₦airaland Forum

Does Paul Mean "Our Faith Is Our Righteousness?
So here is my answer to the question. No, when
Paul says "Faith is credited to us as righteousness," he does not mean that our faith is our righteousness, or any part of our justifying
righteousness. He means that faith is what unites us with Christ and all that God is for us in him. When God sees faith in Christ, he sees union with Christ. And when he sees union with Christ, he sees the righteousness of Christ as our righteousness. So faith connects us with Christ who is our righteousness and, in that sense, faith is counted as righteousness. Faith sees and savors all that God is for us in Christ, especially his righteousness. That's what faith does.

Fourth, the experience of God's people through
the centuries has shown what a treasure this truth is in bringing people from the darkness of unbelief to the light of hope and joy in Christ. One example is John Bunyan, the writer of Pilgrim's Progress, who struggled terribly before he came to a settled faith in Christ. Here's what he wrote: One day as I was passing into the field . . . this sentence fell upon my soul. Thy righteousness is in heaven. And me thought, withal, I saw with the eyes of my soul Jesus Christ at God's right hand; there, I say, was my righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was doing, God could not say of me, he wants [lacks] my righteousness, for that was just before [in front of] him. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse, for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, "The same yesterday, today and, and forever" ( Hebrews 13:.
Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed. I was
loosed from my afflictions and irons; my temptations also fled away; so that from that time those dreadful scriptures of God left off to trouble me; now went I also home rejoicing for the grace and love of God. (John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, [Hertfordshire: Evangelical Press, 1978, orig. 1666], pp. 90-91)


Perhaps the most pointed way I could put it would be this: I linger over this issue of the imputed righteousness of God in Christ because when I stand by your bed in the hour of your death, I want to be able to look down into your face and remind you of the most comforting words in all the world, and have you rejoice with solid Biblical understanding in what I mean when I say: "Remember, Christ is your righteousness. Christ is your righteousness. Your righteousness is in heaven. It's the same yesterday today and forever. It doesn't get better when your faith is strong. It doesn't get worse when your faith is weak. It is perfect. It is Christ. Look away from yourself. Rest in him. Lean on him."


And not only do I want you to cherish this for the
sake of your death, but also for the sake of your
evangelism and for the sake of missions. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, Paul says in Romans 1:16-17, because in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. I believe this refers to the gift of God's imputed righteousness that we receive by faith. Paul says that the gospel has power because this is what it reveals. This is what I want the Maninka people of Guinea to hear and understand and believe. And the Uzbeks and the Kazaks and the Sukumu and the Somali and your children and your parents and neighbors and
colleagues.

And Why Does It Matter?

Before I answer, let me tell you why I am giving
an entire sermon to this question before we launch into chapter five, Lord willing, next week. First, it's because the phrase is so liable to misunderstanding: "Faith is credited as
righteousness" sounds like faith is recognized to
be righteousness. But I am persuaded that is not
what it means.

Second, because Paul spends so much time on this phrase from Genesis 15:6 -a whole chapter.
As if, to get this wrong would be to go wrong on
something very important. And that is true. Is your legal standing with God as righteous based on what he is or what you are? You may not see why this is very big, but it is big. On this hangs the fullness of the glory of God's grace in your justification, and on this hangs the fullness of the enjoyment of your peace in justification. And not only yours but all those you should bless with the gospel. So God's glory and your peace are at stake in this question.

"Imputation" - an Important Word to Understand
Third, because Ephesians 4:14 says the goal of my preaching ministry should be that you "are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine." I want you to be strong and stable and mature. In particular, I want you to know the doctrine of the imputation of God's righteousness in Christ. I know "imputation" is a big and unusual word. But this is the word that has been used for hundreds of years to describe the truth that God "imputes" his righteousness to us through faith because of Christ's obedience.

Why should you be denied what tens of thousands of strong Christians have been strengthened by for centuries - the "imputation" of God's righteousness in Christ? It's a glorious truth that will change your life if you see it and savor it for what it is.

