Understanding Righteousness: Imputed vs. Imparted

Devotional

Day 1: The Gift of Imputed Righteousness

Understanding imputed righteousness is foundational to grasping the gospel's transformative power. Imputed righteousness refers to the perfect righteousness of Christ that is credited to believers through faith. This righteousness is not something we can earn or achieve through our own efforts; it is a gift from God, granted to us because of Christ's obedience and sacrifice. At the moment of faith in Jesus, this righteousness becomes ours, forming the basis of our justification before God. It is essential to recognize that our standing with God is not based on our works but on the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to us. This understanding frees us from striving to earn God's favor and allows us to rest in the assurance of our salvation. [02:21]

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: How does knowing that Christ's righteousness is credited to you change the way you view your relationship with God today?

Day 2: Living Out Imparted Righteousness

Imparted righteousness is the righteousness we live out in our daily lives, reflecting our ongoing transformation into the likeness of Christ. Unlike imputed righteousness, which is perfect and complete, imparted righteousness is progressive and involves our active participation. As we grow in our faith, we are called to live in a way that reflects the character of Christ, striving to embody His love, grace, and truth in our interactions with others. While our practical righteousness is not yet perfect in this life, it will be perfected when God completes His work in us. This journey of becoming more like Christ requires intentional effort and reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us. [03:26]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you actively participate in becoming more like Christ in your daily life this week?

Day 3: The Relationship Between Righteousness Forms

The relationship between imputed and imparted righteousness is crucial for understanding the Christian life. Our practical righteousness, or the way we live out our faith, flows from the imputed righteousness we receive through faith in Christ. We cannot make progress in living out righteousness until we are first justified and accepted by God. This means that our efforts to live righteously are not the basis of our standing with God but are a result of it. Recognizing this relationship helps us avoid the trap of legalism, where we might mistakenly believe that our works earn us favor with God. Instead, our righteous living is a response to the grace we have already received, motivated by gratitude and love for God. [04:31]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you ensure that your efforts to live righteously are a response to God's grace rather than an attempt to earn His favor?

Day 4: Justification by Faith Alone

Justification by faith alone is a central tenet of the gospel, emphasizing that our right standing with God is based solely on faith in Jesus Christ. This doctrine underscores the truth that we cannot earn our salvation through our works or efforts; it is a gift of grace received through faith. Understanding justification by faith alone is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God, as it shifts our focus from striving to earn God's approval to resting in the assurance of His love and acceptance. Our practical righteousness, therefore, is not a means to earn grace but a response to the grace we have already received. This understanding liberates us to live freely and joyfully in the light of God's love. [05:08]

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, ESV)

Reflection: How does the assurance of being justified by faith alone impact your sense of peace and security in your relationship with God?

Day 5: Living Out the Gospel

Understanding the distinction between imputed and imparted righteousness is essential for living out the gospel effectively. If we confuse these concepts, we risk misunderstanding the nature of our salvation and the role of our works. The gospel calls us to live in the freedom and joy of knowing that our salvation is secure in Christ, while also challenging us to actively participate in the work of becoming more like Him. By keeping the distinction clear, we can avoid the pitfalls of legalism and embrace a life of grace-filled obedience. This understanding empowers us to live out the gospel in a way that reflects the transformative power of Christ in our lives and impacts those around us. [06:16]

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live out the gospel more fully in your interactions with others this week?

Sermon Summary

Understanding righteousness is crucial to grasping the essence of the gospel and the transformative power of Christ in our lives. The question of whether a Christian is righteous or unrighteous is not straightforward, as it involves a nuanced theological understanding. Righteousness, as discussed, can be seen in two primary forms: imputed and imparted righteousness. Imputed righteousness is the perfect righteousness of Christ that is counted as ours through faith. This is a gift from God, received at the moment of our faith in Jesus, and it is the basis of our justification. It is not something we earn or achieve through our works but is granted to us because of Christ's obedience and sacrifice.

