#40 | Righteousness: Credited To, or Considered As? And why it matters...

26/05/2022 22 min Temporada 1 Episodio 40

Listen "#40 | Righteousness: Credited To, or Considered As? And why it matters..."

Episode Synopsis

In this episode we continue to explore Romans 4, but we move from the word "righteousness" to the Greek word logizomai, often translated as "credited" or "imputed". This word is important to understand because it communicates how we become righteous. Because of Paul's analogy between work, wages, debt, and grace, translators have normally used words that imply some kind of transfer, deposit, or credit is being made into our "account." But this is an inaccurate translation. The word logizomai is more accurately translated as "reckoned", "regarded", "considered", or even "concluded." It's not about a transfer from one persons account to another persons account, it's about the way one person chooses to "consider" or "regard" another person. 
God does not transfer, or credit, or deposit "righteousness" into our "bank account." What Paul wants us to see is that in the same way that Abraham believed God and was considered by God to be in right relationship with him, we too will be considered righteous by God if we believe he can take ungodly people (thinks Romans 1:18-32) and make them right.
And, another important implication here is that when it says God considers us to be righteous, it doesn't mean that he doesn't actually see us - our sin, weakness, pain, or ungodliness. God sees all things in us - both good and evil. But it does mean that when we trust him, like a patient would trust a doctor, God sees us as being in right relationship with him i.e. he regards us as being righteous. 
God is looking for patients who will trust his power and faithfulness to successfully treat their sinful condition, which includes not only actively making right what has gone wrong in us through our own ungodliness and unrighteousness, but also that god can raise them ungodly from the dead. 
God demonstrated his power and faithfulness as a Savior/Doctor to treat our sinful condition when he raised Jesus from the dead. When the patient trusts the doctor (like Abraham and Jesus trusted God), the doctor can treat the patient and bring about new outcomes in their life. It's that trusting relationship between the patient and the doctor that makes salvation/healing possible. Without trust, very little progress can be made.
Key passages:
Romans 4:1-8
Passages in Romans where the word logizomai is more accurately translated with the concept of "reckoned", "regarded", "considered", or "concluded." Romans 2:3 2:26 3:28 6:11 8:18 8:36 9:8 14:14
Explainer Video on how to use www.biblehub.com and www.blueletterbible.org
Leave us a question or comment at our website podcast page.
* Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music

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