to cooperate with God in our sanctification, it is not by doing the works of the law, but by working out the salvation that God has worked within us by His Spirit. The difference between sanctification by the flesh, doing works of law, and sanctification by the Spirit through the hearing of faith, is like the difference between rowing and sailing. We have to stop trying and start trusting, and then obey as the Spirit leads us. When we try to make ourselves perfect by the flesh, we are just imitating the Christian life, rather than living from the reality of Christ's life within us, who perfects us by His Spirit of grace, as we trust and obey.

Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Philippians 3:8-9 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith

Are we saved by grace alone or faith alone? What does the Bible say about justification by faith alone and what does this verse in Romans mean? Let's settle the debate of faith & works with what God says.  It is time for part 2 of our verse by verse teaching of the book of Romans! I really hope this video helps with understanding the book of Romans in a bible study type of format!  "The same words that Paul gives to the Jews are just as important as him giving them to us today!" -Isaiah Saldivar.  www.Isaiahsaldivar.com www.Instagram.com/Isaiahsaldivar www.Facebook.com/Isaiahsaldivar www.youtube.com/Isaiahsaldivar To sow  www.Isaiahsaldivar.com/partner 

Several weeks ago, as we were preparing for this sermon series, I got an email from Pastor Jonathan. He said that the goal for this sermon series was to preach the heart of the gospel, but to do so from passages of Scriptures that we hadn't really covered yet as a church.I instantly knew which passage I wanted to cover, it took me about 0.7 seconds to determine which passage I wanted to preach. However, I didn't know, or couldn't remember, if we had ever done the passage I wanted to do, so I ran to my laptop, pulled up the Cities website and looked it up. And to my joy, I discovered that we had not ever preached this text on a Sunday morning, which meant that I would get to preach from this text this morning. Legitimately, I was very excited.The reason why I'm so excited is because this verse summarizes a doctrine that I hold very dear. And that is the doctrine of the imputation of righteousness. If you're not familiar, the word “imputation” simply means “transfer.”So, when we're talking about imputation, we're talking about something being transferred. And when we talk about the imputation of righteousness, we're talking about righteousness being transferred from one person to the next—mainly from Jesus to us.The reason why I get so excited to preach this doctrine is because I am convinced that this doctrine will set your heart ablaze for Jesus.I am convinced that if you understand this doctrine, if you could wrap your minds around this truth, that it will cause your heart to erupt with joy and gratitude. I'm convinced of that.It was the re-discovery of this doctrine in the 16th century that sparked the Reformation. When Martin Luther and others got their minds around this doctrine, it transformed them, it set their hearts ablaze, and it sparked the Protestant Reformation, which transformed Europe and changed the world.And I am convinced that if you understand this doctrine, it will cause Reformation in your own heart as well. I'm not the only one convinced of this, here's a quote from John Piper… he says, “I have watched this doctrine [i]gnite both storms of controversy and great awakenings. So with a passion for reformation and revival, I long to see this precious truth… [the] imputed righteousness of Christ… defended, known, and embraced.” I agree with Piper. I long to see Reformation and revival in the hearts of God people… which is why I passionately embrace and defend the doctrine of the imputation of Christ's righteousness. Let's pray and then we'll dive in.Father in heaven, you are so kind. You are merciful, and gracious, and slow to anger. You are rich in love. I praise you. Now I ask, God, that you would use the truths from your Word, this morning, to transform your people; Please mold us to be more like Jesus, I ask. And may this truth, this doctrine of imputation, may it set hearts ablaze this morning; would you be pleased to do that this morning I ask. Amen.I would like to start this morning by recounting somethings I said in a previous sermon, and I intend to even use a sermon illustration that I previously used. Listen, there's no laws against that, right? Haha! Here's the thing, the illustration just fits so well, I feel like I had to bring it back, but I'll give a condensed version. Okay, back in February, I was preaching from Galatians 3. Many of you were probably there. And in Galatians 3 Paul says that Abraham believed God and was counted as righteous. And he's quoting from Genesis 15. Paul is leveraging a moment in Genesis 15 to make his point.If you don't remember, in Genesis 15 God promises Abraham that he would have children. This seemed highly unlikely because of his wife's age. But Abraham took God at his word. Abraham believed God, Abraham chose to believe that God would do what he said he would do.And God responds by declaring Abraham righteous. God's like, “Abraham, since you trusted me, I spoke and you believed me, so I will now count you as righteous.” That's Genesis 15, and the apostle Paul is quoting from Genesis 15 in Galatians 3. There is this theme of righteousness. So, I covered that in a sermon back in February. Well, in that sermon I used an illustration