On the other hand, imparted righteousness is the righteousness we live out in our daily lives. It is progressive and involves our active participation in becoming more like Christ. This form of righteousness is not yet perfect in this life but will be perfected when God completes His work in us. The relationship between these two forms of righteousness is vital: our practical righteousness flows from our imputed righteousness. We cannot make progress in living out righteousness until we are first justified and accepted by God. This means that our efforts to live righteously are not the basis of our standing with God but are a result of it.

The distinction between these two forms of righteousness is essential for living out the gospel. If we confuse them, we risk misunderstanding the nature of our salvation and the role of our works. Justification is by faith alone, and it is only through this justification that we can begin to live a life pleasing to God. Our practical righteousness, therefore, is a response to the grace we have received, not a means to earn it.

Key Takeaways

1. Imputed Righteousness: This is the perfect righteousness of Christ that is counted as ours through faith. It is a gift from God, received at the moment of our faith in Jesus, and it is the basis of our justification. This righteousness is not earned by our works but is granted because of Christ's obedience and sacrifice. [02:21]
2. Imparted Righteousness: This is the righteousness we live out in our daily lives. It is progressive and involves our active participation in becoming more like Christ. While not yet perfect in this life, it will be perfected when God completes His work in us. [03:26]
3. The Relationship Between Righteousness Forms: Our practical righteousness flows from our imputed righteousness. We cannot make progress in living out righteousness until we are first justified and accepted by God. This means our efforts to live righteously are a result of our standing with God, not the basis of it. [04:31]
4. Justification by Faith Alone: Justification is by faith alone, and it is only through this justification that we can begin to live a life pleasing to God. Our practical righteousness is a response to the grace we have received, not a means to earn it. [05:08]
5. Living Out the Gospel: Understanding the distinction between imputed and imparted righteousness is essential for living out the gospel. If we confuse them, we risk misunderstanding the nature of our salvation and the role of our works. [06:16]
** [06:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to Righteousness
[00:27] - Listener's Question
[00:44] - Clarifying Righteousness
[00:59] - Stages of Righteousness
[01:19] - Heart of the Gospel
[01:40] - Two Uses of Righteousness
[02:05] - Imputed Righteousness
[02:42] - Imparted Righteousness
[03:26] - Perfection and Progression
[04:09] - Effort and Right Standing
[04:48] - Justification by Faith
[05:31] - Living Out Righteousness
[06:47] - Scriptural Basis
[08:21] - Practical Righteousness
[09:58] - The Christian Life
[10:59] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Galatians 5:5 - "For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope."
Romans 5:19 - "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
Philippians 3:8-9 - "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."

---

Observation Questions:

According to the sermon, what are the two types of righteousness discussed, and how are they different? [02:05]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between imputed righteousness and imparted righteousness? [03:47]
What role does faith play in receiving imputed righteousness, according to the sermon? [05:08]
In the sermon, what is said about the perfection of imparted righteousness in this life? [03:26]

---

Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of imputed righteousness challenge the idea that we can earn our way to God through good works? [04:48]
What might be the implications of confusing imputed and imparted righteousness in a believer's life? [06:16]
How does the sermon explain the process of becoming more like Christ through imparted righteousness? [03:07]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that our practical righteousness is a response to God's grace rather than a means to earn it? [05:31]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you tried to earn God's favor through your actions. How does understanding imputed righteousness change your perspective on this? [04:31]
How can you actively participate in the process of imparted righteousness in your daily life? What specific steps can you take this week to become more like Christ? [03:26]
Consider the relationship between faith and righteousness as discussed in the sermon. How can you strengthen your faith to better live out your practical righteousness? [05:08]
In what ways can you remind yourself that your standing with God is based on Christ's righteousness and not your own efforts? [04:09]
How can you ensure that your efforts to live righteously are a response to God's grace rather than an attempt to earn His favor? [06:16]
Identify an area in your life where you struggle with practical righteousness. What is one action you can take this week to address this struggle? [09:58]
How can you encourage others in your community to understand and live out the distinction between imputed and imparted righteousness? [10:17]

