In biblical theology, the concept of imputation is a cornerstone of understanding how humanity’s relationship with God is restoredbecause of sin. The term “imputation” refers to the act of attributing or crediting something to someone’s account, often in a legal or financial sense. However, when viewed through the lens of biblical teachings, imputation takes on a profoundly spiritual and theological significance.
Theological Context
The concept of imputation is rooted in the biblical narrative of creation, fall, and redemption. When God created humanity, there was a perfect relationship between God and humanity, with Adam and Eve living in obedience to God’s command. However, with the entrance of sin through disobedience (Genesis 3), humanity’s relationship with God was severed. Sin resulted in guilt, shame, and a legal standing of condemnation before a holy God.
Imputation of Sin
The first aspect of imputation in the Bible is the imputation of sin. This is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, where the sin of the first humans resulted in the imputation of guilt to all their descendants (Romans 5:12-19). Paul writes that through one man (Adam), sin entered the world, and death through sin, so that death spread to all men because all sinned. This legal standing of guilt before God is a result of Adam’s sin being imputed to humanity.
Imputation of Righteousness
In contrast to the imputation of sin, the Bible also teaches the imputation of righteousness. This concept is fundamental to the Christian doctrine of justification. According to Romans 4, Abraham’s faith was counted or imputed to him as righteousness. This imputation of righteousness is not based on Abraham’s works but on his faith in God’s promise (Genesis 15:6). Similarly, for believers in Jesus Christ, faith in Him results in the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to their account (2 Corinthians 5:21). This means that believers are not justified by their own deeds or merits but by the perfect righteousness of Christ, which is credited to them.
Legal and Spiritual Significance
The concept of imputation has both legal and spiritual implications. Legally, it addresses the issue of guilt and condemnation before God’s law. Spiritually, it touches on the heart of how a holy God can have a relationship with sinful humanity. Through the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, believers are declared righteous, not because of their inherent goodness or actions, but because of the legal transaction that occurs when one places their faith in Jesus Christ.
Key Biblical Passages
Several key passages in the Bible illustrate the concept of imputation:
- Genesis 3 - The entrance of sin into the world through Adam’s disobedience, leading to the imputation of sin to all humanity.
- Genesis 15:6 - Abraham’s faith is counted as righteousness, an example of the imputation of righteousness through faith.
- Romans 4 - Explains how Abraham’s faith, rather than his works, was imputed to him as righteousness.
- Romans 5:12-19 - Discusses the imputation of Adam’s sin to all humanity and contrasts it with the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to believers.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake, God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Conclusion
The biblical concept of imputation is fundamental to understanding the Christian doctrine of salvation. It explains how sinners can be declared righteous in God’s sight, not through their own efforts or achievements, but through the imputation of Christ’s perfect righteousness. This doctrine underscores the gracious nature of God’s salvation, highlighting that our standing before God is based on Christ’s work, not our own. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers receive the imputation of righteousness, restoring their relationship with God and securing their eternal destiny.