where I talked about report cards.All of us have a spiritual report card. In the ledgers of heaven, we all have a report card. We have grades, there are records for how we live in this life. The bad news is that all of us, if we were to hold up our spiritual report cards, they would all be straight Fs.All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All of us fail to meet God's righteous expectations. If you were to have a report card to reflect your spiritual record, it would be straight Fs.Now, let's imagine Jesus has a report card too. He came to planet earth. He lived a perfect life. His report card would be straight A's right. But then Jesus makes an offer. He says, “If you believe in me, if you would put your trust in me, here's what I'll do, I'll swap with you.” Jesus says: “I'll take your report card and I'll put my name over top and I'll take my report card and I'll put your name over top and I'll swap them.”So, here you get a report card with straight A's and Jesus gets the report card with straight F's. And now you stand before God with a report card of straight A's and you inherit all the benefits of having straight A's, and Jesus is before the father, he has a report card of straight Fs and he is punished. In the 1500s Martin Luther called this the “wonderful exchange.”It is through this action of imputed righteousness that we are justified. When we talk about “Justification” or being “justified” that refers to the forgiveness of sins, or being declared not guilty, and having our record wiped clean. The way God justifies is by transferring his righteousness to us. In our natural state we are sinful, by nature and by choice. We have a record of sin. But God mercifully allows us to enter in the exchange, our record of unrighteousness is transferred to Jesus, and his record of righteousness is transferred to us. So now we have a record that is clean, pure, innocent.By undergoing the wonderful exchange, by being imputed with the righteousness of Christ, I am justified. My spiritual report card is straight As. Now that's a cool illustration, but I don't want to give you a cool illustration, I want you to see this doctrine in Scripture. We're going to look at some Old Testament passages and then we'll make our way back to 2 Corinthians.Rewind with me all the way back to Exodus 12. Leading up to this chapter, we've seen the first nine plagues in Egypt. Moses has made an appeal to Pharaoh to let God's people go. Pharaoh refuses. God has sent nine plagues. And they're about to experience the 10th plague. The 10th plague, as most of you know, this where the death angel is going to sweep through the land overnight and kill the first-born son of each family.But in Exodus 12, God tells each Jewish family to kill a lamb, a spotless lamb, a lamb without defect. They are to slaughter the lamb and then to take the blood of the lamb and put it on the doorframe overtop and on the doorposts. And when the death angel swept through the land, he would not enter any home covered by the blood, and that family would be spared—death would Passover them—this is the Passover. But any home that was not covered by the blood of a spotless lamb would suffer the consequence. Here we see blood being shed to cover God's people so that judgment would pass over them, so that they would not face the wrath of God.This, of course, foreshadows what's to come, many centuries down the road, when Jesus shows up on the scene and John the Baptist sees Jesus, and John the Baptist says to Jesus, “Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”Jesus is the lamb of God. He is the lamb that God has provided. He is the lamb without defect, without spot or blemish, and his blood was shed to cover us and protect us from the wrath of God.Okay, fast forward with me now to Leviticus 16. By this point, the Jews have been rescued from Egypt, a few years have passed, they're in the desert. The tabernacle has been built. The sacrificial system is being established. And in this chapter, in Leviticus 16, this chapter gives us details about an event that will take place once a year, an event known as Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). This is the day where the High Priest would offer sacrifices for the sins of the people.This involved two goats. The sins of Israel is dealt with in two ways, which foreshadows how God intends to deal with us.The first goat would be killed, and its blood sprinkled on the altar in the Holy of Holies. Symbolically the guilt of the people of Israel was placed on that altar and the blood is being poured over the altar to cover their guilt.Then there's a second goat. And this is the first time we see a real hint, strong hint toward the idea of imputation. Leviticus 16 tells us that Aaron, the high priest, was to place his hands, on the goat's head. And then he would confess the sins of the people, he would confess the sins of the nation of Israel. And as he's confessing those sins, they would be transferred to the goat.All of the sins of the nation of Israel are placed onto this goat. And then this goat would be exiled into the wilderness, out into the darkness, banished far away, never to be brought back again. We see the idea of imputation here. Okay, fast forward 700 years, to the book of Isaiah 53. Isaiah echoes the language from Leviticus. In Isaiah 53, the prophet Isaiah, he's talking about Jesus, he calls him the Suffering Servant, he says that the Suffering Servant has “born our griefs and carried our sorrows.” And he says this, “he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.”There was