Imputed righteousness is the use of a sacrificial death of something/ someone innocent in our place so that we can be seen as righteous. Some common synonyms of impute are ascribe, assign, attribute, and credit. So the righteousness of the animal or person sacrificed is transferred to the unrighteous person.
Righteousness by obedience is to be achieved through faith, which is the hearing and doing of the word. However not by the flesh and human effort, without heart transformation.
“But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God/Elohim. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God/Elohim, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God’s/Elohim’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith/belief alone. “James 2 v 19 -2
Why we need imputed righteousness
Righteousness is defined as the quality of being morally right or justifiable. In order for this to be established there is the need for a standard and for one to be in charge of maintaining that standard. The Creator who is the only perfect one is the only one who has the moral right to establish the standard. And to determine whether it is attained. Hence, He provided the law to establish his standard. He also determined that Abraham had met His standard. That means it is attainable.
In order to reestablish relationship with mankind after Adam sinned, he covered him with animal skin, which represented imputed righteousness. Adam had failed to obey or walk by faith/hear and do and so and so he became unrighteous. In Adam all sinned. We had to be redeemed in order to be restored to fellowship.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God/Elohim is eternal life through Jesus/Yashya Christ/Hamashyach our Master.
Romans 6 v 23
After Adam animal sacrifice and the priesthood was used to impute righteousness until Messiah came. Yashya is now our sacrificial lamb, who took away the sins of the world, through his death. His righteousness is imputed to us to cover/forgive our sins so we can approach and be in relationship with The Father.
Why Imputed righteousness is not enough
The plan of The Almighty is that we be imagers of Him. So that we can dwell in his presence and have fellowship with Him. Also to make Him known to those who do not know Him, like Messiah did.
9For those God/Elohim foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.…
Romans 8 v 29
Obedience by faith is therefore also required in order for us to be like The Almighty. So, our evil nature can be changed into the divine nature.
Jesus/Yashya answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God/Elohim unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ John 3 v 5
We are not expected to habitually sin presumptuously
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Mathew 5 v 48
by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
2 peter 1 v 4
Imputed righteousness covers/forgives our sin while righteousness by faith/obedience makes us over. It is by faith that the word and Spirit transforms us. However it is the imputed righteousness of messiah through the blood that gives us an opportunity to have righteousness by faith. So that our sin could be covered/forgiven as we grow in Him. While The Spirit and the word regenerates us. This is called the new birth.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ/Yashya Hamashiach, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2
The sinful nature in the flesh can only be overcome by the law of the Spirit of life.
The sins of the whole world has been forgiven/covered by Messiah’s death, but it is through covenant that we access a relationship with The Father through the son.
So, I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s/Elohim’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
Romans 7 v 21-24
For in Yashya /Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8 v 2
How is this accomplished. Through a new covenant that allows the word/law to be written on our hearts. And the blood which cleanses our conscience as we confess. The flesh can only obey physically but not in spirit. So, it can outwardly obey while being inwardly disobedient. However, The Almighty looks at the heart. In order to please Him our hearts have to desire to obey Him.
The blood of Mashiach is superior to that of animals
“For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean. 14How much more will the blood of Christ/Hamashiach, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God/Elohim, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God/Elohim! 15Therefore Christ/Mashiach is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.…”
hebrews 9 v 13 – 15
What the imputed righteousness of Mashyach does for us
It puts us in a position to walk by faith by allowing The Set apart Spirit to use the word and our conscience to deliver us from sin. As this work of sanctification is being done it covers us and makes us righteous in the Father’s sight.
The imputed righteousness of Mashiach justifies, sanctifies and cleanses us from sin if we confess and walk in the light. The Father sees his righteousness in our place. The torah/word is the light as well as the Mashiach.
