Imparted Righteousness

Imparted righteousness is the continuation of imputed righteousness. Many have a wrong concept of how to gain salvation and righteousness. Martin Luther, in order to obtain salvation, beat himself. I have seen many Catholics walk or crawl up a stairway to obtain this. If you come to Montreal I will take you to St. Joseph’s Cathedral to see how many walk in order to obtain this. But it doesn’t happen like that. Justification takes place in a moment by faith. When we are justified, right at that moment all our sins are forgiven. Christ addressed this issue and compared it to a wedding garment. This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isa. 64:6. Everything that we do by ourselves is defiled by sin. But the Son of God “was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.” Sin is defined to be “the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:5, 4. Because it is woven in the loom of heaven and not even one thread has human devising found in it. This is the perfection of Christ. This He explained to his disciples. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5:48.

When you take a computer and you link that computer to two providers, one can be a metaphorical Satan, and the other provider God. Essentially, there are two masters: Satan and God. If we choose to follow Satan you can drink, smoke or anything you want. However, if you log on to God or the righteousness provider, you can perform great deeds by imitating Christ’scharacter. This is obtained by our complete surrender to God. Some scientists believe that in our genes we carry certain tendencies to do evil. This is our being.

One time one of my closest friend Bro. Andrew Barash told me he was with a young boy, five years old in the supermarket. When he was passing the counter, the boy looked every side and right away stole a chocolate bar and put in his pocket. Luckily he saw this boy because he had taken this boy with him. If caught he would have been responsible for him so he told him not to do it again. You don’t need to teach your children to do evil. They are born with this nature.

First when they invented computers (automatic electronic machine for calculating) in the 1940 they called them cybernetics. Cybernetics means “the science of communication and control theory that is concerned especially with the comparative study of automatic control systems.” According to scientists they call the human brain Psycho Cybernetics. Our brain works through biochemical processes but the computer works through two D.C. voltages in variation. It can be 5 volts & 12 volts or a similar fashion. These two voltages are defined as one as 0 and the other as 1. This theory was first developed by Boolean in the 1840’s. They were called Boolean Algebra but never materialized until the 1940’s. Why I write to you explaining about computers is because computers and our brain function in a similar fashion. If you take a today’s powerful computer and install a networking card inside and then install a powerful software (NT) the computer will function as a server Now you can hook up (it depends on how much rights you purchase from the manufacture) 99 or more computers to this server and it will give simultaneous access to all the systems the software uses as well as the hardware, ie. Printers, scanners, etc.

Now sister White and the Bible talks about “as the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enabling.” COL Pg.333 How can our will become omnipotent? Exactly as I mentioned, by linking to the server computer, the workstation becomes exactly like the server. Rather than buying 99 computers they just create one server and now all of them function as the server. Now all our thoughts and everything we do should go through the spirit of God. He is prompting us. Christ’s righteousness is given to us in a moment and then by the power of God, which transforms us, begins a lifetime process. The process is called imparted righteousness.

Often people confuse imparted and imputed righteousness. If you are not converted you are fooled by Satan. The sanctification set forth in the Sacred Scriptures has to do with the entire being—spirit, soul, and body. Here is the true idea of entire consecration. Paul prays that the church at Thessalonica may enjoy this great blessing. “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is in the religious world a theory of sanctification which is false in itself and dangerous in its influence. In many cases those who profess sanctification do not possess the genuine article. Their sanctification consists in talk and will worship. Those who are really seeking to perfect Christian character will never indulge the thought that they are sinless. Their lives may be irreproachable, they may be living representatives of the truth which they have accepted; but the more they discipline their minds to dwell upon the character of Christ, and the nearer they approach to His divine image, the more clearly will they discern its spotless perfection, and the more deeply will they feel their own defects. When persons claim that they are sanctified, they give sufficient evidence that they are far from being holy. They fail to see their own weakness and destitution. They look upon themselves as reflecting the image of Christ, because they have no true knowledge of Him. The greater the distance between them and their Saviour, the more righteous they appear in their own eyes.

