Is "Imputed Righteousness" All We Need? By Gary Anderson I am going to approach this subject a little differently than going through ALL the scriptures on righteousness. Instead, I am going to approach it from a New Testament outlook of discrediting the concept that many have that: "ALL you have to do is have faith in Yahshua and NOTHING else. Just faith in Yahshua and Yahshua alone, and you have salvation. If you have FAITH in Yahshua, then YAHSHUA's righteousness is imputed to YOU. HE overcame the world, therefore when you accept HIM, YOU don't have to overcome - HE HAS DONE IT ALL! There is NOTHING for you to do, and if you do ANYTHING, it shows that you don't have faith in Yahshua, therefore you WON'T HAVE SALVATION! ANY KIND OF WORKS is considered trying to earn his salvation." This is what Worldwide Church of God was starting to teach when I left, and I assume that this is basically the Protestant way of thinking, since I had come to the conclusion several years before I left WCG that they were going "Protestant". So, I will approach it from the aspect of what I knew of Protestant viewpoints as demonstrated by my grandfather (Dad's father, who was a "hard shell" Primitive Baptist). My grandfather apparently was quite put out by the fact that our family kept the Sabbath, didn't eat certain foods, and didn't observe certain 'pagan' holidays. As a result of his aggravation, he would be sitting in the house, and seemingly out of the blue would state: YOU'RE SAVED BY GRACE, AND NOT BY WORKS. Eventually everyone got to where they would answer: THAT'S RIGHT! And it is right; however, it isn't everything there is to it. He felt it was just grace and grace alone, and anything else you did was just trying to "earn your salvation". Princess Diana died a couple of years ago, and she was well known for her humanitarian works. Did this earn her salvation? Mother Teresa died shortly after that, and she had been doing good works for decades. Did this earn her salvation? Even just a little part? NO! Let's look at that scripture that grandpa used to partially quote: Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Yahweh: Not of works, lest any man should boast. One of the definitions of grace is unmerited pardon. NOTHING we could ever do would earn us grace. BUT is it just grace only? When we read the scripture, we see that it is by grace through FAITH. It ISN'T just grace and grace alone, part of the formula for salvation is: grace + faith. If we were to write it in that way it would read: FORMULA for SALVATION = GRACE + FAITH. No Grace, No Salvation. No Faith, no Grace, therefore again, NO SALVATION, no eternal life, which we all want. If we have a mathematical formula, for example, and leave out even ONE of the equations, we will not arrive at the desired (or correct) sum. It is the same with the formula for salvation. Leave out even ONE of the equations, and the formula isn't complete. I'm not at this point saying that these are the ONLY parts of the formula for salvation, or that I will cover ALL the formula in this article. What I am saying is that in order for us to obtain salvation, we MUST have the complete formula, and that complete formula is not just grace, and grace ALONE. FAITH is also part of the formulae. BUT, is this all there is then? Grace + faith? James 2:14-17 (KJV): 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man SAY he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. In verse 20, it's repeated again: faith without works is dead. Verse 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? FAITH REQUIRES ACTION! Now we can add a third component to our formula: Salvation = Grace + Faith + Works. No works equals dead faith. Dead faith equals no faith. No faith equals no grace, and no grace equals NO SALVATION! IT'S A PACKAGE DEAL. Missing one part of the equation will cause us to miss out on Salvation. They all go hand in hand. Let's go back to the scripture in Ephesians 2:10 We are created to do good works. That was ordained. Ephesians 2:10 NIV---"For we are Yahweh's workmanship, created in the Messiah Yahshua to do good works, which Yahweh prepared in advance for us to do." To every one of the seven churches he is writing to in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, He says: "I KNOW YOUR WORKS." Do we have a clue anywhere as to what these works might be? Luke 10:25-27 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love Yahweh thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. At this point Yahshua should have grabbed him by the robe lapels, slapped him a couple of times to bring him to his senses, and said: You Despicable Low Life Lawyer! Don't you know that it is faith in ME and ONLY ME that saves you? But He didn't say that. What did he Say? VERSE 28--- And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. It is all a package deal. It includes the Grace of Yahweh, Faith, and Works, and these works are two fold: LOVE YAHWEH, LOVE MAN. Love is not just an emotion----it is demonstrated by action!!! Love Yahweh, Deut. 6:5; Love Neighbor, Lev. 19:18. Are there any "how to" instructions for loving Yahweh and neighbor? Almost all serious students of the Bible agree that the 10 Commandments show us how to love Yahweh, and our neighbor. They may disagree on how they are divided, but they do agree that they show us HOW. They