"Imputation" is different from "impartation." God
does "impart" to us gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, so that we have them and they are in us
growing and they are ours. But all of that gracious impartation through the Spirit is built on an even more firm foundation, namely, imputation - the work of God outside of us: God's own righteousness, not imparted to us, but imputed to us. Credited to us, as Romans 4:6 and 11 say. Put to our account. Reckoned to be ours. I ask myself as a pastor, Why should the people of Bethlehem be denied the knowledge of this great doctrine that has sustained saints for centuries? Why should we cave in to the modern pragmatism that says doctrine is impractical? And I answer: we shouldn't.

What Does "Credited" Mean?

One more question before we leave chapter four of this great letter to the Romans. It comes from verse 22: "Therefore, it [faith] was credited to him [Abraham] as righteousness." So it says that faith is counted as righteousness. We saw this in verse 3: "Abraham believed God and it [his believing] was credited to him as righteousness." And we saw it in verse 5b, "His [the one who believes in him who justifies the ungodly] faith is credited as righteousness." We saw it in verse 9b: "Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness."


Now what does this mean? Does it mean that faith itself is the kind of righteousness we perform and God counts that as good enough to be our righteousness - or our part of the righteousness - in justification? Does he mean that justification, let's say, costs five million dollars and I can come up with one million dollars (namely, faith), so God mercifully says he will count my one million as five million and cancel the rest? That would make my faith the righteousness imputed to me - or a significant part of it. So justification would be God's
recognizing in me a righteousness that he put there and that he acknowledges and counts for what it really is. Is that what Paul means when he says, "faith is credited as righteousness"? Or is justification something very different - not God's seeing any righteousness in me, but his crediting to me his own righteousness in Christ through faith? And if so, what does it mean to say that faith is credited as righteousness?

Muafrika2:
I once saw a witch/magician turn a cup of coffee into a cup of coins for a begger on TV. If I could dig up that video for uncle atheist here

See the scenario:

If you bring the video, it is what atheists can troll on, seun may spare you. But if it is undebunkable, seun will take it down.

Your excuse for an atheist is just too lame.

You better not deny miracles and supernaturals because they are real, independent of what you believe.


Awesome Holy Spirit in South Africa!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIPq8RW26o4

Amazing Miracles in PAKISTAN


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20OoguQVet4

Holy Spirit Miracles and Revival in Bogota, COLOMBIA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6gvgHAR9pE


Glorious Holy Spirit outpouring and miracles in England!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLMwuhdF8ZI


Amazing Fire and miracles of the Holy Spirit in FINLAND!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_3Lm819W-k


Powerful Holy Spirit and Miracles in MEXICO CITY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsEVOyi2OXI

SirWere:
Why waste MB browsing on this




.... One started with the caption "God restored my eyesight".
I thought blindness was not a disease and;according to one Nairalander's theory on why Amputated limbs have not grown back; God only heals disease.

Please, if you can't explain those videos, you just swerve out of my thread.

Edenoscar:
Can this pastor grow an amputated limb in a conrolled environment it shouldnt take more than a day out of his busy schedule, imagine the millions of atheist who coverts

Okay, thank God you have seen how supernatural those videos are since it is beyond aby scientific mechanism.

If there is any behind it, simply provide.

Bro, stop all this dumb amputed limb miracles. If what happened in that video can really happen supernaturally, what you are asking for can still happen supernatuarally. After all, I have seen with my eyes, a shorten arm stretched out right on my face. It is not true because you believe, but because it is real whether you like it or not.

I didn't post this to convert any atheist, but just to make it GLARING on their face that SUPERNATUARAL exist. And the reality of the supernatural is INDEPENDENT of what people believe. It doesn't even need your belief in it to be real. It exists because it is real.

Remember, atheism is JUST AN UNBELIEF in God/gods. Which means, someone can be an atheist for any reason. Just any reason. God is real, supernatural is real as shown in the video, but they simply DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE.