While with penitence and humble trust we meditate upon Jesus, whom our sins have pierced and our sorrows have burdened, we may learn to walk in His footsteps. By beholding Him we become changed into His divine likeness. And when this work is wrought in us, we shall claim no righteousness of our own, but shall exalt Jesus Christ, while we hang our helpless souls upon His merits. Many think falsely that they are sanctified. However, God is not with these individuals and they are fooling themselves. Many who profess sanctification are entirely ignorant of the work of grace upon the heart. When proved and tested, they are found to be like the self-righteous Pharisee. They will bear no contradiction. They lay aside reason and judgment, and depend wholly upon their feelings, basing their claims to sanctification upon emotions which they have at some time experienced. They are stubborn and perverse in urging their tenacious claims of holiness, giving many words, but bearing no precious fruit as proof. These professedly sanctified persons are not only deluding their own souls by their pretensions, but are exerting an influence to lead astray many who earnestly desire to conform to the will of God. They may be heard to reiterate again and again, “God leads me! God teaches me! I am living without sin!” Many who come in contact with this spirit encounter a dark, mysterious something which they cannot comprehend. But it is that which is altogether unlike Christ, the only true pattern.

Bible sanctification does not consist in strong emotion. Here is where many are led into error. They make feelings their criterion. When they feel elated or happy, they claim that they are sanctified. Happy feelings or the absence of joy is no evidence that a person is or is not sanctified. There is no such thing as instantaneous sanctification. True sanctification is a daily work, continuing as long as life shall last. Those who are battling with daily temptations, overcoming their own sinful tendencies, and seeking for holiness of heart and life, make no boastful claims of holiness. They are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Sin appears to them exceedingly sinful. There are those claiming sanctification who make a profession of the truth, like their brethren, and it may be difficult to make a distinction between them; but the difference exists, nevertheless. The testimony of those claiming such an exalted experience will cause the sweet Spirit of Christ to withdraw from a meeting, and will leave a chilling influence upon those present, while if they were truly living without sin, their very presence would bring holy angels into the assembly, and their words would indeed be “like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Prov. 25:11).

It is Christ who said, “Truly truly, I say unto thee that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto thee that you must be bora again.” Now if we are born of the spirit we have something different. The Holy Spirit is imparted into us. When you see the wind blowing and the tree shakes, surely it is”blow-ing towards right and left. When the Holy Spirit is imputed to us, we start to do the work of God. Everyone that was evil hated the light. When we go closer to God, new things happen. People need God’s righteousness in order to become the light of the world and we manifest the true spirit of God. Our nature completely changes when Christ’s righteousness is imputed. This is why Christ spoke to his disciples and said, “Don’t worry on the last day because the spirit of God will speak to you.” When we surrender to him, he will take over for us. When righteousness is imputed unto us, an important change comes over us. It is as if you are in a dark room that is suddenly illuminated. The darkness is taken away.

Similarly, we cannot have two masters. We must choose between the light and the darkness. Hence, between God and Satan. When imputed righteousness comes to our soul, we become enlightened and can light up the world. This powerful light cannot be hidden. Wherever a Christian goes, his character shines through. However, you cannot be a Christian if you wish to follow a sinful path. However, our soul is sinful in nature. God is aware of this. Yet, God still offers this righteousness to us despite our nature. When this transformation takes place, it is almost miraculous and when a person receives God’s righteousness, he should guard his soul from the clutches of Satan. God is constantly protecting us and does not allow a Christian to perish. Because of God’s sacrifice, we can be forgiven. God’s gift is imputed to us and only he has the power to impart this unto us.

Imparted righteousness also makes significant changes to a human soul. When a soul is justified it must produce fruit. If no fruit is produced, the tree (metaphorical) will be condemned. Sometimes, people who claim to be close to God do not accept the truth and go their own way. Christ encourages us that those who have been called and have had righteousness imputed unto them should do the work as prompted by the Holy Spirit. For instance, in Matthew 25 He says, “For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travelling the country who called upon His servants and gave them His goods.” These servants should now use these talents. However, some people do not use their talents. If God gives us a talent we must make good use of it. Our talents include our vocal abilities, our healing abilities, Higher Education, speech, influence, time, health, strength, money, kindly impulses and affections etc.

Many feel that you don’t need to be educated because God will finish His work with uneducated people. This is a wrong statement. See what the sprit of prophesy says concerning this, “If placed under the control of His Spirit, the more thoroughly the intellect is cultivated, the more effectively it can be used in the service of God. The uneducated man who is consecrated to God and who longs to bless others can be, and is, used by the Lord in His service. But those who, with the same spirit of consecration, have had the benefit of a thorough education, can do a much more extensive work for Christ. They stand on vantage ground. The Lord desires us to obtain all the education possible, with the object in view of imparting our knowledge to others. None can know where or how they may be called to labor or to speak for God. Our heavenly Father alone sees what He can make ofmen. There are before us possibilities which our feeble faith does not discern. Our minds should be so trained that if necessary we can present the truths of His word before the highest earthly authorities in such a way as to glorify His name. We should not let slip even one opportunity of qualifying ourselves intellectually to work for God.”

