Musing – How important is Imputed Righteousness?

 

Hebraic Musing – How important is Imputed Righteousness?

Imputed Righteousness is one of those religious terms you've probably heard once or twice, but it sounded too complicated or obscure to ask what it meant.  The term isn't that obscure; in fact, its ideas cut to the heart of what it means to be Christian.

What Is Imputed Righteousness?

Before we can understand Imputed Righteousness, let’s understand what “Imputed” means.  According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
 - to Impute means to credit or ascribe something to a person.  
 - Righteousness means to be in the right standing, or right position, before God.  
Together, Imputed Righteousness means right standing or right positioning has been credited to you. 

Is this what happened to each of us?  We were broken—sinful with no right standing before God because of our sin(s).  However, Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, and when you put your trust in him, he takes his Righteousness and credits it to your account.  You gain access to Righteousness not because of anything you have done but because Christ applied it to your account.  This Imputed Righteousness puts you in right standing before the Father as if you had done the right thing all along.

1. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the Righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

2. “God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our Righteousness, holiness and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:28-30 NIV

3. “But now apart from the law the Righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:21-24

4. “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of Righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 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.” Romans 5:17-19

Within these verses lies a constant theme of Imputed Righteousness, which is a great exchange. Christ took on our sin, which was Imputed to him, and we took on his Righteousness, which was Imputed to us.  Remember when you were once a lowly and despised sinner (not just you, but so was I).  Now you and I stand justified because of the Righteousness of Jesus applied to our accounts.  When you grasp this, it just doesn’t get any better!

Points to Ponder

Does this make you want to shout, “Thank you, JESUS!”

How does it feel to be grown up but now a Child or God?

Is his why we can say “Jesus is my LORD”?

What was that moment like when you realized you had "Imputed Righteousness”?

“… you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         March 3, 2026            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”