Romans 5:17-21 - The Imputation of Jesus Christ's Active Obedience: Foundational, Essential, and Non-Negotiable

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:17-21).

The Imputation of Jesus Christ’s Active Obedience:

Foundational, Essential, and Non-Negotiable

The Imputation of Jesus Christ’s Active Obedience is a foundational, essential, and non-negotiable doctrine of the Christian Faith (Ro. 3:21-5:21). Do not let anyone deceive you (Gal. 1:6-9). Where this doctrine is explicitly and knowingly denied, there is no Gospel, nor is there the True Visible Church (Re. 3:9).

Zacharias Ursinus is the primary author of the Heidelberg Catechism. He clearly affirms the imputation of both Jesus Christ’s Active and Passive Obedience Under the Law to those who believe on Him by Faith Without Works, Faith Alone (Ro. 3:21-5:21). He does this as a True Biblicist, who follows Scripture Without the Traditions of Men, Scripture Alone (Ro. 3:21-5:21). Thus, he explains the intended meaning of the Heidelberg Catechism in this fashion:

Saints...are called saints...1. Imputatively, that is,…Christ’s sanctity and holiness [are] imputed unto them.

Zacharias Ursinus, The Summe of the Christian Religion (London, UK: James Young, AD 1645), 361.

Christ...He hath perfectly fulfilled the law for us, 1. By the holiness of His human nature. 2. By His obedience: for He became obedient to the death, even to the death of the Cross….That former fulfilling of the law is indeed imputed also unto us, namely, the humiliation and justice, or righteousness of Christ’s human nature, that we may be reputed holy before God:...this holiness of Christ is imputed unto us.

Ursinus, The Summe of the Christian Religion, 383

J. Gresham Machen, a Presbyterian theologian, also affirms the Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ. Yet, he does so even more powerfully and soundly as a True Biblicist on this matter. For he preaches the Truth of the Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ as a foundational, non-negotiable, and essential Doctrine of Biblical Christianity. “No hope without it.”

Therefore, do not let anyone claim that a man can be an “orthodox protestant,” or a that an organization can be a “true church” while willingly and knowingly denying the Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ. The Lutherans, not tolerating any deviation on this matter, make their stand unyielding:

For since Christ is not man alone, but God and man in one undivided Person, He was as little subject to the Law, because He is the Lord of the Law, as He had to suffer and die as far as His Person is concerned. For this reason, then, His obedience, not only in suffering and dying, but also in this, that He in our stead was voluntarily made under the Law, and fulfilled it by this obedience, is imputed to us for righteousness, so that, on account of this complete obedience, which He rendered His heavenly Father for us, by doing and suffering, in living and dying, God forgives our sins, regards us as godly and righteous, and eternally saves us.

The Solid Declaration of the Book of Concord, in Concordia Triglotta (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, AD 1921), III.15.

Isaac Ambrose, a Puritan Calvinist pastor, puts a fine Biblicist point on it:

Either the righteousness of Christ, the holiness of Christ, the holiness of His Nature, and the holiness of His Life must be imputed unto me, or farewell happiness in another world:...come Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Isaac Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus (Pittsburgh, PA: Luke Loomis & Co., AD 1832), 302.

Amen!