Counted Righteous in Christ and The God Who Justifies

Disturbing Footnote 10, page 125:

"Gundry sees himself as a part of a larger shift away from the historic doctrine. 'It is no accident, then, that in New Testament theologians' recent and current treatments of justification, you would be hard-pressed to find any discussion of an imputation of Christ's righteousness.... The notion is passe.'"

I have been noticing a trend. More and more good solid pastors are fearing what is coming down the pike. What is coming down is Open-Theism, and a denial of the Imputation of Christ's righteousness in the historic doctrine of Justification. So I highly recommend John Piper's book Counted Righteous in Christ (125 pages).

The book is written for the average layman even though it admits "Chapter 3 is a rigorous and demanding exegetical argument. But disciplined minds can follow the argument without advanced theological training or foreign languages. In fact I would encourage the effort. Raking is easy, but all you get is leaves. Digging is hard, but you might find gold."

He is right. The book is very readable and challenging at the same time. But it also follows John Piper's typical passion for God's Glory. The book is not some scholarly treatise written to bore the average person, but instead is written to convince the minds of Christians to remain faithful to God's Word.

Two things I walked away with from the book. First, is cited Wilberforce's argument that Justification with the doctrine of Imputation of Christ's righteousness is necessary to redeem a society. So many churches and preachers are willing to have "Justice Sunday's" shown in their churches. This may force society to follow certain laws by mere external force, but it will never convert society to Christ from a regenerated heart.

Second, I was reminded that so many are on the road back to Rome. When Justification becomes more like Roman Catholicism's "Impartation" or "Infusion" of righteousness, then men will simply never have peace with God. Justification must be forensic and Christ's Righteousness must be mine by faith alone. It is this Imputation or Crediting of Christ's righteousness (a Declaration of being Righteous in Christ) that sets a soul free from the guilt of sin and allows for and gives a basis to sanctification and a life of moral goodness.

Buy the book!



I also want to recommend a book that may be a little more difficult but equally worth the read, The God Who Justifies by Dr. James R. White. This book gives much more on the Doctrine of Justification and gives exegesis of the major texts that demonstrate the historic Protestant view. What is also good about this book is that it offers the most in depth exegesis of James chapter 2 written for laymen that I have read.

In fact, now that I have read Piper's book, I think I need to go back and read White's book again.