Anyway, explain to me the scientific mechanism behind the video. Please bring it on.

hopefulLandlord:
No limb growing miracle?

Co-Atheist? That's a new one

Wow, welcome!

You have any problem with saying "co-atheists"??

Hope you are not here to troll yourself. Anyway, just pick them up one by one. If you need more, I can give you more 5 videos at stretch.

Bro, just leave the limb growing miracle, because even if I post it. It will still scream "staged"! I have watched one though, but I forgot the website I watched it from. Though, I don't know if it has been taken down, but I will still search for it intensively.

But, to avoid derailing my thread, just leave the limb growing miracle stuff, I am yet to search for it well. Now just focus on debunking the op.

Is limb growing miracles the ONLY proof that the supernatural exist?

If yes, it means that the above op is not a supernatural something. Then if it is not, I would like you to tell us what it is, the scientific mechanic behind the video and video of scientists who did exactly this kind of things under the scientific mechanism you are to bring.

Please, I would appreciate.

Lennycool:
Its nice to see more Nigerians seeing the truth, religion is a scam, there was once a time when I was one of the most pious Christian you would ever meet, I accepted God as the truth and nothing could change mind, but now when I think back to those moments of religiousness, I ask my self how I could have been so blind, to not see the truth about religion. I think the reason why most people are in religion is because of
* Fear of death
* Fear of hell
* Indoctrination from childhood
* Lack of knowledge about other religions, and basic scientific facts
* Popular fellowship. When everyone you meet believes in God how can you question his existence?
* Superstition

Undebunkable superstitions like this abi?

Awesome Holy Spirit in South Africa!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIPq8RW26o4

Amazing Miracles in PAKISTAN


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20OoguQVet4

Holy Spirit Miracles and Revival in Bogota, COLOMBIA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6gvgHAR9pE


Glorious Holy Spirit outpouring and miracles in England!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLMwuhdF8ZI


Amazing Fire and miracles of the Holy Spirit in FINLAND!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_3Lm819W-k


Powerful Holy Spirit and Miracles in MEXICO CITY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsEVOyi2OXI


LMAO!!!!!!

Lennycool:
I truly hope you enjoy a long ban. Goodbye

At least, it can make your emotions stay at ease. Relax bro, it's not permanent.

Seun and his co-atheist, come in here and debunk these miracle video.

You can do better than this seun!

Good one bro!
Not by our works of righteousness but by his grace shown at the cross.

Good one bro!
Not by our works of righteousness but by his grace shown at the cross.

Praise JESUS!!!!

Awesome Holy Spirit in South Africa!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIPq8RW26o4
Amazing Miracles in PAKISTAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20OoguQVet4
Holy Spirit Miracles and Revival in Bogota, COLOMBIA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6gvgHAR9pE

Glorious Holy Spirit outpouring and miracles in England!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLMwuhdF8ZI

Amazing Fire and miracles of the Holy Spirit in FINLAND!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_3Lm819W-k

Powerful Holy Spirit and Miracles in MEXICO CITY!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsEVOyi2OXI

source credit: http://www.godisreal.today/modern-day-miracles/[/quote]

onos1979:
U WERE NEVER IN FAITH,U JUST BELIEVED U WERE BECAUSE UR PARENT GAVE BIRTH TO U IN THE CHURCH.

That's his problem!

One is not a believer because he was born into the church or because he has christian parents!!

They need to understand this!

ever811:
so reading all this is what made dangote what he is today abi?..

And even if you read everything ALL the billionaires, put together, has ever read. It still cannot make you a billionaire.

EyeHateGod:
Abeg Mr non deluded who create m?

I would only accept mark as the owner on the basis of BLIND FAITH. Because, I have no physical evidence, just that I read it on the internet which could still be false.

Then what if it was one Mr.J but was killed by mark to take over facebook? You know this can still happen!!


This is what it sounds like when atheists are trying to deny blind faith as part of their lives.