And then she speaks about speech. “The power of speech is a talent that should be diligently cultivated. Of all the gifts we have received from God, none is capable of being a greater blessing than this. With the voice we convince and persuade, with it we offer prayer and praise to God, and with it we tell others of the Redeemer’s love. How important, then, that it be so trained as to be most effective for good. The culture and right use of the voice are greatly neglected, even by persons of intelligence and Christian activity. There are many who read or speak in so low or so rapid a manner that they cannot be readily understood. Some have a thick, indistinct utterance; others speak in a high key, in sharp, shrill tones, that are painful to the hearers. Texts, hymns, and the reports and other papers presented before public assemblies are sometimes read in such a way that they are not understood and often so that their force and impressiveness are destroyed. This is an evil that can and should be corrected. On this point the Bible gives instruction. Of the Levites who read the Scriptures to the people in the days of Ezra, it is said, “They read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Neh. 8:8.

‘By diligent effort all may acquire the power to read intelligibly, and to speak in a full, clear, round tone, in a distinct and impressive manner. By doing this we may greatly increase our efficiency as workers for Christ. Every Christian is called to make known to others the unsearchable riches of Christ; therefore he should seek for perfection in speech. He should present the word of God in a way that will commend it to the hearers. God does not design that His human channels shall be uncouth. It is not His will that man shall belittle or degrade the heavenly current that flows through him to the world. We should look to Jesus, the perfect pattern; we should pray for the aid of the Holy Spirit, and in His strength we should seek to train every organ for perfect work. Especially is this true of those who are called to public service. Every minister and every teacher should bear in mind that he is giving to the people a message that involves eternal interests. The truth spoken will judge them in the great day of final reckoning. And with some souls the manner of the one delivering the message will determine its reception or rejection. Then let the word be so spoken that it will appeal to the understanding and impress the heart. Slowly, distinctly, and solemnly should it be spoken, yet with all the earnestness which its importance demands.” COL Pg. 333 – 335.

Often speakers who have no talent take a sermon and make the whole church sleep. And all of these talents are meant for us to use to glorify God. We must do our duty. If not, God will condemn us. We must be aware that when righteousness is imputed to us that our talents should be put to good use. Christ says, “When the son of man should come in his glory and all his holy angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divi-deth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right side but the goats on the left. 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. For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee? 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.”

Christ is very clear here. He is asking us to show mercy to the poor and to those who are in prison. We need to be merciful. Christ says that everything we do for humanity we do unto him. If we don’t show mercy to those around us we are not doing God’s will. God wants us to imitate him. When righteousness is imputed we begin to understand God. Hence the Savior says, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my disciple.”(Luke 14:33).

The love of money and the desire of wealth bind us to Satan. These bonds must be broken. We are not God’s children unless we are entirely. When Christ dwells in the heart Satan will be forgotten. Those who feel the love of God aim at perfect conformity. When we are given imputed and imparted righteousness then we are to bear fruit. Christ discusses this in Luke 6:43-46. “For a good tree brin-geth not forth corrupt fruit neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit.” The good man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good. The evil man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil. Christ says that we should strive to be perfect like God.

In Galatians 5 It states that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, temperance, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, and meekness. Therefore, we clearly see Christ’s nature. Exodus 34 states, ” The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth.” This is how God is described. When God’s righteousness is imparted, we become this way. When imputed righteousness is given, all of our sins are cancelled in heaven.

When God’s spirit is given to us, we produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
John 15 states, “I am the true vine and my Father is the husband man. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean to the word I have spoken unto you. Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abided in the vine. No more can ye except ye abide in me. I am that vine. Ye are the branches. He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abideth not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered.”

We must abide in Christ and if we stay close to him we bring forth much fruit. Our fruits are subsequently manifested to the world. The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed. The righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven. The second is our fitness for heaven. The righteousness of Christ alone can give you power to resist the tide of evil sweeping over the world. God is trying to create a perfect Christian character in us. In order to do this we must comply with God’s commandments and should not be deceived by our own misconstrued conceptions. Without a doubt, God loves you. If you surrender yourself to God you shall be given imputed righteousness. If you are truly sanctified you will produce the fruits. Our fruits are the results of God’s spirit working in the human soul. So I hope you will produce much fruits. God bless you!
Amen.