IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH CHRIST
The doctrine of imputed righteousness stands at the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the foundational truth that Christ’s perfect righteousness is credited to believers by faith—not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ has done on our behalf (Romans 4:3; Philippians 3:9).
The term “credited” (or “counted”) is an accounting word: it means God places Christ’s righteousness into our account. By God’s grace, the righteousness of Jesus becomes ours. We receive it—not by effort, but by faith (Romans 4:5). This is not a minor footnote. It is the great exchange.
From the beginning, Scripture makes it plain that no human achievement can secure righteousness before God. Isaiah declared that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and Paul wrote, “There is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). The law, though holy, serves to expose our condition, not to elevate us (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:10). So if we are to be made right with God, it must be on the basis of another’s righteousness—and that was Christ’s. He lived the perfect life, fulfilled the law, and then died and rose for us (Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 4:15). By faith, His obedience becomes ours (Romans 5:19).
In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read the glorious summary: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” That is imputation. Our sin laid on Christ, His righteousness laid on us. This is a legal act of God—justification. It is not a process of earning or improving our standing, but a declaration of righteousness the moment we trust Christ for ourselves (Romans 4:6; Galatians 2:16). Our position before God is fixed in Christ—even as we continue to grow in sanctification.
This truth should lead us not to complacency, but to awe, worship, and obedience. Being declared righteous means we will live righteously—not in order to win God’s favor, but because we already have His favor in Christ (Titus 3:5‑7; Ephesians 2:8‑10). We are saved by works? No—for salvation is by grace—but we are saved for works (James 2:17; Philippians 2:12‑13).
Imputed righteousness gives peace with God (Romans 5:1), freedom from condemnation (Romans 8:1), and bold access into His presence (Hebrews 10:19‑22). Our standing is not based on feelings or performance, but on Christ, the same yesterday, now, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
But beloved, this is not just doctrine to be studied—it is truth to be lived. When we embrace the fact that Christ is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30), we cease from striving in our own strength and rest in the unshakable foundation of our salvation (Galatians 2:20).
Our hope is not in what we can do—it is in One who loved us and gave Himself for us (1 John 1:9). Let us cling to Christ by faith, and boldly proclaim, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). May this truth shape our inner life, our worship, our relationships, and all we are—and may it draw us continually to the Person who is our righteousness.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
