The crediting by God to believers with righteousness on account of Jesus Christ. Paul argues that Abraham did nothing which earned him the status of being righteous in the sight of God. Rather, Abraham believed the promise of God, and for that reason was granted the status of being righteous before God. Likewise, all who trust in Jesus Christ have righteousness imputed to them--that is, reckoned as if it was theirs. Imputation should not be confused with impartation. Believers are not made right ethically (impartation), but put right relationally (imputation). What God changes is not the character of believers but their legal standing before him. From this new position, believers are called to co-operate with the Holy Spirit in sanctification so that their character increasingly reflects their new standing.
Righteousness imputed through faith not works
The example of Abraham
Romans 4:1–3 See also Genesis 15:1–6; Romans 4:9–22; Galatians 3:6–9
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered? If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
The testimony of David
Romans 4:6–8 See also Psalm 32:1–2
And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
The principle holds true for everyone
Romans 4:4–5, Romans 4:23–24 See also 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Galatians 3:7–9; Philippians 3:9
Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited— for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Believers' sins are imputed to Jesus Christ
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Imputed righteousness expresses itself in good works
James 2:20–24 James does not contradict, but complements Paul's teaching by showing that the person who has been credited with righteousness will always express this in works.
O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did. And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.