The Great Exchange
(Imputed Righteousness)
The word imputed means to place into ones account, credit,
attribute a trait or value to someone from another. A banking term
used by Paul in Romans 4:3.In fact the New International Version of
the Bible used the word credited for imputed in the book of
Romans. Let me illustrate this: David Rich is a very poor man. An
accident took away his arms and legs not to mention his love ones.
Naturally he cant work due to his being handicapped (no arms, no
legs), he gets his food from a foundation dishing out free meals
every morning. Here comes John M. Poverty, a very rich man. A
self-made man as some would call him, being very hard working he
became very wealthy. Every single cent is earned.
But heres the twist, he is dying. One eventful day John and David
bumped into each other and from then on they became good friends,
best friends in fact. John decided to give all his money he earned
through the years to David. He opened David a bank account and
named all his money under Davids name. In short, John placed all
his money into Davids account which happens to be zero and the
bank legally considered and reckoned it as Davids money from then
on. That is imputation.
Actually if you will look at it at the vantage points of David and
John, they made a grand exchange. John exchanged his wealth to
Davids poverty. David became rich, John became poor. It is
imputation both ways. Its just like that in 2 Corinthians
5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He
was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor , that you through His
poverty might become rich 2 Corinthians 8:9
We are bankrupt with regards to righteousness. God gave the Law and
the 10 Commandments to show us this (Gal.3:19). It was given to
show us that we are sinners, that we are spiritually handicapped.
To show us that we are sick and that we need a doctor. Show me a
man who has tried to obey the 10 Commandments and I will show you a
man who knows that he is a sinner if he is honest to himself. How
will I know that I have made a wrong left turn? Only when I know
that there is a sign that says: No left turn and I still made it.
No man can perfectly obey the 10 Commandments and God knew it
beforehand. So why did He gave it in the first place? To show us
that we are sinners and we need righteousness. (Galatians 3:19,
Romans 3:19-20, Romans 7:7-25)
So where can we find righteousness? Galatians 3:24: Therefore the
law [referring to the Law and the 10 commandments] was our tutor
to bring us to CHRIST, that we might be justified
[that means declared righteous] by faith[that is faith in the work
of Christ on the cross].
.Abraham believed/trusted God and it was accounted [imputed or
credited] to him [Abraham] as for righteousness Romans 4:3
God in Christ Jesus is somewhat saying: I will take all your sins
and put it into my account and I will put into your account my
righteousness, will you accept it? Are you willing to make the
grand exchange? He has it ready already:
who was delivered up because of our offenses and was raise for our
justification [justification meaning being declared righteous by
God] Romans 4:25
all you have to do is accept it by trusting in it just like what
Abraham did
.you have nothing to lose but everything to
gain.
But as many as received Him [Jesus], He gave to them authority to
become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,
..
John 1:12.
Sound Easy? Of course because it is a gift, you did nothing, you
did not die on the cross of Calvary, Jesus absorbed all of the
agony. Because of Him righteousness is a gift from God.
For if by one man's [Adam] offense death reigned by one, much more
they who receive abundance of grace and the GIFT OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.)
Romans 5:17