Imputations, anyone?

[Aki]

The concept of imputation is one of my favorite topics for reading, and as far as i've learned, there are at least 3 imputations made (or is being made) by God to men.

These are:

1. Imputation of Adam's sin to everyone else.
2. Imputation of everyone's sins to Jesus Christ.
3. Imputation of Christ's righteousness to those who believe.

The results of these imputations:

1. Imputation of Adam's sin to the whole human race got everyone condemned unconditionally. Yup, every human being is imputed Adam's sin without their choice and are thus automatically got condemned without their choice.

2. This would also mean that the personal sins everyone commits is "no longer" a factor for condemnation. this is for the reason that while those sins deserve punishment, the punishment has already come before those sins.

3. While it sounds unfair, it is actually quite an enginous act of love from God, when one starts to consider the second imputation - men's sin to Christ.

4. While one is automatically condemned without his choice at birth, he automatically gets to be a candidate of God's salvation due to Christ's sacrifice.

5. With everyone sins imputed to Christ, sin is no longer an issue for everyone. The wages of sin is death, but Christ's death is a payment enough to cover all sins. This does not, however, automatically gets everyone saved.

6. God will only accept anyone with righteousness as perfect as His. And nope. Imputation of everyone's sins to Christ does not fulfill that. Thus, everyone remains unacceptable to God the Father, for having no absolute righteousness.

7. Upon faith, Christ's righteousness is imputed to the believer and thus become acceptable to God the Father, then comes salvation.

Now the questions:

1. Have you actually come across this concept? Imputation seems to be relatively less discussed in Sunday school.

2. Do you believe in the first imputation?

3. If you do, is it explained in scriptures why wouldn't God just wait for one's first sin before condemnation?

 

[blackbird]

1) Yes!

2) Yes!

3) See 1Corinthians 15

 

[Dr. Bob]

Romans 4:6-8

(1) Blessed is the one to whom God credits [imputes] righteousness apart from works:
(2) Blessed are those whos transgressions are sent away
(3) Blessed are those whose sins are covered
(4) Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never ever count against [impute] him.

BTW, premise #2 in the op is in error. IF every sin of every man was imputed to Christ, then it would be atoned for (action of Son and Father) and all men saved. Just change the language to "chosen" and it works biblically.

 

[Pete Richert]

Imputation is not discussed much in Sunday school. It seems to really only find strong emphesis among Reformed people. The Presbyterians never quit talking about it.

Have to agree with Dr. Bob though. The model you presented is not the conseses of most. Most would agree that our sin is only imputed to Christ when we believe (not everyones sin). They would, however, agree with you that you still need Christ's righteousness imputed to you to be justified.

In thier thinking, there is no one who sits half way, either you simply have Adam's sin, or you have all three imputations. There is no one who has imputed their sin to Christ but not recieved his rightouessness. Helen on the other hand probably agrees with you, though she would probably use different language to describe it.

 

[Aki]

not to push a debate on arminianism/calvinism, but if God would have imputed Adam's sin on someone and leave that unconditionally imputed sin unpaid for because he was not chosen, it may raise the question "why impute Adam's sin in the first place?", and "wouldn't that constitute a predestined condemnation?"

 

[nate]

1.Yes
2.Yes
3.Yes