are "how-to" instructions. Of course, Protestants and Catholics have a problem with the Sabbath. They state that people that are Sabbath Keepers are just trying to EARN their Salvation, when in fact, they are just showing love to Yahweh. If you were to ask a Catholic or Protestant if they're trying to earn their salvation because they don't murder babies, or they don't steal, or commit adultery, they would of course say "NO!" But somehow they can't seem to get a grasp on the idea that a person that doesn't work and do his own pleasure on the Sabbath isn't doing this to EARN his salvation, but rather is showing his love to Yahweh. Our love toward Yahweh is more than just keeping the letter of the 10 Commandments. It also extends to the spiritual, as Yahshua expounded. It also includes doing the WILL of Yahweh. Mat. 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Into that area falls many things, one of them being the conviction most of us have about keeping the Holy Days. We can see that it is the will of Yahweh that we do this, and in our effort to please Yahweh, and show our love to Him, and because we DO love Him, we observe them, to the best of our ability and understanding. We KNOW that in Lev. 23, the feasts of Yahweh are listed; the Sabbath, Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles, etc. We can see that it was Yahweh's will that His people then keep these days, and that in the future it will be His will, Zech. 14. 14. 14:16-19, Luke 22:15-16, etc. We know that Yahshua is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that Yahweh doesn't change (Mal. 4:6). Therefore, if he wants His people in the PAST, and His people in the FUTURE to keep His feasts, we KNOW that he wants those who are His people TODAY to also keep His feasts. We are convicted that this is His will, and so we yield ourselves to His way, and show our love to Him by seeking to DO his will. These are part of the ACTIONS that show our faith. The second part of our good works is how to love our neighbor. Is just the part of the 10 commandments dealing with our neighbor all there is to showing love toward him? No, we must also seek Yahweh's will as to HOW to love our neighbor, not only in letter, but also in spirit. But first, who IS our neighbor? Let's go back to Luke 10, where we were before, and take up the story past where Yahshua told the man that if he loved Yahweh and his neighbor he would inherit eternal life. Luke 10:28-37 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Yahshua, And who is my neighbour? And Yahshua answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Yahshua unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. From this we find that anyone with a genuine need is our neighbor, and we are to show mercy to those in NEED. I stress the word NEED, because if they don't have a need, we may be doing something nice for someone, but not a good WORK for someone in NEED. Are there criteria that people should meet to be in need? 2 Thes. 3:10 (KJV) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. These people could help themselves, they weren't in need. We aren't obliged to help those who aren't in NEED. There are a herd of freeloaders out there that will take advantage of someone who will help them, when they are well able to help themselves. Yahshua stressed the love of neighbor, when a rich young man came to him and asked Him what he had to do to receive eternal life. Matt 19:16-22 (KJV) And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, Yahweh: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Yahshua said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Yahshua said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. This man thought he kept all the commandments, but he loved his money and possessions more than Yahweh. He had an idol, and was breaking the very FIRST COMMANDMENT: You shall have no other Gods before me. If he had followed what Yahshua said, and HAD given his money to the POOR (needy) would he have been trying to EARN his salvation? NO, he would have been getting rid of his idol, and would have been loving his (needy poor) neighbors, and showing that he wanted to please Yahweh, and was seeking His will. The Messiah told him to give all he had to the poor. Is that all there is? 1 Cor 13:3 (KJV) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. We must be motivated by love in all our dealings - with Yahweh, and with neighbor. Matt 25:33-40 (KJV) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. "When did we do these things?" they asked. You see, these blessed of the Father had been taking care of the needs of the NEEDY, with the proper motivation of LOVE to the point that it had become second nature to them. Actually, they had developed the character, and the nature of LOVE that Yahweh has. WE have to be so accustomed to living this kind of life that we don't even realize that we are. It becomes our NATURE - the nature of Yahshua the Messiah, which becomes ours, as HE lives in us. In our walk with the Messiah, as He TABERNACLES in this temporary physical dwelling that we call "ME," we have to LIVE as HE did, and LOVE our NEIGHBORS, and give aid in time of NEED just as the MESSIAH did. He lives His life again through us, and in us, and HIS NATURE must become OUR NATURE! Let me ask this question, and let's think about