In Abraham's case, "his faith was counted for righteousness" by God (Romans 4:5). The word for "count" is used throughout the Bible. Its principle is universal and its usage is both ancient and modern.
The Greek word for "counted" is logizomai. It appears 41 times in the NT. Of these, 35 are from the pen of Paul and 19 are in Romans, 11 of which are found in chapter 4! Yet this word is almost impossible to trace in our English Bible because twelve different English words are used in the KJV translation. Of these twelve our chapter uses three; reckon, impute, and count.
To understand this point, these uses must be put into two groups: "imputing" is charging or putting something upon one's account. Wages are reckoned in 4:4, righteousness in 4:6, 11, 23, 24, and sin in 4:8, and these are all actualities.
Whereas when something is "Imputed for," it is imputed for something which it is not. Faith is not righteousness, but it is reckoned for it by God!
A modern illustration with paper money will serve to explain this difference. Thinking back to days of gold coinage, we realize that the worth of a gold coin is intrinsic, that is, worth is not "Imputed for" gold because gold has the worth in itself. But paper money is another matter, for it is worth nothing more than waste paper unless worth has been imputed for it. A fire will quickly prove that it gives no more heat when burned nor is its ash of any greater value. But If worth "is imputed for that paper, then, and only then might its purchasing power equal that of gold. Yet it would be a mistake to say that a paper note was actually of the same value as gold!
Worth "imputed for" paper money depends solely upon the resources of the backing government. History records the worthlessness of paper money upon the collapse of governments.
So with faith! Faith is not righteousness, but faith is reckoned for (imputed for) righteousness. Righteousness is only in the Lord. True merit is found in "the faith of Christ," and because of His faith (fidelity) my faith may be reckoned by God for righteousness. If Christ's faith and righteousness did not exist, my faith would have no value. There, in the Bank of Heaven, is the gold of perfect righteousness, wrought by Another on our behalf, which alone makes our faith of any value.
"What does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to one who works the reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to one who does not work, but believes on Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness..." (Romans 4:3-5)
"And therefore it was Imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for ourjustification." (Romans 4:22-25)
The Greek word for "counted" is logizomai. It appears 41 times in the NT. Of these, 35 are from the pen of Paul and 19 are in Romans, 11 of which are found in chapter 4! Yet this word is almost impossible to trace in our English Bible because twelve different English words are used in the KJV translation. Of these twelve our chapter uses three; reckon, impute, and count.
To understand this point, these uses must be put into two groups: "imputing" is charging or putting something upon one's account. Wages are reckoned in 4:4, righteousness in 4:6, 11, 23, 24, and sin in 4:8, and these are all actualities.
Whereas when something is "Imputed for," it is imputed for something which it is not. Faith is not righteousness, but it is reckoned for it by God!
A modern illustration with paper money will serve to explain this difference. Thinking back to days of gold coinage, we realize that the worth of a gold coin is intrinsic, that is, worth is not "Imputed for" gold because gold has the worth in itself. But paper money is another matter, for it is worth nothing more than waste paper unless worth has been imputed for it. A fire will quickly prove that it gives no more heat when burned nor is its ash of any greater value. But If worth "is imputed for that paper, then, and only then might its purchasing power equal that of gold. Yet it would be a mistake to say that a paper note was actually of the same value as gold!
Worth "imputed for" paper money depends solely upon the resources of the backing government. History records the worthlessness of paper money upon the collapse of governments.
So with faith! Faith is not righteousness, but faith is reckoned for (imputed for) righteousness. Righteousness is only in the Lord. True merit is found in "the faith of Christ," and because of His faith (fidelity) my faith may be reckoned by God for righteousness. If Christ's faith and righteousness did not exist, my faith would have no value. There, in the Bank of Heaven, is the gold of perfect righteousness, wrought by Another on our behalf, which alone makes our faith of any value.
"What does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to one who works the reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to one who does not work, but believes on Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness..." (Romans 4:3-5)
"And therefore it was Imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for ourjustification." (Romans 4:22-25)
How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and
Connie Spivey
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