In considering the old time doctrine of salvation, we have used an outline by Dr. Ernest Childs, that he used to teach my Systematic Theology I class at Ambassador Baptist College. We have considered the means and method of salvation. Now notice the nature of salvation, or to preserve alliteration, the miracle of salvation. I trust that you, dear reader, have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. If you are born again, surely you must realize the miracle that has taken place. Notice Ephesians 2:1-10:
"And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [I love this...] BUT GOD, [emphasis added], Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should in them."
Hallelujah! I can see my past in this passage, I can see my pardon in this passage, and I can see my purpose in this passage!!! Glory to God! I'm saved by the good grace of God! I was dead in my sin, but I am made alive by the Spirit of God! I could call recess right here and just praise God awhile! Oh, dear reader, can you see what lengths Jesus went through for you? As I am writing this post, it is the Tuesday before Resurrection (Easter) Sunday. This week we especially think of the fact of Jesus dying on the old rugged cross, being buried in a borrowed tomb, and rising from the dead on that glorious Sunday morning! Dear saint of God, your soul ought to be stirred this week! Look at the Cross! Look at the empty tomb! Do you realize the miracle of salvation?
In Dr. Childs' outline, he covered in the class five theological terms that describe the nature of salvation. I wish to share just one of those words with you today. The word is "justification." Notice I Corinthians 6:9-11
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not decieved: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you:but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of our God."
What does it mean to be justified? It means literally to be declared righteous. Some have simplified it as "just-as-if-I'd-never-sinned!" Hallelujah!!!! When I got saved, when I trusted Jesus as my personal Lord, and Savior, God the Father looked at me and saw me - not as dirty, rotten, Hell-bound sinner; but just as righteous as His only begotten Son! Glory to God! I'm about to have a shoutin' spell just typing this! What a miracle! There are two aspects to justification.
The first aspect of justification is the forgiveness of sin, and the removal of its guilt and penalty.
All of my past, present, and future sins were forgiven! Jesus washed my sin away with His blood! Our choir sings this song often and I love it - "Jesus buried my past." Here is the chorus: "Jesus buried my past, in the middle of God's nowhere, is where it was cast! Sins forgiven! Bound for Heaven! Jesus set me free at last, on the Cross, He cried 'It's finished' and Jesus buried my past!" Verses 9-10 of I Corinthians 6 describe some pretty rotten people, don't they? Paul makes it plain to whom he was referring in verse 11 "And such were some of you..." Notice the past tense there. "And such WERE some of you" God used to see me in verses 9-10, but now He sees me in verse 11!!!! Hallelujah!!!! Amen!!!!
But there is another exciting aspect of justification - the imputation of Christ's righteousness! II Corinthians 5:21 says "For He [God the Father] hath made Him [God the Son] to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." The word imputation means to reckon to one's account. There is a three-fold imputation in the Bible. First, Adam's sin was imputed to the whole human race (Romans 5:12). Second, our sin was imputed to Christ while He was on the cross. Third, Christ's righteousness is imputed to the redeemed at the moment of salvation. "Justified, I'm happy in Jesus today! The sins I've commited are all in the past. They'll never condemn me, for He holds me fast. I'm justified, I'm justifed! I'm happy in Jesus today!" God sees me just as He sees Jesus!!! He loves me as He loves Jesus!!! I'm so glad for the miracle of salvation!!!!! We need to keep preaching and sharing the old time doctrine of salvation.
In the next post, we will begin examining the second example of an old-time doctrine in which we must continue - Doctrine concerning the Scriptures.....
In His Service,
Bro. Troy
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I've studied the Greek term for "impute" and let me show you what I've learned. First consider what a standard Bible Lexicon says:
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“This word deals with reality. If I “logizomai” or reckon that my bank book has $25 in it, it has $25 in it. Otherwise I am deceiving myself. This word refers to facts not suppositions.”
THE LINK: http://tinyurl.com/r92dch
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The lexicon states this term first and foremost refers to the actual status of something. So if Abraham’s faith is “logizomai as righteousness,” it must be an actually righteous act of faith, otherwise (as the Lexicon says) “I am deceiving myself.” This seems to rule out any notion of an alien righteousness, and instead points to a local/inherent righteousness.
The Lexicon gives other examples where “logizomai” appears, here are some examples:
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Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude [logizomai] that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted [logizomai] as a gift but as his due.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon [logizomai] ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon [logizomai] that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
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Notice in these examples that “logizomai” means to consider the actual truth of an object. In 3:28 Paul ‘reckons’ faith saves while the Law does not, this is a fact, the Law never saves. In 4:4 the worker’s wages are ‘reckoned’ as a debt because the boss is in debt to the worker, not giving a gift to him. In 6:11 the Christian is ‘reckoned’ dead to sin because he is in fact dead to sin. In 8:18 Paul ‘reckons’ the present sufferings as having no comparison to Heavenly glory, and that is true because nothing compares to Heavenly glory.
To use logizomai in the “alien status” way would mean in: (1) 3:28 faith doesn’t really save apart from works, but we are going to go ahead and say it does; (2) 4:4 the boss gives payment to the worker as a gift rather than obligation/debt; (3) 6:11 that we are not really dead to sin but are going to say we are; (4) 8:18 the present sufferings are comparable to Heaven’s glory.
This cannot be right.
So when the text plainly says “faith is logizomai as righteousness,” I must read that as ‘faith is reckoned as a truly righteous act’, and that is precisely how Paul explains that phrase in 4:18-22. That despite the doubts that could be raised in Abraham’s heart, his faith grew strong and convinced and “that is why his faith was credited as righteousness” (v4:22). This is also confirmed by noting the only other time “credited as righteousness” appears in Scripture, Psalm 106:30-31, where Phinehas’ righteous action was reckoned as such. This is confirmed even more when one compares another similar passage, Hebrews 11:4, where by faith Abel was commended as righteous.