¯Title Page Alien Righteousness? A Re-examination Of The Idea That Believers Are Clothed In The Righteousness Of Christ Roderick Graciano And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19.8 i Copyright Notices King James Version of the English Bible, © 1997 by the Online Bible Foundation and Woodside Fellowship of Ontario, Canada. The New American Standard Bible, © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. The Holy Bible: New International Version, © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. The New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All Scripture citations are from The New American Standard Bible, © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, (abbreviated NAU in the narrative) unless otherwise noted. Other versions are normally identified in superscript abbreviation at the verse citation. Because The New American Standard Bible uses italics to identify words and phrases that are not in the original language text, emphasis is occasionally added in this work by using bold type. Permission Permission is hereby given to quote, copy and distribute all or a portion of Alien Righteousness? so long as no portion of it is sold nor used in a work that is for sale, and so long as the author is credited along with www.timothyministries.info as the source, and 2011 is indicated as the copyright date. Any use of all or part of Alien Righteousness? in a work or collection involving, or sold for, a monetary charge requires the express permission of the author who can be contacted at [email protected] . ii Dedication To the glory of our Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. In appreciation of R. C. Sproul, John Piper and Wayne Grudem, three of my favorite contemporary theologians, men whose hearts are wholly dedicated to the glory of Jesus, and whose teachings and writings have the clarity that makes them wonderfully amenable to testing by the scriptures. And in recognition of N. T. Wright for his part in rocking the theological boat and confirming our need to resubmit our Evangelical presuppositions about justification to the lens of holy writ. In Memory Of George Eldon Ladd who first drew my attention to the relational aspect of righteousness through his book, A Theology Of The New Testament. iii Acknowledgements I offer a special thank you to my longsuffering wife, Kaaren Joy; not a football widow, but often a “writer’s widow.” I also wish to express my deep appreciation to the handful of friends, particularly to Rob Firman, Jeff Reed and Sally Sternard, who proofread the draft of this book and helped me make dozens of corrections and improvements. Finally, to all the friends of Timothy Ministries who make my research, writing and teaching possible, I offer my heartfelt gratitude with the prayer that God will return the blessing to you a hundredfold. iv Table of Contents ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................... VII PRONUNCIATION GUIDE ........................................................................... X PREFACE .................................................................................................. XI SYNOPSIS ................................................................................................. 1 SOME IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS .............................................................. 5 THE DOCTRINE OF ALIEN RIGHTEOUSNESS AS CURRENTLY TAUGHT ......... 9 1. JUSTIFICATION IS BASED UPON WORKS (ETHICAL PERFECTION). 9 2. JUSTIFICATION BY OUR OWN WORKS IS IMPOSSIBLE. 10 3. AS OUR FEDERAL HEAD, JESUS WAS ALSO OUR ETHICAL REPRESENTATIVE. 10 4. OUR SINS WERE IMPUTED TO CHRIST. 11 5. CHRIST’S DEATH AND RIGHTEOUS LIFE ARE IMPUTED TO THE BELIEVER. 12 6. GOD DECLARES THE SINNER JUDICIALLY NOT ETHICALLY RIGHTEOUS. 15 7. NEITHER FAITH NOR GOOD WORKS HAVE INTRINSIC WORTH BEFORE GOD. 17 SUMMARY OF THE DOCTRINE OF ALIEN RIGHTEOUSNESS 18 ARGUMENTS FOR THE DOCTRINE OF ALIEN RIGHTEOUSNESS ................. 21 1. GOD OBLIGATES US TO BE ETHICALLY PERFECT AS WE COME TO HIM. 21 2. JUSTIFICATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE NECESSARILY FORENSIC. 22 3. JUSTIFICATION HAS TO DO WITH DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE. 23 4. JUSTIFICATION CANNOT OCCUR BY INFUSED RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 5. OUR SINS WERE IMPUTED TO CHRIST. 25 6. SCRIPTURE TEACHES IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS. 27 7. PAUL HAD A RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT HIS OWN. 28 8. BELIEVERS ARE “IN CHRIST.” 28 9. IMPUTED GUILT IMPLIES IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS. 30 10. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS GIVEN TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. 31 MORE ARGUMENTS FOR THE IMPUTATION OF CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS 32 PROBLEMS WITH THE DOCTRINE OF ALIEN RIGHTEOUSNESS .................. 35 10. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS HIS OWN ATTRIBUTE AND ACTION. 