Imputation and Transformation

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. and so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3,4—NIV)

Jesus Christ kept the Law of Moses perfectly and then died to pay the penalty for our transgressions of the Law. Because of His atoning death God is willing to forgive the sins of any individual who asks for forgiveness in Jesus' name. Once our sins have been forgiven God is able to impute (ascribe; assign) righteousness to us even though our behavior has been and yet is abominable in God's sight. Righteousness is behavior that is acceptable to God. Imputed righteousness has been preached and taught throughout the world. Now it is time to emphasize transformation, the second great dimension of the Christian salvation. Transformation includes redemption from the hand of the enemy and also the growth of Christ in us until we are in His image and abiding in untroubled rest in the Father through Christ.

Our salvation includes:

Imputation.

Transformation.

Transformation includes:

Redemption.

Growth in the image of Christ and in union with God through Christ.

A diagram would be as follows:

Salvation

Imputation

Transformation

Redemption

Growth in the image of Christ and in union with God through Christ.

Why the emphasis on transformation at this point in the Christian Era? One way of answering this question is to consider the pattern revealed in the feasts of the Lord. Speaking symbolically, we are now celebrating the spiritual fulfillment of the fourth feast, Pentecost. The feast that follows is the blowing of Trumpets. The blowing of Trumpets announces the beginning of the Kingdom of God, the entrance of God's will into the earth. This means that imputed righteousness, while it will spare us from the wrath of God, no longer is adequate. The Kingdom of God is not composed of people who are acceptable to God but people who have been transformed by the provisions God has made through Jesus Christ. The God of Heaven has many needs. None of these needs can be satisfied with people who have experienced imputation without an accompanying transformation.

God needs:

A house in which He can rest and through which He can guide and bless His children in the earth.

A wife for the Lamb, a helper suitable for the Lord Jesus.

Brothers for the Lord Jesus.

A royal priesthood that can mediate between God and man.

Rulers and governors over the political entities of the earth.

Judges of people and angels.

An army of disciplined solders who can return with Jesus and drive wickedness from the earth.

A body, a fullness, providing an extension of the Person of Jesus Christ.

Teachers who can bring God's laws and words to the ends of the earth.

Various ministries and gifts to bring the members of the Body of Christ to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God.

Sons of whom God can be proud.

Continued. Imputation and Transformation 2