James H. Cagle
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4: 7, 8).
Ryrie says, “To impute means to attribute or reckon or count or ascribe something to someone. Imputation is not mere influence but involvement that is at the heart of the concept.”
The Bible speaks of three imputations which Paul points out in Romans 5: 17-19. (1). The imputation of Adam’s guilt of sin on the whole human race (Rom. 5:12-21). “God counted, reckoned Adam’s guilt as belonging to us, and since God is the ultimate judge in all things . . . Adam’s guilt does in fact belong to all of us.” Imputation of sin is the expression of a certain natural unity of Adam and the race.” (2). The imputation of Man’s sin to Christ (Is.53: 6, 12; Jn. 1: 29; 2 Cor. 5: 19; 1 Pet. 2: 24). According to these verses it was God the Father that put the sins of man on Christ. “In the same way in which Adam’s sins were imputed to us, so God imputed our sins to Christ; that is, He thought of them as belonging to Christ, . . . and since God thought of our sins as belonging to Christ then in fact they actually did belong to Christ.” This does not mean that Christ sinned, but rather that he bore the guilt for our sins and took responsibility for them and the liability to punishment for them. (3). The imputation of Christ’ righteousness to Believers (Rom. 5: 19; 2 Cor. 5: 21). “When we say that God imputes Christ’s righteousness to believers it means that God thinks of Christ’s righteousness as belonging to them, or regards it as belonging to them. He reckons it to their account.” Through faith Abraham was reckoned or counted as righteous before God (Rom. 4: 3). Through faith today believers are reckoned or counted as righteous before God (Rom. 4: 5). In every age, faith is man’s response to the promises of God, and trusting oneself to the God who promised, and that faith is accepted by God in place of a righteousness that no human being could have. “Imputation of righteousness reveals a spiritual unity of the believer with Christ, so that in heart he is at one with Christ, and Christ one with him and he becomes partaker of the divine nature.”
“The doctrine of the imputation of sin is the doctrine which inculcates that all mankind is made sharers in the fact and the consequences of Adam’s sin, and the doctrine of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness . . . is that the righteousness of Christ is transferred to those who believe in Him and are then made sharers in His merit or righteousness.”
To impute sin is to deal with a man as a sinner, not on account of his own sin, but primarily on the account or act of another. To impute righteousness is to deal with a man as righteous, not because he is righteous, but on account of the righteousness of Christ.
Because our sins have been imputed to Christ and the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us, God will not deal with us as sinners but as sons made righteous through Jesus Christ.
Lord Hold Me a Minute
When a little child would skin his knee,
Or fly his kite into a tree,
Receive unkindness from a friend;
Then he will think life’s much too big,
And run to sit on mother’s knee.
♢
There within her arms enfolded,
Fear is gone and peace returns.
Confidence comes, pain is vanquished
Hurt and tears are soon forgotten,
And a willingness to try again returns.
♢
Though sometimes it may take hours,
Usually a minute or two he stays
In the arms of love and comfort,
To rest his head upon her shoulder,
And find the care that ran the day.
♢
Some times, Lord I’m like this child.
Some days it’s hard to run life’s race.
I too get hurt, and oft’ discouraged;
‘Til life seems much too big for me,
And then I long for your kind embrace.
♢
I know I’m never out of your sight
Especially when I fall and skin my knees.
Whenever because of sin I’d stumble
And fallen down and can’t get up,
Then Lord scoop me up to sit on your knee.
♢
Lord when life just hurts so much,
And I am frustrated and confused,
Then I find myself inside your arms
Sheltered from the perilous storm,
Protected from my enemies abuse.
♢
Oh the pain, the tears, the sorrow;
The disappointment, and the fear,
That often comes to your children;
And would have crushed them with defeat,
Had you not given your grace to cheer.
♢
And when life seems out of control,
Though I’m striving your will to obey,
And I’m o’er whelmed with its enormity,
Please help me see that you are near,
And that your power is running the day.
♢
If I must stay with you for hours,
Because so far from you I’ve trod;
Or just a moment since I’m near you,
Please hold me close a minute, and whisper,-
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
♢
Then I too will find renewal
When my soul’s held in your embrace.
There enfolded by love and comfort,
‘Til all my fretting has melted away,
And I’m ready to get back in life’s race.
James H. Cagle
