GREAT WORDS OF THE SCRIPTURE... ÚÄ¿
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"And the Scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham
believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:
and he was called the friend of God." James 2.23
Imputation and substitution are "companion" doctrines. One
reveals the Judge in His holiness, the other reveals the Judged
in His mercy. Both display God's concern and love for His own.
I. The Doctrine of Imputation DEFINED
A. According to the Orderly Application
"Imputation - the act of imputing: attribution,
ascription, accusation, to lay the responsibility or
blame..." Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, p.
607.
Theologically the definitions concur with normal
English usage.
"The word impute means to reckon over unto one's
account, as the Apostle writing to Philemon regarding
whatever Onesimus might owe Philemon declared: 'Put that to
my account' (1.18)." Chafer, L.S., Systematic Theology, Vol.
VII, p. 191.
Imputation is the action of attributing, or reckoning
the value, or condemnation, of a person or another.
The English word "impute" comes from the Latin root
PURUS, translated "purity". The idea being to clean by
what-ever process. Trees and vines are cleaned by lopping
off the excess or pruning, hence the development "putare,
putat". But if you prune away excess, you also arrange
what's left; you planned the pruning. Thus "putat, putare"
came to mean to reckon, to estimate - to compute, to reckon
together, to impute (Refer Dictionary of Word Origins).
B. According to the Original Attributions
Both of the original languages of the Scripture, Hebrew
and Koine' Greek offer two word each that are translated
"impute" in the Authorized Version.
1. Two Hebrew Words Translated "Impute"
SOOM, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, # 7760. "To
set, place." Pick, A., Dictionary of Old Testament
Words for English Readers, p. 208. (Refer: 1 Sam.
22.15).
KHOSHAV, Strong's # 2803. "To think, devise."
Pick, A., p. 280. (Refer: Lev. 7.18, 17.4; 2 Sam.
19.19).
2. Two Greek Word Translated "Impute"
LOGIZOMAI, Strong's # 3049. "To reckon, take into
account, or metaphorically, to put down to a persons
account..." Vine, W.E., The Expanded Vine's Expository
Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 582.
"...just as David also describes the blessedness of the
man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
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." Rom. 4.6-8, cf. Psalm 32.1-2
Refer: Rom. 4.11, 22-24; 2 Cor. 5.19; James 2.23.
cf. "rekoned" John 22.37; Rom. 4.9-10, 8.18).
ELLOGAO, Strong's # 1677. "...denotes to charge to
one's account, to lay to one's charge..." Vine, W.E.,
p. 582.
"For until the law sin was in the world, but sin was
not imputed where there is no law." Rom. 5.13
Refer: Philemon 18.
II. The Doctrine of Imputation DECLARED
The Bible, clearly displays three imputations that God
reckons to mankind.
A. The Imputation of Adam's Sin
Adam's sin has been imputed by God to the entire human
race.
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the
world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all
men, because all have sinned-
(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not
imputed where there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned
from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned
according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who
is a type of Him Who was to come.
But the free gift (is) not like the offense, For it by
one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and
the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded
to many. And the gift (is) not like (that which) through
the one who sinned. For the judgment (which came) from one
(offense resulted) in comdemnation, but the free gift (which
came) from many offenses (resulted) in justification.
For if by one man's offense death reigned through one,
much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the
gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One,
Jesus Christ.)
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.
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.
But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that
sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through
righteousness to eternal life throungh Jesus Christ our
Lord." Rom. 5.12-21
All have sinned. All die as a result of being sinners.
All men sin because they are born sinners. Apple trees bear
apples because they are apple trees. They do not become apple
trees after they begin to bear apples. Every man sins because
they are born with Adam's nature.
B. The Imputation of Christ's Sacrifice
The Lord Jesus Christ has, once-for-all, paid in full
the penalty of sin's condemnation in the place of guilty
sinners.
He "bore our sins" (1 Pet. 2.24). He was "made sin for
us..." (2 Cor. 5.21). God "laid on Him the iniquity of us
all" (Isa. 53.5-6,11).
The spiritual death of eternal separation from God, due
to every sinner, was imputed to the Saviour on the cross.
C. The Imputation of God's Salvation
God's righteousness is imputed to every "born again"
believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (Refer: Col. 1.12; 1 Cor.
1.30; Rom. 4.6, 8, 11, 22-24; James 2.23).
"...be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,
which (is) from the law, but that which (is) through faith
in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith..."
Phil. 3.9
All who refuse to trust the Lord as God's only satisfaction
for the penalty of Adam's sin oppose Him. Such action can only
result in the revelation of His wrath (Rom. 1).
Avoid the judgment of eternal separation, trust the Lord
Jesus, and follow Him. Trust Him.
John Lipscomb
PCRelay:GRACE -> #235 NewLife Christian Network
4.10 Grace+Base ì 901-452-0168 Memphis, Tn. -HST