The Vicariousness of Christ -Netchaplain

The Vicariousness of Christ -Netchaplain​

I believe the most important fact to remember, while we continue to learn to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15), so that we may mature unto “the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13), is how many things we have in Christ are “imputed but not imparted” (mjs).

For example, justification means to pronounce righteous (mjs), which means the righteousness we possess is never from ourselves (Phl. 3:9) but is counted or imputed unto us from Christ. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1Cor. 1:30). “The righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Rom. 3:22).

Righteousness is a gift (Rom. 5:17) so that we are “made righteous” (Rom. 5:19) by virtue of imputation. “That righteousness might be imputed unto them also” (Rom. 4:11). “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Rom. 4:22-24). “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness . . .” (Jam. 2:23).

Stanford states, “To be justified means that the believer is viewed in Christ as righteous and is treated as such by God. The righteousness of our position in the Lord Jesus is increasingly manifested in our condition, as we “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).

Stanford continues that “until we clearly see the positional perfection of our justification in Christ, our conception of, and faith in, all other aspects of our position will be out of focus.” (The Complete Green Letters, pg. 85).
 
To be declared righteous is an awesome gift based on the sacrifice of someone else. If we think of it in modern sense it like standing before a judge for a crime we know we commited and the judge knows we have to be sentenced because the crime has to be punished. We stand there trembling wondering how many years we will get in prison when the judge says you can walk free, somebody else has done the time for you, the punishment for the crime has been paid! This in reality is what Jesus has done for us!

Awesome, who would want to give up a gift like that - yet we see people every day walking in condemnation of their sins because they dont want to accept that somebody else has already paid for their sins. What is truely sad is that they actually hate the one who paid for their sin, they would rather serve time than walk free - strange mind set but we were all there once until somebody reached out, and we accepted the gospel message. Even more amazing our sins past, present and future have already been dealt with. What a loving God we serve!!!
 
Good stuff brother Kevin, well put! The way you've stated it reminds me of what I like to call "The Three Charcater's of God's Heart: 1. Justice--receiving what we deserve. 2. Mercy--not receiving what we deserve. 3. Grace--receiving what we don't deserve.
 
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