35 9. ROMANS 5.12-19 IS INADEQUATE AS IMPUTATION’S PROOF TEXT. 44 v 8. “IN CHRIST” REFERS TO FAMILIAL SOLIDARITY. 47 7. SCRIPTURE TEACHES THE PURSUIT OF PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. 58 6. IMPUTATION OF CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A REFORMATION NOVELTY. 71 5. SIN-BEARING REQUIRES NO IMPUTATION. 80 4. IMPUTATION VS. INFUSION IS A FALSE DILEMMA. 85 3. DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE AWAITS THE FINAL JUDGMENT. 99 2. JUSTIFICATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE RELATIONAL. 103 1. CHRIST CALLS US TO BE PERFECT AFTER WE COME TO HIM. 105 PORTRAYING GOD AS SELF-DELUDING PRESENTS AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM. 109 WHAT SCRIPTURE TELLS US EXPLICITLY ................................................. 123 ADAM’S DISOBEDIENCE BROUGHT UNIVERSAL SIN AND DEATH TO MANKIND. 123 THERE ARE RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE, NEVERTHELESS! 125 NOW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD HAS BEEN REVEALED. 127 GOD IS THE ONE WHO JUSTIFIES. 130 WHAT THEN IS JUSTIFICATION? 133 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................ 135 1. JUSTIFICATION IS BASED UPON FAITH, NOT WORKS. 135 2. JUSTIFICATION BY OUR OWN WORKS IS IMPOSSIBLE. 135 3. AS OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER, JESUS INTERVENED AS OUR SUBSTITUTE. 135 4. CHRIST BORE THE SINS OF MANY. 136 5. IN CHRIST, WE HAVE BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD. 136 6. GOD RECEIVES THE REPENTANT BELIEVER AS FACTUALLY RIGHTEOUS. 136 7. GOD HIGHLY VALUES OUR FAITH AND SUBSEQUENT GOOD WORKS. 137 EPILOGUE ............................................................................................. 139 THE GLORY OF GOD IS AT STAKE. 139 THE HEALTH OF BELIEVERS IS AT STAKE. 141 WHY HAS THE DOCTRINE OF ALIEN RIGHTEOUSNESS PERSISTED? 143 GLOSSARY ............................................................................................ 145 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES .......................................................................... 157 SCRIPTURE INDEX ................................................................................. 167 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................... 175 APPENDICES ......................................................................................... 181 vi Abbreviations Abbreviations For Bible Versions CJB Complete Jewish Bible, © 1988 by David H. Stern. CSB Holman Christian Standard Bible, © 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. ESV The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, © 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. GNT The Greek New Testament, 4th Edition, © 1975 by the United Bible Societies. KJV King James Version of the English Bible, © 1997 by the Online Bible Foundation and Woodside Fellowship of Ontario, Canada. LXX The Septuagint (ancient Greek version of the OT) NAS The New American Standard Bible, © 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. NAU The New American Standard Bible, © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. NIrV The Holy Bible: The New International Readers Version, © 2010 by Zondervan. NIVO The Holy Bible: New International Version, © 1984 by International Bible Society. NKJV The New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. NLT Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Second Edition, © 2004 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. RSV Revised Standard Version of the Bible, © 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. VUL The Vulgate (ancient Latin version of the Bible). vii Abbreviations For Bible Books 1Ch 1 Chronicles Jam James 1Co 1 Corinthians Jdg Judges 1Jo 1 John Jer Jeremiah 1Ki 1 Kings Job Job 1Pe 1 Peter Joe Joel 1Sa 1 Samuel Joh John 1Th 1 Thessalonians Jon Jonah 1Ti 1 Timothy Jos Joshua 2Ch 2 Chronicles Jude Jude 2Co 2 Corinthians Lam Lamentations 2Jo 2 John Lev Leviticus 2Ki 2Kings Luk Luke 2Pe 2 Peter Mal Malachi 2Sa 2 Samuel Mar Mark 2Th 2 Thessalonians Mat Matthew 2Ti 2 Timothy Mic Micah 3Jo 3 John Nah Nahum Act Acts Neh Nehemiah Amo Amos Num Numbers Col Colossians Oba Obadiah Dan Daniel Phil Philippians Deut Deuteronomy Phm Philemon Ecc Ecclesiastes Pro Proverbs Eph Ephesians Psa Psalms Est Esther Rev Revelation Ex Exodus Rom Romans Eze Ezekiel Rut Ruth Ezr Ezra Song The Song of Solomon Gal Galatians Tit Titus Gen Genesis Zec Zechariah Hab Habakkuk Zep Zephaniah Hag Haggai Heb Hebrews Hos Hosea Isa Isaiah viii Bibliographic Abbreviations ACCOS Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture Diog Epistle To Diognetus NT New Testament OT Old Testament Sir Wisdom Of Ben Sira, aka The Book Of Sirach TDNT Theological Dictionary Of The New Testament TDNTA Theological Dictionary Of The New Testament: Abridged In One Volume Miscellaneous Abbreviations Ch. Chapter et al and others Grk Greek Heb Hebrew Ibid. in the same place Ms, Mss Manuscript, Manuscripts op cit in the work cited V., vv. Verse, verses Words and phrases in blue are terms that appear in the Abbreviations lists, the