Imputed Righteousness/Imparted Righteousness

Added on for your viewing pleasure is an aside that I think is an important one. This directly speaks to the way that I live my life now and relates to the desires that I have for the things of God.

On Wednesday evening, imputed righteousness (see previous post if you have no idea what I'm talking about) was mentioned. In the general discussion, I was concerned that we were all sitting around talking about imputed righteousness as only a declaration and not as having Christ's righteousness--or Christ's power (for lack of a better word) to fulfill all of the holiness and righteous behaviors, thoughts and attitudes that the bible calls us to (Matthew 5:48, I Peter 1:16.) I was concerned because I fall into the category that I believe many professing believers do which is:

(picture shoulders slumped and eyes drooped) I just can't do anything right. I'm glad that there's grace because I'm always stumbling and sinning. I believe that God has the power to help me, but for some reason I feel like He helps everyone else and I'm just left to deal with these pattern of sins on my own.

I believe that the "power" to live a righteous life comes when Christ's righteousness is given to us at the time of salvation. Note--not perfection but righteousness, very different when played out in humans. Very important to note as I am quite confident that anyone who has been around me will most definitely know just how imperfect I really am.

Which brings me to Frank. Frank, (*sigh*) has endless, fruit-filled patience. The man just won't not love me (yes, intended double negative there.) So I spent an hour of his time yesterday morning (the day after the class) drilling and pounding him with questions as to the effects of Christ's righteousness in our lives, not to mention wasted about 30 minutes of the Wednesday's class that night. But I was concerned over reconciling in my mind Romans 10:10 and I John 3:6-8 with what was being discussed in class, so I was being selfish (which is, indeed, an unrighteous act.)

I won't bore you with such details (or torture Frank with the nightmare-ish reminder of never getting back that hour of wasted time) but the bottom line is that I was incorrectly defining imputed righteousness and replacing it with imparted righteousness. Definitions at the end.

So now I'm set straight and am once again, back on track. As I ask Frank's forgiveness, I openly admit that I'm glad that he took the time with me as I was not only corrected in love, but also learned a very important distinction between some very important doctrines. And for that, I am so thankful for!!!

Praise God from whom all Frank-blessings flow!

Definition:

Imparted righteousness, in Methodist theology, is that gracious gift of God given at the moment of the new birth which enables a Christian disciple to strive for holiness and sanctification. John Wesley believed that imparted righteousness worked in tandem with imputed righteousness. Imputed righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus credited to the Christian, enabling the Christian to be justified; imparted righteousness is what God does in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit after justification, working in the Christian to enable and empower the process of sanctification.