The Imputation of Christ's Righteousness: Our Robe of Salvation

In the grand tapestry of biblical theology, few doctrines are as vital and comforting as the imputation of Christ's righteousness. It is the very heart of the gospel, revealing how a holy God can declare sinful humanity righteous without compromising His divine justice. To "impute" means to credit, to reckon, or to ascribe something to someone. In the context of salvation, it signifies God's divine act of crediting the perfect, sinless righteousness of Jesus Christ to the account of every believer. This is not merely a legal fiction, but a glorious, transforming reality that stands as the bedrock of our justification before God.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, powerfully articulates this truth: "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works," (Romans 4:6). This declaration sets the stage for understanding the glorious exchange that takes place at the cross, an exchange absolutely essential for our salvation.

Man's Unrighteousness: The Universal Need

Before we can fully appreciate the imputation of Christ's righteousness, we must first grasp the depth of humanity's unrighteousness. The Bible is unequivocally clear: every person born into this world is a sinner, fallen from God's holy standard. Our very nature is corrupted by sin, and our deeds, even our best ones, fall short of God's perfect law.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:10

This stark reality is further emphasized in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Our own efforts to achieve righteousness are futile. The prophet Isaiah declares, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6). No amount of good works, religious rituals, or moral striving can bridge the infinite chasm between our sinfulness and God's absolute holiness. We are utterly incapable of earning our way into His favour, or of standing before Him on the basis of our own merit. This universal condemnation highlights the desperate need for a righteousness that is not our own.

Christ's Perfect Righteousness: The Divine Provision

Into this desperate human condition steps the Lord Jesus Christ, the only one who ever lived a life of perfect righteousness. His righteousness is two-fold, encompassing both His active and passive obedience:

  • Active Obedience: This refers to Christ's perfect, lifelong conformity to the Law of God. From His birth to His death, He never once sinned, but flawlessly fulfilled every jot and tittle of God's commandments. He lived the life we could not live, perfectly honouring God in thought, word, and deed. He declared to John the Baptist, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness," (Matthew 3:15), demonstrating His commitment to perfect obedience. His life was an unbroken chain of righteousness, a spotless record that stands in stark contrast to humanity's soiled one.
  • Passive Obedience: This refers to Christ's suffering and death on the cross, where He perfectly endured the penalty for sin that humanity deserved. He became our substitute, bearing the curse of the Law and satisfying divine justice. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed," (1 Peter 2:24). He was made sin for us, though He knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

    • Together, Christ's active and passive obedience form a complete and perfect righteousness, fully satisfying all of God's righteous demands. This flawless righteousness is the very basis upon which our salvation rests.

    The Mechanism of Imputation: A Glorious Exchange

    The doctrine of imputation explains how Christ's perfect righteousness becomes ours. It is a divine transaction, a glorious exchange orchestrated by God Himself. Our sin is imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us. The Apostle Paul beautifully captures this profound truth:

    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

    2 Corinthians 5:21

    This verse is a cornerstone of the doctrine. Christ, who was without sin, had our sins "imputed" or "reckoned" to Him on the cross. He bore the full wrath and penalty that our sins deserved. In return, His perfect righteousness is "imputed" or "credited" to us. This is not a change in our inherent nature at the moment of justification, but a change in our legal standing before God. We are declared righteous, not because we are inherently righteous, but because Christ's righteousness is legally ours.

    The Old Testament figure of Abraham serves as a powerful illustration of this principle. "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness," (Genesis 15:6). Paul refers to this in Romans 4:3 and Romans 4:22, emphasizing that Abraham's faith was "counted" or "imputed" to him as righteousness. Just as Abraham's faith was credited to him, so Christ's righteousness is credited to those who believe in Him. This imputation is received by faith alone, apart from any works or merit of our own. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness," (Romans 4:5).

    This means that when God looks upon a believer, He no longer sees their sin, but rather the perfect, spotless righteousness of His Son. We are clothed in the very righteousness of Christ, making us perfectly acceptable in His sight. "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith," (Philippians 3:9).

    The Glorious Results of Imputed Righteousness

    The imputation of Christ's righteousness brings with it an abundance of glorious spiritual blessings, transforming our relationship with God and securing our eternal future:

    • Justification: This is the immediate and primary result. Justification is God's legal declaration that we are righteous in His sight. It is not making us righteous, but declaring us so, based on Christ's imputed righteousness. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Romans 5:1).
    • Peace with God: Once enemies of God due to our sin, we are now reconciled and have peace with Him. The barrier of sin is removed, and we stand in His favour.
    • Access to God: Through Christ, we have bold and confident access to the Father. We can approach His throne of grace without fear, knowing we are clothed in His Son's righteousness. "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father," (Ephesians 2:18).
    • Adoption: We are not merely forgiven, but adopted into God's family as His beloved children, with all the rights and privileges of sonship. "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons," (Galatians 4:5).
    • Eternal Life and Security: Because our standing before God is based on Christ's perfect righteousness, our salvation is eternally secure. We are guaranteed eternal life, not based on our fluctuating performance, but on His unchanging perfection. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," (Romans 6:23).

    These blessings are not earned, but freely given as a gift of God's grace, received by faith in Christ. The imputation of Christ's righteousness ensures that our salvation is solely dependent on His finished work, providing an unshakeable foundation for our hope and assurance.

    Conclusion: Resting in the Robe of Righteousness

    The imputation of Christ's righteousness is not merely a theological concept; it is the glorious truth that brings peace to the troubled conscience and assurance to the doubting heart. It means that though we are inherently sinful, in Christ we are declared perfectly righteous before a holy God. We are clothed in His righteousness, a robe woven by His perfect life and sacrificial death, making us eternally acceptable in God's sight.

    This doctrine magnifies the grace of God and the perfection of Christ's work. It reminds us that salvation is entirely of the Lord, from beginning to end. Our confidence before God is not in our own fleeting efforts or imperfect obedience, but in the unblemished, infinite righteousness of our Saviour. As believers, we are called to rest in this truth, to live in light of this incredible gift, and to give all glory to the One who accomplished such a magnificent exchange for us. May we ever rejoice in this imputed righteousness, our sure and eternal hope.