Sermon Clips

is the Christian righteous or unrighteous a simplistic yes-or-no answer to this question is misleading because there's a tricky question that calls for theological care and it's a question we have received from a listener named Jason pastor Jonna I have recently been listening to your old sermon our hope righteousness in it you mention that full and perfect righteousness lies in the future it is our hope not our possession [00:00:02]

even though there are particular passages about righteousness which are unclear to me frankly as to their precise meaning nevertheless the overall picture I think in the New Testament is clear so just to keep matters as simple as possible without distorting the reality I would love to say there are two basic uses of the word righteousness in this regard one that is reckoned to us counted to us imputed to us pick your word reckon to us through faith and which comes from God as a gift [00:01:25]

the other use of the word would be righteousness that we ourselves are acting out living out in our daily lives and both of them not just one of them both of them are through faith but not in the same way through faith the the first is an imputed gift counted as ours that gift received through faith the second kind is an imparted gift not imputed given an imparted gift which we ourselves perform we ourselves perform by faith in his power [00:02:12]

the first kind of righteousness is perfect the second kind of Rights this is progressive and will someday be perfected at the end of our lives when God completes our process of becoming practically and personally perfectly righteous but which now in this life is not yet perfect and the relationship between these two kinds of righteousness is that we can't make any progress in practical lived out righteousness until we are accepted by God forgiven for our sins and declared to be perfectly righteous with the imputed righteousness of God in Christ [00:03:03]

that that's tremendously important to see because it means that the effort the effort that we make by faith through the holy spirit to put to death sins and become more and more practically righteous that effort is not the basis of our right standing with God but the consequence or effect of our right standing with God that's huge if we get those switched around we don't live the gospel we don't have the gospel [00:04:09]

the gift of the first kind of righteousness is called justification we receive it by faith alone Romans 3:28 Romans 5:1 this means that yet it happens instantaneously through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and treasure at the very instant of our first act of saving faith which God gives us in the new birth at that very instant God is then and from that moment on 100% for us and not against us no condemnation Romans 8:1 [00:04:48]

even though before that we were children of Wrath Ephesians 2:3 at that moment then for the first time by the Spirit through faith we are able to kill specific sins and make progress in God pleasing practical lived out righteousness before we had faith we could not please God at all or perform true righteousness because without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11:6 but as soon as we were given faith in that instant we were justified [00:05:26]

so none of the works of righteousness none of our own works of righteousness that come from faith could ever be the basis of justification because we are justified with Christ perfect righteousness the very instant that we have faith before we do any works of faith now if that's a complicated paragraph stop back it up listen again because I meant what I said and I think it's biblical [00:06:10]

here's Romans 613 do not present your members that is your hands and your feet and your tongue your sexual organs do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness but present yourselves to God here it is as those who have been brought from death to life so don't make yourself alive by doing this you've been brought from death to life and your members now present them as instruments of righteousness [00:09:10]

Paul says clearly that in this life we are not yet perfect in righteousness of our own Philippians 3:12 not that I have already obtained or am already perfect though that's so important for perfectionistic but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own so here's the glory and the mystery of the Christian life we are all ready righteous in Christ and so we have peace with God Romans 5:1 [00:09:47]

and in the piece of that acceptance with God we strive for righteousness in our daily lives because we know that this not only confirms that we are God's people 2nd Peter 1:10 but because this is the most deeply satisfying way to glorify Christ hmm thank you Pastor John and thank you for the great question Jason if you have a question for pastor john send it to us go to our online home desiring god that'll work /i ask Pastor John and submit a question of your own [00:10:23]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Understanding Righteousness: Imputed vs. Imparted

Devotional

Day 1: The Gift of Imputed Righteousness

Day 2: Living Out Imparted Righteousness

Day 3: The Relationship Between Righteousness Forms

Day 4: Justification by Faith Alone

Day 5: Living Out the Gospel

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Understanding Righteousness: Imputed vs. Imparted

Share