a chastisement that was on Jesus that led to our peace, specifically our peace with God. We were at odds with God, we did not have peace with God, we were hostile toward God. But Jesus made it possible for us to be at peace with God. To be on his ‘good side.' To be invited into his royal family.Later in Isaiah 53:11, it says this, “out of anguish of his soul. He shall see and be satisfied. But by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous.” Jesus, the righteous one, through his anguish he will make it possible for many to be accounted righteous. Then, in Isaiah 53:12, in the second half of verse 12, it says that this Suffering Servant, Jesus, will be “numbered with the transgressors.” He's going to be treated as if he's one of them, one of the sinners.Jesus, the righteous one, being treated as if he is unrighteous, so that we, who are unrighteous, might be treated as if we are righteous. He was counted as a transgressor, so that we could be counted righteous.All right, fast forward 200 years to the prophet Zachariah, turn to chapter 3. The prophet Zachariah has a vision of Joshua, the high priest, standing in the presence of God. He is standing in the presence of God wearing filthy rags. The language to describe these garments is the same language often used to describe excrement. So, the high priest is wearing excrement-stained garments, polar opposite of what he's supposed to be wearing. He was supposed to be wearing a very specific outfit, comprised of clean linens and particular garments, but here's wearing this filthy outfit.God could have condemned him right there, but God doesn't. God shows mercy. And in the vision God directs the angels to remove the soiled garments and then to give him “pure vestments.” By examining this vision, you see that these pure robes where in God's presence, they belonged to God, but God swaps with Joshua in this vision. There's an exchange that takes place. Joshua gets rid of this filthy robes and exchanges them for pure garments.The prophet Isaiah actually prophesized of this exchange, in Isaiah 61, he says, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.”Garments of salvation. Robes of righteousness.Okay, fast forward now to the New Testament. We go to Romans 3:21, in essence, Paul says that there is a “righteousness” that is now made available “through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Then, in Romans chapter 4, he outlines how someone might receive this righteousness, and he does this in a familiar way. In Romans 4, Paul is making the same case that he made in Galatians 3. Remember, in Galatians 3 Paul was quoting from Genesis 15, well, he's doing the same thing in Romans 4.Here in the first few verses of Romans 4, Paul is explaining how someone is counted righteous, which is the same point he makes in Galatians 3. Paul makes it clear that Abraham was counted righteous by his belief, Abraham trusted God, and that was enough, God declared Abraham righteous. Abraham was COUNTED righteous.And then Paul takes it step further, he says that's not just for Abraham, but for us too. In Romans 4:23-24, the apostle Paul says, “the words ‘it was counted to him' were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him.”Paul making it clear, this is for us too. If we believe in God, the same way Abraham believed, then we will be counted righteous, just as Abraham was counted righteous.Okay, jump to Philippians 3. The apostle Paul says, “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”Paul makes it clear, he has not acquired a “righteousness of his own.” He's not righteous by obeying the law or fulfilling the law, no, he says that his righteousness comes through faith in Christ. He alludes to this “righteousness” which is “from God.” This righteousness is not native to him. It's from outside of him. We call this an alien righteousness. It's from outside of Paul, from God, dependent upon his faith. God brings this righteousness to Paul. Paul receives it by faith. Paul is fully justified, the report card is clean.And that brings us, finally, to our primary text this morning: 2 Corinthians 5.I'll give you a little background of this letter. In the chapters and verses leading up to this chapter, the apostle Paul is, in essence, defending his apostleship. As we examine this letter, 2 Corinthians, we discover that some of the Corinthians had questioned Paul and dismissed him as a leader. Some, apparently, had even asked Paul for letters of recommendations from other Christian leaders.Absurd, right?This is ridiculous to me because their church wouldn't even exist if Paul hadn't started it. Most of them wouldn't be Christians if not for Paul's ministry. The fact that their church exists proves his apostleship.In the opening chapters of this letter, he's helping them to see that they are easily impressed by wealth and eloquence, and that this is actually a betrayal of Jesus. They've totally distorted their values, what they seemingly think is important actually is not important. Paul then makes clear to them that there are more important things to be concerns about than the things they've been concerned about, mainly the mission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.Look at 2 Cor. 5:19, he says that “in Christ God [is] reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them…”Paul's like, you guys are squabbling about ridiculous things, questioning me, and being easily impressive by wealth and good public speakers. Paul's like, come on friends, don't ya know, there's people headed for hell, there are people far from God, they need to