The following "Question" was asked by an attendee at the 2005 Shepherds' Conference (a ministry of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California), and was "Answered" by John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from "General Session #10 John MacArthur - Q&A."  A copy of the CD, cassette tape, or MP3 can be obtained by going to:  www.shepherdsconference.org  ©2005. All Rights Reserved. Grace Community Church.

Questioner

I have a question on something that R. C. Sproul had mentioned last night.  My understanding of the righteousness that was imputed to us from the cross was because of Christ’s lack of sin, that because He had no sin, He was righteous.  R. C. Sproul had mentioned that the imputed righteousness was not because of Christ’s lack of sin, but it was because of his presence of the good works or the right works that was in his life.  So, this is the first time I’ve heard of this.  So, I was wondering if you could speak on that, and, to kind of go along with that, somebody had mentioned to me the concept of a works covenant that, I think, came from a complete reformed theology, and, again, I wasn’t very familiar with this.

John MacArthur's Answer

Right, and he did mention that.  My view of the covenants is that whatever the Bible says is a covenant, is a covenant.  If the Bible says it’s a covenant, it’s a covenant.  But, in response to that, what he was saying is this: that the positive righteousness of Christ is imputed to you.  A verse that helps me with that is, “He was, in all points, tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  The “all points” are chronological.  He was tempted at all points through his life: the way a little child is tempted, the way an older child is tempted, the way a young teenager is tempted, the way an older teenager is tempted…a younger man…an adult…  He was at all points tempted the way we are, and it’s different at all those points in development, and yet without sin.  That life then stands the test and accomplishes perfect righteousness, which God then imputes to us. 

I think that is the backside—the often-ignored side—of the doctrine of justification.  Second Corinthians 5—I’ll just read the verse—5:21, which is at the end of that wonderful section on reconciliation, “God made Him, who knew no sin, sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  So, the sin that is ours is imputed to Him; the righteousness that is His is imputed to us.  I’ve always understood it that way.  I hadn’t heard R. C. speak on that before, but I have always understood that the active righteousness of Christ in his life is what is imputed to me. 

Now, you know, if you’re looking for one little verse that says that, he quoted the best one: “I must fulfill all righteousness” (which He said to John the Baptist).  I mean, otherwise, he’s right; why would He have to come down and go through 33 years?  Why not just come down for the weekend, die on Friday, and go back on Sunday afternoon?  What’s the point of all of that grief?  So that, at every point, He’s tempted like as we are and so He accomplishes, on our behalf, as a man, a righteousness, which can be imputed to us.  That’s a great reality.  God treats his Son as if He lived my life, on the cross, turns around, and treats me as if I lived his Son’s life.  That’s incredible, but that’s imputed righteousness.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Our websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986