I was thinking last night of the 'Law of Imputation' and how it ties in with other doctrines. It basically means that judicially one drop of sin equals a lake of sin so that one drop of Jesus' righteousness can equal all of God's righteousness.
"For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 ESV
Adam's sin killed him and because of that, all his children die also. Sin is imputed to them by association. We were born in Adam but if we die with Christ on the cross our past gets buried with Him and we get raised with Him as new creatures. Adam made one bad choice and we make one righteous choice.
Not all choices trigger an 'imputation' but only a rare few do. The choice to believe in Christ is one that sets the legal wheels in motion.
"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." - 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 KJV
As we get older we begin to look like our older ancestors because we are 'of' them. But as we grow in Christ we begin to resemble Him more and more also. We bear the 'image' of the Heavenly. Our change seemed to be only judicial but then we begin to change from the inside out as we behold Him.
"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality..." - 1 Corinthians 15:52-54a ESV
"But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ESV
Our failure can't kill us the way Adam's failure killed Him. Jesus' death on the cross killed that person. The person who had sin imputed to them died. Now we who believe are in Christ and it is irreversible. Nothing can change that.
"Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me." - Isaiah 49:16 ESV
No one can wipe away that writing. God won't do it. One decision caused doom and one decision can cause a person to be sealed with the Spirit forever and ever.
Thank You, God. Imputation doesn't seem fair but it is legally sound and we are so grateful that you have provided us a way back. Help us to remember the blood that bought us... today... and in the days to come. Thank You, Jesus.
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