be reconciled, let's focus on the task at hand.Paul makes it clear that God is in the business of reconciling people, and Paul explains how God does this, by “not counting trespasses against them.” God made a way for your trespasses not to count against your record. God made a way for your trespasses not to show up on your report card. Paul then continues his appeal; look at verse 20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us…”God is making his appeal to the world through us, believers, we are the ones he has entrusted.There are people in this world whose trespasses, currently are counting against them… it's our job to go preach the good news; to spread the new that there's a way for our trespasses not to count against us.In Romans 10:3, the apostle Paul tells us that there's people ignorant of the “the righteousness of God” so it's our responsibility to tell them.God is making his appeal to people in your family through you. God is making his appeal to these Twin Cities through us. God is making his appeal to sinners through us, those who have been counted righteous.And then Paul reminds them of the heart of the gospel, look at verse 21:“For our sake he [God] made him to be sin who knew no sin [Jesus] so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”Jesus became sin.God hates sin. Jesus became the very thing that God hates. Now, Jesus' nature didn't change, he was still truly God and truly man, but in some sense, Jesus became sin. He was counted as if he was sin. Jesus was treated as if he was sin itself.Jesus became sin for us, Jesus, the man who knew no sin, the man who had never been acquainted with sin, he became sin. He was counted among the transgressors, so that we might become the “righteousness of God.”The “becoming” language is interesting, it's a similar sentiment that the apostle Paul expressed in Galatians 3 when he said Jesus “become a curse for us.”And there's also some parallel language here… in the same way that Jesus “became” something, we also “became” something. Jesus became sin! We became the righteousness of God.The apostle Peter says it this way, 1 Pt. 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” Christ died to bring us to God!“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”Two final notes and then one pastoral exhortation for you.First, it's important to mention that the imputation of righteousness, it's not progressive. You don't become more righteous over time. Once you believe, the moment you trust in Christ, you are declared righteous! The 19th century theologians AW Pink put it this way:“The justification of the Christian is complete the moment he truly believes in Christ, and hence there are no degrees… The Apostle Paul was as truly a justified man, [declared righteous] at the hour of his conversion as he was at the close of his life. The feeblest babe in Christ is just as completely justified as is the most mature saint.”The moment you believed in Jesus, you were fully justified, you were declared righteous, your sin was imputed to Christ, his righteousness was imputed to you!Second, this doctrine is essential and you cannot hear it enough times. It's not too often to even hear it daily. Charles Spurgeon, the great 19th century Baptist preacher, was challenged on this. Apparently people were saying he talked about this doctrine too often, so he brought it up in a sermon and said this:“I think, dear friends, some of you will be saying, ‘There is that same old doctrine again that we are so continually hearing.' I make no excuse. The doctrine of justification by faith through the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ is very much to my ministry as what bread and salt are to the table. As often as I come to the table these things are needed. I regard this doctrine the same, one that must be preached continually, to mixed up with all our sermons. Indeed, it is impossible to bring it forward too often. My soul has been counted righteous. This soul-saving doctrine is the foundation of foundations—the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”Final thought. I don't know how many of you deal with this, but I often get down on myself. I feel guilty. When I sin or disappoint someone. Even if I make a mistake that isn't sinful, I still feel this, I get down on myself. I have a tendency to really beat myself up, to feel unworthy or dirty before the Lord.In that moment, that's the moment to remind ourselves of this truth. In just a moment, during communion, we're going to sing “Before the Throne of God Above.” Here's a few of the lyrics.When Satan tempts me to despair,And tells me of the guilt within,upward I look, and see Him there,Who made an end to all my sin.Because the sinless Savior died,My sinful soul is counted free,For God the just is satisfied,To look on Him and pardon me,To look on Him and pardon me.God was satisfied to look on Jesus, to view him as if he was sin, and to allow his sacrifice to be enough.Cities Church, the sinless savior died, now your sinful soul is counted free. You are free from the punishment of your sin that you so richly deserved. He took on your sin, and now you are counted free.Jesus knew no sin, but became sin, so that we might become righteous.And Jesus settled this at the cross. There ain't nothin' you can do about it, you cannot undo it. It's done. For you. By Jesus.You have been justified. Jesus became sin for you, so that you might become the righteousness of God. Church, that is a reason to celebrate! And that's why we come to the table each and every week, to celebrate what Christ has done.