Imputed Righteousness or Imparted Righteousness, what did the Thief on the Cross get?

[Hobie]

We can start with describing both so we have a starting point of the core doctrine. Imputed righteousness is the concept that the "righteousness of Christ ... is imputed to true believers that is, treated as if it were theirs through faith. This acceptance is also referred to as justification. Thus this doctrine is practically synonymous with justification by faith. So thus, those who accept Christ have their sins covered by His righteousness and are justified.

Now in the process of sanctification, the heart and mind of the true believers are changed by the Holy Spirit. This is where 'Imparted Righteousness' comes in. Imparted righteousness, is that gracious gift of God given at the moment of the 'new birth' when one accepts Christ, which enables a Christian disciple to strive for holiness and sanctification.

From the Wesleyan Arminianian view, we get the belief that imparted righteousness works in tandem with imputed righteousness. Imputed righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus credited to the Christian, enabling the Christian to be justified; imparted righteousness is what God does in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit after justification, working in the Christian to enable and empower the process of sanctification and, in Wesleyan thought, Christian perfection.

So my question is, which one did the thief on the cross get (and by extension what is there for us), or could it have been both, and if so, how?

 

[Matthias]

What I know: the thief got life; the life of the age to come. We are able to get that life too, through faith in and obedience to Jesus.

 

[Dan Clarkston]

Imputed Righteousness or Imparted Righteousness, what did the Thief on the Cross get?

Big difference between someone who believes on the Lord right before they are put to death.... verses someone who believes on the Lord and then lives for a few decades before death having to deal with demonic attempts to deceive them in to turning away from the Lord.

If all who got born again died a short time after getting saved.... there would be a lot more folks going to Heaven.

 

[Hobie]

Big difference between someone who believes on the Lord right before they are put to death.... verses someone who believes on the Lord and then lives for a few decades before death having to deal with demonic attempts to deceive them in to turning away from the Lord.

If all who got born again died a short time after getting saved.... there would be a lot more folks going to Heaven.

How do you read this from Christ...

Matthew 20:1-16 King James Version
1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.