Theological Term of the Week

double imputation

The doctrinal teaching that in justification, there is a two-way transfer: The believer’s sin is credited to Christ and Christ’s righteousness is credited to the believer.

• From scripture:
  

  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
  

• From The London Baptist Confession, 1689, Chapter 11, Justification, Sections 1 and 3:
  

  Those whom God effectually calls He also freely justifies, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting them as righteous, not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone. They are not justified because God reckons as their righteousness either their faith, their believing, or any other act of evangelical obedience. They are justified wholly and solely because God imputes to them Christ’s righteousness. He imputes to them Christ’s active obedience to the whole law and His passive obedience in death. They receive Christ’s righteousness by faith, and rest on Him. They do not possess or produce this faith themselves, it is the gift of God.

Learn more

1. Theopedia: Double Imputation
2. Tom Ascol: Imputation: The Sinner’s Only Hope
3. Here at Rebecca Writes: Christ’s Active and Passive Obedience and Our Justification
4. Albert N. Martin: Romans 5:12-21 - Justification: Double Imputation (mp3)
5. R. C. Sproul: Double Imputation (video)
6. John Piper: Counted Righteous In Christ (pdf of the whole book)

Related terms:

• active obedience of Christ
• imputation
• justification
• passive obedience of Christ

The term double imputation was suggested by Jen of joythruChrist. 

 

Have you come across a theological term that you don’t understand and that you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Only in the Yukon: Signs of Spring

• In the front yard, there are crisscrossing squirrel tracks in the layer of fresh snow.
• The long term forecast shows every day with above freezing highs.
• It is light when I drive home from evening meetings.
• Some swans have returned, and if I were one of the Luddites using Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer, I might be able to see them on the Swan-Cam.
• Updated to add: I’ve had to start using my antihistamine again.
  

What are the signs of spring where you live?

Sunday's Hymn: In Bunhill Fields

Here’s another hymn written by someone buried in Bunhill Fields.

Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.

Refrain

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies.
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?

Lo! th’incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.

—-Joseph Hart 

Other hymns, worship songs, etc. posted today:

• The Second Sunday After Easter at Magic Statistics
• Jesu, Our Hope, Our Hearts Desire at The Happy Wonderer
• Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Way of Truth at Hiraeth
  
• Behold the Throne of Grace at Seasoning of the Heart
• Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ at Whatever Things…
• Lead On, O King Eternal at Field Stone Cottage
• Lord’s Day 14, 2008 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Fountain of Never Ceasing Grace at JoythruChrist
  

Have you posted a hymn this Sunday and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.