The doctrine of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness is a vital biblical teaching that explains how sinners can be justified before a holy God. This doctrine states that the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to the account of every Christian, enabling God to declare them righteous in His sight (Romans 4:6-8). Here are several reasons why Christ’s righteousness needs to be imputed or credited to us:
1. We have no righteousness of our own
The Bible clearly teaches that all people are sinful and fall short of God’s perfect standard (Romans 3:23). Even our best deeds are like filthy rags before God’s uncompromising holiness (Isaiah 64:6). We have no righteousness that originates from ourselves and cannot earn salvation by our own efforts. Our works and moral character are tainted by sin and will never meet God’s high standard. We desperately need the righteousness of another – Jesus Christ – to be credited to us if we want to be justified before God.
2. We need perfect righteousness to be right with God
God’s justice and holiness demand perfection. Even if we only commit one sin, we are guilty of breaking all of God’s law (James 2:10). God cannot simply overlook sin or lower His standard to accommodate us. The only solution is a perfect righteousness that meets and exceeds the demands of God’s law. This is only found in the sinless life of Jesus Christ. He perfectly obeyed God’s law and did not commit a single sin (Hebrews 4:15). His perfect righteousness is credited to us by faith (Romans 5:19).
3. The demands of God’s law must be satisfied
For God to justify and pardon sinners, the holy demands of His law must be fully satisfied. God’s law requires perfect obedience and pronounces a curse on all lawbreakers (Galatians 3:10). Either we must bear that curse for our sin, or a satisfactory substitute must bear it for us. Jesus bore the curse of the law for us when He died on the cross (Galatians 3:13). His perfect obedience to the law is then credited to our account, satisfying the righteous demands of the law (Romans 8:3-4).
4. Our sin separates us from a relationship with God
Sin creates a great chasm between God and man that we are powerless to bridge through our own efforts. By nature, we are objects of God’s wrath and alienated from His life (Ephesians 2:3). The only solution is for the righteousness of Christ to be imputed to us as a free gift (Romans 5:15-17). His perfect obedience unites us to God. Christ’s righteousness reconciles sinners to a holy God by removing sin as a barrier between us.
5. Righteousness must be received by faith, not works
The Bible clearly states that we are justified and credited with righteousness solely by faith in Christ, not by works (Romans 3:28, Galatians 2:16). If we had to earn salvation or God imputed righteousness based on works, no one could be saved because even our best deeds are tainted by sin (Isaiah 64:6). Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). The perfect righteousness of Christ is a gift we receive by resting completely in Him.
6. Being clothed in Christ’s righteousness is our only hope
When God looks at those who put their faith in Christ alone, He no longer sees their sin but rather the perfect righteousness of His Son. It’s as if we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Galatians 3:27). His perfect obedience covers all our sins and makes us acceptable in God’s sight. We are counted righteous with the righteousness of Christ which we receive by faith alone (Philippians 3:9). This is our only hope of being justified.
7. Practical results of imputed righteousness
This vital biblical doctrine has many practical benefits in the life of believers, including:
- Assurance of salvation – We can have confidence we are forgiven and righteous in Christ.
- Acceptable worship – We can approach God boldly because of Christ’s righteousness.
- Motivation for obedience – Our works cannot save us but are still important.
- Humility – All glory goes to Christ; we cannot boast in ourselves.
- Unity among believers – We are all equal at the foot of the cross.
8. Examples of imputed righteousness
Here are some key examples of the righteousness of one being credited or imputed to another in the Bible:
- Abraham – His faith was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3).
- David – God did not impute his sins against him (Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 4:6-8).
- The Promised Messiah – He would justify many by bearing their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11).
- All believers – God credits righteousness apart from works (Romans 4:6).
9. Christ’s righteousness is a gift received by faith
In summary, the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed or credited to sinners by faith alone. We do not earn or deserve this gift but receive it freely from God’s grace the moment we trust in Christ (Romans 3:22-24). His righteousness alone can make us right with God and give us eternal life. Our only hope is found in Christ’s sinless life of obedience that is counted as our own when we believe (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the heart of the gospel – justification by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20).