this: If, when we go home from work, or on the weekends at home, we sit down in our easy chair, with a cool beverage in our hand, and begin to fix our eyes on the boob tube, or maybe a book, magazine, or possibly the Bible, tell me, out of the corner of our eye how many people do you see "an hungred"? thirsty, needing a drink? sick, to be visited? naked, needing clothing? (NOT STREAKERS) In prison, fatherless and widows in their affliction, to be visited? Not many in our front yard, right? Do you get what I am driving at? You see, in order to show LOVE, there has to be ACTION, and we really can't see where this action is needed if we are sitting in our easy chair at home. We MIGHT have to actually go out looking! Have we been to any nursing homes lately? There are lots of lonely widows there. Some of them are really afflicted. We might say, "well, those people are strangers!" We are to help strangers, if they have a genuine need. NOT HITCHHIKERS. Too dangerous, and besides most of them probably fall into the category of the principle of You don't work, you don't eat (Or get a free ride with me!). There are many ways to help the needy, and there ARE needy out there. We have to take action to find them. We won't usually see them out our living room window. There is one more principle I would like to bring out in helping the needy: Matt 6:1-4 (KJV) Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. In the past we have usually just helped those in the assembly, and we "knew" that word would get around when we did. We have an opportunity NOW to really do things in secret. Our wife or husband could know, as we are ONE FLESH, and should be working together anyway. Now, IF we are motivated by LOVE, we WILL have good works. And we will NOT be doing these works to "earn" our salvation. Salvation is a gift of Yahweh. We MUST have works as part of the formula for salvation. Love requires action, and faith requires action, and these actions, when properly motivated show our LOVE of Yahweh, and our LOVE of neighbor. When the Messiah returns He can look at us and say, just as he did to the seven churches: I KNOW YOUR WORKS! I KNOW YOUR GOOD WORKS. Come you faithful SERVANT, You SERVANT to YAHWEH, and SERVANT to those in NEED! YOU ARE BLESSED OF THE FATHER! ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER!! As the song goes, "What a day, glorious day, THAT will be!" ~G.A. More On Imputed Righteousness By Frank Brown As pointed out in the article above, we do not WORK for our salvation; it is a free gift (Rom. 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Yahweh is eternal life through Yahshua the Messiah, our Master. But it is plainly evident as related in many scriptures that we DO have our part. If we just say, "I accept the Savior," and then continue on as if we "have it made," we are deluding ourselves and showing an ignorance of the Scriptures. We must first repent. This means being convicted of the sin in our lives, and then stop sinning; turn around and go the other way. To do this, we must first know what sin is. Right now, do you know what the Bible says sin is? You certainly should! According to 1 John 3:4, sin is the "transgressing of the law," the breaking of the Commandments. It is lawlessness. The no-law Sunday preachers who teach that "the law is done away" are leading their people down the road to destruction. The Law is NOT "done away." It is in full force. If it were not, then sin itself would be impossible. Notice Rom. 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. That is correct. If there were no law, then there could be no infraction. You can't get a ticket for running a stop sign if there is no stop sign at the intersection. The trouble with the ancient Israelites was that they could not keep the Law of Yahweh because of their carnal natures. They needed help. That help is spelled out in the New Covenant. It is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. That is the basic difference between the Old and the New Covenants. We now have access to this Spirit, and it is acquired according to the formula found in Acts 2:38. See also Jeremiah 31:31-33. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then we show our repentance by doing good works, not to "earn" our salvation, but because we love Yahweh and our neighbor, and want to do good. Our own righteousness, even at its best, is pretty sorry in the eyes of Yahweh. Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. So what happens after we repent and receive the Holy Spirit? If our OWN righteousness is insufficient to satisfy the requirements of Yahweh's heavenly standard, then where does this leave us? If we have truly repented of our past sins, and are trying to live by the Commandments, then, as stated in Acts 2:38, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It comes to dwell in our minds and hearts ("Mind" being our intellect, "Heart" being our emotion. We understand the Law, and we want to obey, with help from the Holy Spirit). Paul said "let this mind be in you which was also in the Messiah Yahshua," Phil. 2:5. Then, and only then, does Yahweh "impute" His righteousness to us. We must be doing our part, and He will certainly do His, as He promised. He looks beyond our human shortcomings, and "sees" His Son in us. Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. <>