lforrest said:
I'll leave the proper translation of Rom:3:22 to someone more skilled in Greek.
The way I understand it there is a basic principle that obedience and righteousness go hand in hand. No one was able to obey the law in it's entirety until Jesus Christ. He is the only one who could obey God's laws, and the only one who can be considered righteous under the law. There was a law even before Moses revealed it, he made clear the high standards of God. When God called someone such as Abraham or Job righteous, it was with his knowledge that they would be saved through Jesus Christ. Now we know of Jesus, and can obey what Jesus commands in the hope that he accepts us. Then through his obedience to the law we can be party to his righteousness.
This is true, to take it a step further consider in
Lk 3:38: Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
States that Adam was son of God. Hence the fulfillment of what the Son of God is, is stated in the law and the prophets according to the satisfaction of the Father. God’s Son and who and what He is and the fulfillment therein was what was given through out the covenants. Hence men without being sons of God cannot fulfill the law nor the prophets.
In other words the law given by the hand of Moses is the Lord’s more detailed description of Himself and His Way of which without His Life no one can be like.
For example I can be like my parents in worldly fashion because I have received the life they have given me. As a matter of fact I will be like them in the life they have given me, it’s a matter of what one does with it. But I can’t be like your parents I don’t have the same attributes as your parents do. The same is for us in Christ, being born of God’s Spirit is to receive the Life that Christ has. Therefore now we are empowered to be like unto the Son, according to the satisfaction of the Father.
Purity said:
Only God imputes righteousness and imputes sin. The only definition of this I know for sure is found in Rom 4:4,8,9
Its not whether you have a foreskin or not imputed righteousness is possessing a living faith. In fact Paul is clear Abrahams faith was before he cut off his foreskin.
Its reckoned by Grace.
Though you are correct about only God imputes Righteousness, I don’t think Paul was describing that only males can be righteous because they have foreskin that can be circumcised. Nor does the scriptures say females can’t be righteous by faith. Nor was it indicated in ancient or modern Israeli culture. God has chosen women as well as men amongst His People many times and has responded to their requests, for example Samuel’s mother Hannah.
I know a lot of preachers seek scripture to justify their ignorance of God’s will in the case of men and women, but Eve was no less then Adam in that Eve received the life Adam had. But it was through Adam and the Lord God isn’t going to take away what He has agreed to give in the world. So through men was the relationship, in most cases. Wasn’t it through a woman, and not a man, the sons of men can receive eternal Salvation in Jesus Christ? Though what God does may not give personal satisfaction, we must trust that He knows what is good for all in His creation.
You must understand God is not out to change the world nor human nature, He is going to replace it. With His Son and His nature. Hence the offering of Peace with God before this comes to pass.
You drive a car until it doesn’t do what you bought it for any more and no matter what its not going to work any more, at that point you don’t care what’s wrong with it you replace it. In the day of the gentile which seems to be coming to a immediate end. If it bring souls to Jesus its probably a keeper but if it doesn’t do that any more no matter what you do to it, its time to replace it.