Counted Righteous in Christ Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christs Righteousness? Reviews

April 20, 2022 Post a Comment

Are Christians merely forgiven, or practise they possess the righteousness of Christ? Recently the time-honored understanding of the doctrine of justification has come up nether assail. Many question how-or if-we receive the total righteousness of Christ.

Martin Luther said that if we understand justification "we are in the clearest light; if nosotros do non know information technology, we dwell in the densest darkness." And now, in this new and important volume, John Piper accepts Luther's challenge. He points out that nosotros need to see ourselves equally having been recipients of the imputation of Christ'due south righteousness and therefore savour full acceptance with God and the everlasting inheritance of life and joy.

Piper writes as both a pastor and a scholar. His pastor'due south eye is shown in his zeal for the welfare of the church building. His conscientious scholarship is axiomatic in each explanation and undergirds each conclusion.

2002, Crossway Books

Endorsements

While evangelicals sleep, people we once trusted have been sowing seeds of false doctrine in the church. Responding to the latest difference from the faith, John Piper challenges those who have abandoned the pivotal doctrine of the imputation of Christ'due south righteousness. What is at stake here is nothing less than the integrity of the Gospel.
In this exegetical written report John Piper carefully demonstrates the importance and the biblical footing of the doctrine of imputation of Christ'southward righteousness to the laic. This is of import reading in light of recent challenges to the traditional agreement of justification. Millard J. Erickson, Truett Seminary, Baylor University
While the biblical doctrine of justification is about more than imputation, it does non involve less. John Piper has written a vigorous and timely volume on this neglected and yet critically of import theme. From the historic Protestant perspective, the doctrine of imputation underscores the radical graphic symbol of divine grace, and John makes this point with clarity, passion, and insight. Timothy George, Dean, Beeson Divinity School
John Piper's defence of the Reformation's traditional interpretation of the imputation of Christ's righteousness deserves to exist taken very seriously. Expert biblical scholars must, in the end, judge the details of his exegesis, but all careful readers should be able to see that he has presented a telling account of the practical spiritual value of the doctrine, its centrality in the church's virtually enduring hymnody, and its critical importance in the theology of the New Testament. Marker Noll, Professor, University of Notre Dame
Largely a outcome of the emergence in recent decades of the "new perspective" on Paul is the growing denial today that the campaigner teaches the imputation of Christ'south righteousness to believers. Counted Righteous in Christ is such an important book because it con- fronts this deprival caput-on and counters the charge that the heart of the Reformation doctrine of justification rests on a misunderstanding of Scripture. Written in the writer's typically spirited and winsome manner, it provides what is near urgently needed in the face up of this charge: a clear and disarming exegetical instance for the gospel truth affirmed in its title. The broader church is deeply indebted to John Piper for what it has been given to him to produce in the midst of the already overly full demands of a busy pastorate. Richard B. Gaffin, Professor Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary
With the eye of a pastor and the skill of an accomplished exegete, John Piper offers refreshing insight into the applied likewise as theoretical importance of the doctrine of justification. It's essential reading at a time when this marvelous gospel is under increasing set on. Michael Horton, Professor, Westminster Seminary California
I share the business concern of John Piper as he not only sounds the warning only also rushes to the rescue of all who are tempted to carelessness a truly biblical perspective on the issue of imputation. Alistair Begg, Pastor, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Although I accept been a Christian for a long time, I became aware of the doctrine of the imputation of Christ'southward active righteousness only adequately recently. Withal in the years since I accept become aware of the "Blessed Exchange"—my sin for Christ'due south righteousness—I doubt that a day has gone by without my feasting on this core truth of biblical faith. Consequently, I am deeply grateful to John Piper for his careful articulation and defense of this, the "leading border" of Christianity'south Good News. Piper too shows how our faithfully embracing this liberating truth should radically touch our daily Christian lives. As Augustine heard the child chant, "Take and read." Mark Talbot, Professor, Wheaton College
This is a superb work, wonderful in its clarity, remarkable for its faithful, thorough treatment of the biblical texts, and powerful in the force of its argument. Dr. Piper's simple, potent answer to the recent attacks on the celebrated Protestant agreement of justification by faith will cure a host of theological ills. This is surely one of the finest and nigh important books to be published in many years. John MacArthur, Pastor, Sunday Valley, California
John Piper'south book on Christ's imputed righteousness is exactly what the electric current contend over this issue needs. Dr. Piper demonstrates through a precise and persuasive exegesis of the relevant passages that this doctrine is both biblical and important. He argues passionately that understanding the doctrine is spiritually edifying and pastorally helpful. He does all this, moreover, in a charitable, irenic tone suitable for a teaching that is such good news. Frank Thielman, Professor, Beeson Divinity School
Now I know something of the daze Augustine must have felt when he initially read Pelagius. My eye is pained that the cardinal doctrine of the Christian faith is called nonsense and passé past friends. Without imputed righteousness Christianity is not Christian, divine justice is made a folly, and sin is requited by mere homo sincerity. It is too much to surrender the wonderfully comforting, biblically clear truth that we stand before a holy God clothed and complete in the righteousness of His Son. I thank God that someone has spoken out! John D. Hannah, Professor, Dallas Theological Seminary