22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ/Yashya Hamashiach to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God/Elohim, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus/Yashya Hamashiach. 25 God/Elohim presented Christ/Mashiach as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus/Yashya. Romans 3 v 22-26
Abraham’s righteousness is the goal
This scripture is explaining that we acquire the imputed righteousness that is in the Messiah through faith in him and his atoning sacrifice. No longer do we do a literal sacrifice of an animal but now we use the shed blood of Messiah by faith. Trusting that what he did is imputed to us. This righteousness is different from the righteousness by faith/obedience which is what Abraham had. The imputed righteousness of the Mashiach made the blood of animals obsolete. Hence the new covenant does not have ceremonial laws instead has a memorial supper to remember what was done for us. However the new covenant does require the keeping of the commandments. Which were expanded by Mashiach to include the posture of the heart. Not to be kept in the flesh but in the heart.
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God/Elohim, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God/Elohim, 21 being fully persuaded that God/Elohim had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4 v 18-25
The Father of faith is our example
Abraham’s righteousness is the standard. That is what The Father desires. Imputed righteousness is to cover and forgive sin and disobedience. It is not a substitute for righteousness by obedience.
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” Genesis 22 v 18
“Abraham believed/trusted God/Elohim, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4 v 3
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
GENESIS 26 V 4-5
Righteousness by faith/obedience is still not by works of the flesh
The flesh could not attain righteousness by obedience because it is weak due to the law of sin and death. The law which was given to Moses on tablets of stone could only be obeyed physically but not from the heart. Hence they could obey it outwardly but not inwardly. The law itself is perfect because it is the standard that is set by the Creator for His Kingdom. However the flesh is incapable of obeying it in spirit and truth.
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God/Elohim by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus/Yashya Hamashiach, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Philippians 3 v 3-6
Righteousness by faith/obedience was always the goal. This is what Adam had before he disobeyed. He had fellowship with Elohim in the garden . He heard his voice and obeyed. Until Eve was bewitched by Satan and they disobeyed the Father.
This is when imputed righteousness became necesary as a covering. The law was given to Isreal in the covenant that the Father made with them in an effort to help them to be righteous. In that law they were told to use animals as sin offering and for atonement. So not only were they given the standard of righteousness just like Adam was. They were given the way to have imputed righteousness as well, because of their sinful nature. The Most high knew their flesh was weak and made provision for their failure through imputed righteousness of animal sacrifice looking forward to Messiah.
Any teaching that leaves out obedience to the law is false teaching
So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good. 13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.…
Romans 7 v 12
“If these laws cease to function in my presence,” declares the Almighty,
“then the descendants of Israel will cease to be a nation in my presence for all time!”
Jeremiah 31 v 36
No kingdom exists without laws: that would be anarchy
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mathew 5 v 17- 20
This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God/Elohim,
and they will be my people.
Jeremiah 31v31-33
Obedience from the heart is required
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God/Elohim be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Romans 6 v 16 -17
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God/Elohim, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) Romans 2 v 13- 15
We are expected to do what is right because we are to have our hearts regenerated.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God/Elohim appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God/Elohim will continue to sin, because God’s/Elohim’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God/Elohim. 10 This is how we know who the children of God/Elohim are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s/Elohim’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
1 john 3 v 7-10
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4 v 23
Imputed righteousness does not replace righteousness by obedience
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
1 John 2 v 29
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God/Elohim does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
Acts 10 v 34-35
His sacrifice was meant to help us to be righteous so we can be in the kingdom
5 1 Follow God’s/Elohim’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God/Elohim.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s/Elohim’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ/Mashiach and of God/Elohim.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s/Elohim’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Almighty. Live as children of light.
Both kinds of righteousness is needed at Messiah’s return
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus/Yashya have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the Assemblies.
revelation 22 v 14-16
So the dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring–those who keep the commands of God/Elohim and hold firmly to the testimony about Jesus/Yashya.
revelation 12 v 17
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God/Elohim, and the faith of Jesus/Yashya. revelations 14 v 12
The messiah is our example, he is the first born of many brethren. He kept the commandments and obeyed The Father, thereby fulfilling all righteousness.
May we all be ready for the Mashiach’s return, through faith in His blood and obedience to His commandments.
Thank you Abba for your love, grace and forgiving nature. Thank you for allowing us to draw on Your strength so that we can maintaining a relationship with You. Thank You Holy Spirit for helping us to dissect the Word and share with others.