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Key Words In The Christian Life - Imputation
Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 29, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Imputation: God credits our account (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)
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Imputation: God credits our account
Reading: Romans chapter 4 verses 1-8:
Ill:
• Did you know that the average person spends one-fifth of his or her life talking?
• That’s what the statistics say.
• If all of our words were put into print,
• The result would be this:
• A single day’s words would fill a 50-page book,
• While in a year’s time the average person’s words would fill 132 books of 200 pages each!
Ill:
• Pianist Arthur Rubenstein, was conversational in eight languages,
• He once told this story on himself:
• Some years ago he was assailed by a stubborn case of hoarseness.
• The newspapers were full of reports about smoking and cancer;
• So he decided to consult a throat specialist.
• “I searched his face for a clue during the 30-minute examination,”
• Rubenstein said, “but it was expressionless.
• He told me to come back the next day.
• I went home full of fears, and I didn’t sleep that night.”
• The next day there was another long examination and again an ominous silence.
• “Tell me,” the pianist exclaimed.
• “I can stand the truth. I’ve lived a full, rich life. What’s wrong with me?”
• The physician said,
• “Mr Rubenstein you talk too much.”
Many a public speaker has had the same complaint as Rubenstein:
• Paul the apostle was a preacher and as a result of his words upsetting people;
• He found himself imprisoned.
• Unable to preach he wrote and we have many of his letters in the New Testament;
• In those letters he chose his words carefully.
As Christians it is very important for us to know the meaning of Bible/theological words:
• We need to understand these words and how they apply to our lives.
• Words such as justification, sanctification, propitiation, imputation and mediation;
• We need to understand what these words mean and how they apply to our lives.
• These words make up the technical vocabulary of the Christian life & are very important.
Ill:
• They are like jewels waiting to be discovered;
• If we take time to dig them up and polish & hone them;
• We can enjoy their immense beauty and theological value!
(1). Explanation of Imputation.
(1). A financial term.
In Romans chapter 4 verses 1-8:
• Paul is drawing on the picture of a banker,
• Because the idea of "imputation," is a financial term.
• Everyone in this room will have been involved in that process;
• Whenever you have gone to a bank or building society.
Ill:
• When you go to the bank or Building Society and deposit money,
• Imputation takes place.
• That deposit of cash or cheque that you have just made;
• Will be credited to your account, written on your record.
• That is what we mean this morning;
• When we use this word ‘Imputation’:
(2&3). Humanity (debt) Christ (credit)
• Think of it this way.
• Picture two bankbooks.
• One of them has Christ’s name on it,
• And the other has Adam’s name on it
• The record book for our Lord Jesus Christ is perfect-there is no indebtedness whatsoever.
• He is absolutely righteous, and His record is spotless.
• But alas, the record book for Adam is imperfect-he is bankrupt!
• He has sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Our record is Adam’s record because we are the children of Adam.
• Genesis chapter 5 verse 1 says,
• "This is the book of the generations of Adam."
• The entire Old Testament is "the book of the generations of Adam,"
• And everyone named in the book is a failure.
But:
• When we turn to Matthew chapter 1 verse 1 we read:
• "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ"
• God opens up a new book, and that book is perfect,
• Because His Son’s name is on it.
Question: What can you and I do about this imperfect record that is on our account?
• As far as God’s spiritual bank is concerned,
• We are bankrupt-we fall short.
• God has audited the books and discovered that;
• You and I do not have anything with which to pay for our indebtedness.
Question: What shall we do about it?
Various answers:
(a). We could ignore it.
• And most people do.
• Most people don’t think about their debt to God.
• They have broken His Law; and they try to ignore their disobedience.
• But a day of reckoning is coming, and that day may be soon.
Ill:
• A man can work for a bank and secretly be stealing money and falsifying the records,
• But eventually a day of reckoning comes, and he is caught.