Impute/Imputation

<<assign, credit>>

This is accrediting something (good or bad) to another person. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, his guilt was passed on (imputed) to all people ever since (Rom 5:12,15-19; 1 Cor 15:22). While we are not personally guilty of Adam’s sin his sinful nature has been passed on down through the human race ever since and consequently we deserve the same punishment for sin as Adam – eternal death (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1-3).

In a similar same way the benefits of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross are imputed to those who avail themselves of His provision and turn to Him in repentance (Jn 1:12; Rom 4:25; 1 Thes 1:10). “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). As all people are reckoned sinners

In the place of our sin, we have the righteousness of Christ

in Adam, so all believers are considered righteous before God because of Christ’s work. Righteousness is accredited by faith not by any works we do (Rom 4:3-5,22-24; Eph 2:8,9; Jas 2:23). We are still sinners in practice yet the work of Christ judges us righteous. Jesus gave up the glory and rights of heaven that we, through His poverty, might become rich in the divine relationship (2 Cor 8:9).

As Christians we are urged to acknowledge the fact that sin should not rule our bodies, rather live a new life in Christ as an instrument of righteousness (Rom 6:12,13; 2 Cor 5:17). This is making the transaction real!

See also: divine exchange, grace, impartation.