This is certainly the most solid defense of the imputed righteousness of Christ since the work of John Murray 50 years ago. I'm delighted that Dr. Piper has established that important doctrine, non as a mere commodity from the confessional tradition, but on the solid foundation of God's Word. John Frame, Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary
Does Christ's lifelong record of perfect obedience to God get "credited" to your account when you trust in Christ and are "justified" by God? This has been the historic Protestant agreement of the "imputation of Christ'southward righteousness," but John Piper warns that we are in danger of losing this doctrine today considering of attacks past scholars inside the evangelical camp. In response, Piper shows, in careful treatment of passage afterwards passage, that the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers is clearly the education of the Bible, and if we abandon this doctrine we will also lose justification past organized religion alone. I am thankful to God for John Piper's defence of this crucial doctrine. Wayne Grudem, Professor, Phoenix Seminary
With John Piper, I think that as the doctrine of justification by faith lone is a vital ways to the church's health, so the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ is a vital element in stating that doctrine. Therefore I gladly welcome Dr. Piper's carefully argued reassertion of information technology. J.I. Packer, Professor, Regent College
This book may be short, merely it is clear, to the betoken, and illuminating on the imputation of Christ's righteousness to sinners, without which in that location is no biblical doctrine of justification and without which the church would certainly autumn. David Wells, Professor, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
The Gospel must be defended in every generation. Today, as in the sixteenth century, the central consequence is the imputation of Christ'southward righteousness. John Piper clearly and powerfully proves this is the view of the Bible and not merely of orthodox Protestant theology. The church must say "No!" to those who declare that imputation is passé. If imputation is passé, then so is the Gospel. R.C. Sproul, Founder, Ligonier Ministries
I am thankful for John Piper'southward zeal for the celebrity of Christ and the proficient of the church, and for his careful exegesis of the relevant texts. For myself 2 Corinthians 5:21 is enough, affirming the glorious commutation that the sinless Christ was fabricated sin (by imputation) with our sins, in order that in Christ nosotros might become righteous (by imputation) with his righteousness. In effect Christ has no sin but ours, and we accept no righteousness but his. John Stott, Founder, Langham Partnership
With a listen deeply saturated in God'due south word, a heart longing for the church's purity and conviction, and a passion that Christ be honored in all and above all, John Piper writes Counted Righteous in Christ to guide a new generation of Christians into the glo- rious truth of our justification by religion alone, in Christ alone. One cannot help but mar- vel at and rejoice in the care with which Piper treats relevant passages. Oft countering popular and novel proposals, he gives clear and compelling reasons for seeing justifica- tion every bit, centrally, the crediting of Christ's very ain and perfect righteousness to the one who trusts in God alone for his conservancy. No doctrine is more than basic to God's salvation plan and hence more central in understanding the Christian's new identity; yet today these truths are widely ignored or misunderstood. Believer, I commend you to read this book with justified hopes of entering more than fully into the liberating liberty of your total and certain righteous standing earlier the God who justifies the ungodly (marvel!) through faith in the merits of his Son's righteous life and substitutionary death. Bruce Ware, Professor, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
This is a timely and of import work. Four times in the by four days I have been shocked to read of well-known evangelicals challenging some aspect of the historic, Reformation view of justification. As an eroding tide of evangelical stance rises against information technology, may the Lord use John's book to reinforce the theological retaining wall around the lighthouse doctrine of justification. Don Whitney, Professor, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The unraveling of evangelical commitment seems ever to take a new chapter. In Counted Righteous in Christ, Dr. John Piper has isolated the newest retreat on the md- trine of the imputed righteousness of Christ. This book restates in powerful terms the necessity of Christ'southward righteousness becoming our own. Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Dr. Piper writes not only with his customary verve and enthusiasm only also with the courtesy and charity we take come to wait of him, as he robustly defends the tradi- tional doctrine of the imputation of Christ'due south righteousness. Those who recollect that this didactics is neither biblical nor essential to the Christian faith, and tin therefore exist quietly dropped, volition demand to weigh Dr. Piper's arguments carefully, particularly his exposition of the Pauline educational activity on righteousness and justification. Peter T. O'Brien, Professor Emeritus, Moore Theological College
Piper provides a passionate, well-informed, and disarming exposition of the axis of the imputed righteousness of Christ for the justification of sinners. In response to a growing number of scholars and church leaders who take questioned the traditional Protestant understanding of justification, Piper offers a lucid and compelling examina- tion of the biblical evidence in support of that understanding. His many fresh insights and applied applications will challenge the complacent, condolement the afflicted, and inspire lives of grateful praise on the part of those who are the beneficiaries of Christ'southward redeeming piece of work. Gordon P. Hugenberger, Professor, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary