Imputed and Imparted

Over the past few months, I've gotten my first taste of an age old struggle regarding the preaching of the Gospel. For those outside the church, or those who have been inside churches where salvation by Christ is never taught, the most important message is the message that no one can earn righteousness before God. We can never measure up to the standards of the biblical law that says "be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect" (Matt 5:48), or "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev. 19:2). The good news of the Gospel is, because we could not do it, Christ did it for us, and now his righteousness is made available for all who believe on him. Christ is our Righteousness, and on his behalf we are welcomed and loved by our heavenly father as sons, daughters, and heirs to the kingdom.

Unfortunately, for some of us who have been blessed to hear this message regularly preached for weeks, months, and years on end the temptation towards license can slowly creep into our lives. We start to think, "I know I should not sin, but my standing before God is secure, and I know he will forgive me." Paul anticipated this in Romans 6:1 -2 when he asked "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? " The challenge of 'preaching to the choir' is the challenge of reminding Christians that the Gospel, when seen clearly, should motivate us to draw near to our beautiful savior: to respond to his limitless grace and forgiveness by walking in step with him, and allowing his grace to become, not a theological safety net, but a power in our life to transform us into Christ's representatives on earth.

Christian obedience does not earn God's love, but God's abundant love should cause us to respond with devotion to our savior. Charles Spurgeon put it beautifully in yesterday's reading from the devotional Morning by Morning.

The Lord our righteousness Jeremiah xxiii 6 will always give a Christian the greatest calm quiet ease and peace to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ How often are the saints of God downcast and sad I do not think they ought to be I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ There are some who are always talking about corruption and the depravity of the heart and the innate evil of the soul This is quite true but why not go a little further and remember that we are perfect in Christ Jesus It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast looks but surely if we call to mind that Christ is made unto us righteousness we shall be of good cheer What though distresses afflict me though Satan assault me though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to heaven those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace there is nothing wanting in my Lord Christ hath done it all On the cross He said It is finished and if it be finished then am I complete in Him and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory 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 You will not find on this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into their hearts the dectrine of Christ's righteousness When the believer says I live on Christ alone I rest on Him solely for salvation and I believe that however unworthy I am still saved in Jesus then there rises up as a motive of gratitude this thought Shall I not live to Christ Shall I not love Him and serve Him seeing that I am saved by His merits The love of Christ constraineth us that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him which died for them If saved by imputed righteousness we shall greatly value imparted righteousness Jan 31 DAILY HEADINGS 31
Morning by Morning Or, Daily Readings for the Family Or the Closet By Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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