What is Imputation? This is another one of those important theological terms I’ve had to look up. Not only that, but we also have the term “Double Imputation.”
According to Ligonier Ministries:
The word imputation comes directly from the Latin. It is an accounting term; it means “to apply to one’s account.” Expenses are debited and income is credited. The old King James word is “reckon.”
According to GotQuestions:
Not only is Christ’s righteousness imputed to us through faith, but our sin is imputed to Christ. That is how Christ paid our sin debt to God. He had no sin in Himself, but our sin is imputed to Him so, as He suffers on the cross, He is suffering the just penalty that our sin deserves. That is why Paul can say, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
By having the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, we can be seen as sinless, as Jesus is sinless. It is not, therefore, our perfection, but His. When God looks at the Christian, He sees the holiness, perfection, and righteousness of Christ. Therefore, we can say with confidence, “I am sinless, as Jesus is sinless.” (Emphasis mine)
So, not only are our sins imputed to Christ, but Christ’s righteousness is also imputed to us! This is Double Imputation.
God’s attributes include Justice and Righteousness. Hence God will expose and punish all sin. I read recently that “God’s justice includes the disclosure of closet or hidden behaviour.” Terry L. Johnson writes:
All those awful things done in secret that no one knows about will be uncovered and exposed. Jesus said that what we have whispered in inner rooms will be shouted from housetops (Luke 12:2-3)…We will be condemned or rewarded not just for our acts but for our words; our profanity, our sarcasm, our destructive criticism, our gossip, and even our careless, unguarded jokes fall under judgment. ~ The Identity and Attributes of God
Reading those comments made me decidedly uncomfortable. How about you? If ever there was a call to holy living, it’s in that warning! As for me, I hang tightly to the doctrine of Double Imputation and this promise…
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:14-16
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