Lennycool:
I'd advice you to read about evolution and the origin of life. Your questions and doubts will be addressed fully. As of right now your religious prejudice is blinding you. If you don't care to research more about evolution, then continue in your religious delusions, I won't argue further, in the end you're free to believe what you want, whether it be scientist or a book written by middle eastern goat herders.

Oh so cool.

Please can you show us pictures, videos and, if possible, selfies of those middle eastern goat herders writing the book? I would love and appreciate to see them. I think I would speedily post them on YOUTUBE(videos) and instagram(pictures and selfies).

Yet to know the book though.

It's going to be fun.

Lennycool:
I'd advice you to read about evolution and the origin of life. Your questions and doubts will be addressed fully. As of right now your religious prejudice is blinding you. If you don't care to research more about evolution, then continue in your religious delusions, I won't argue further, in the end you're free to believe what you want, whether it be scientist or a book written by middle eastern goat herders.

Bro, why are you running away?

Don't run! Nobody is pursuing you!

You have to know that what you are saying doesn't make sense.

Study this scenario:
In a case of the usa white house.

Do you think that it can take TRILLIONS, UPON TRILLIONS UPON TRILLIONS of years to build up a less complex system as white house. The building itself ??

Please think about it.

You are an atheist, but don't live your live on a lie as you think other religious dudes are brainwashed. Don't be brainwashed with false sciences. True sciences are clear, false science are clear too, but, then can brainwash.

You can still be an atheist without believing in a lie. Making scientists to look like pastors and bishops to you. That would make you look like your religion is sciences.

felixomor:
U r not speaking with a good knowledge of mathematics. Sorry to say
Do u even know the probability of arranging ABCD to Z (just 26 alphabets) in alphabetical order by trial and error?
It is near impossibility, let alone DNA a 3 billion letter code?
We have not even talked about probability of arranging the 80 billion neurons of the brain.
Dont even go there.
Besides if u say trial and error, who is "trying"?

A God and a creator are not same. Really?
Can u "create" without "interfering'?
And if u say somethings are "unexplained", how are u now ruling out "interference"?
That logic is deficient, sorry

He was even trying to separate "God" from "creator". Oh my....

The main problem with these guys, is just that they HATE GOD!

They would be okay to here creator, but to say God is the source of their hate.

felixomor:
Trial and error can not even arrange and produce 1/billionth of a DNA strand let alone the brain, one mysterious super computer.
Thank God u said u dont rule out the possibility of a creator.
But u dont have to allow sentiments to make u to start to dabble into whether he answers prayers or not.
Because, Billions of people have their own personal testimonies and even many scientists have confirmed miracles before.
Even Richard Dawkins the world's most outspoken atheist believes in miracles. He admits that he cant explain them.
And Then if u say "God is an arrogant concept" while u admit the possibility of a creator, u contradict urself thus.

That guy is so ignorant!

Trial and error Wow

How I wish trial and error can build up something less complex to the universe.

Please, say trial and error can build up a complex system. Let me ask; within a period of 1TRILLION YEARS. Can natural process build up a system as less complex as american presidential WHITE HOUSE??

I wonder how lennycool would think in such a disgraceful manner.

Lennycool:
The brain and all biological complexities arrived by evolution, vis-a-vis trial, error and reproduction.
I don't dismiss the possibility of a creator that might have started the universe(though I believe if it did exist it had no had in designing life, because life is imperfect). I do however dismiss any notion of a religious God(s), that answers prayers, and interferes with the lives of humans. God is an arrogant concept of humans, the thought that a being powerful enough to create the infinite Cosmos, would care about your exam or job interview. It is truly silly.

You are now arriving at a point of self hatred.

It is just like an atheist who says that he rather die than to believe in God. As if his belief in God is needed for God to be real. It is not a position of rational thought, but that of hatred he has for God.

Wait, how does the imperfection of life disproves intelligent designing??

Please, do you think with your senses or from your anus??