Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christs Righteousness? [Paperback]

 

 

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In this short book, Dr. John Piper exposes and critiques the serious errors that are being promulgated within evangelical Christianity regarding the doctrine of justification, the righteousness of Christ, the Adam-Christ paradigm, the law-gospel paradigm, and the role of good works in the Christian life. In short, Piper is writing to defend the traditional evangelical understanding of the Gospel (i.e., the one taught in Scripture). There are four chapters in this book. The first chapter is an intro on why the traditional Protestant view of justification is necessary from a familial, ecclesiological, and cultural context. I thought this chapter was quite useless to the purpose of the book and Piper should have just left it unwritten. The second chapter is a short summary of what is going on within evangelicalism on this issue. The third chapter is basically the "meat" of the book. It is quite long and dense (pp. 53-119). This is where Piper defends the historic position based on exegesis and theological argumentation. This is where he deals with the major "justification by faith" passages like Romans 5:12-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; and Philippians 3:9. Piper does a good job here giving and defending the traditional evangelical interpretation of these passages (that Paul is talking about the imputation of Christ's righteousness and not our "faith-righteousness" or infusion of Christ's righteousness). Piper leaves no stone unturned and many scholars who disagree with the historic Reformational position must reckon with his arguments. (One will find Piper's treatment of the Adam-Christ headship concept very insightful.) It is also refreshing to see that Piper vindicates himself from his ultra-Reformed opponents on the relationship between justification and sanctification, faith and works, etc. Some Reformed people in the past have accused him of joining justification and sanctification or faith and works too closely together. However, Piper makes it clear in this book that justification must never be confused with sanctification (pp. 49-50, 69-80), and that faith is the ONLY instrument in being justified in Christ before God--though this faith leads to good works (p. 89 n. 36). He basically refutes the faith + works theology that is accepted by many professing evangelical scholars today. Hence, many Reformed people have heartily endorsed this book. The fourth chapter is basically a short conclusion of the book. Piper's book is very important for all evangelicals to read. With so much controversy going on these days regarding the nature of the Gospel (i.e., the New Perspective) this short book is a nice read. Not only is this book theologically important it is also (like his other works) pastorally conscious--it leads believers to look to Christ alone for salvation. As there are many so-called "evangelical" pastors who serve at evangelical churches, this book clears the air and shows what the true Gospel is about. There are many "intruders" in the church today who pose as faithful teachers yet proclaim things contrary to their denomination's theological position. (These churchmen, interestingly enough, adopt this new gospel because they think that they have found a new "solution" in fighting rampant antinomianism in the modern church or eliminating the ills of modern society. Apparently, biblical-theological reasons are not the main reasons.) These churchmen worry about losing their jobs and are afraid to admit that their position is contrary to what was taught by the Reformers. They use the same language to advocate a new idea and deceive many. The issue is not only theological, but has to do with the ministerial integrity of many churchmen. This short book is a must read for all students of Scripture. It may make many people uncomfortable, but that is what the Gospel does. Those used to a works-righteousness based salvation will either find this book liberating or frustrating (like Paul's opponent's who were frustrated with his law-free Gospel). A very important book on a very important subject that needs to be in every Christian home.

I decided to read Counted Righteous in Christ because Piper refers to it repeatedly in the footnotes of his more recent book, The Future of Justification, particularly when he is giving biblical support for the doctrine of the imputation of Christ's righteousness by exegeting relevant passages. Since imputed righteousness is one of my favorite subjects, how could I not check this book out?

While the arguments in it are aimed at all challenges to the doctrine of imputation, this book is a specific response to arguments made by Robert Gundry, because Piper considers him to be 'one of the most courageous and straightforward and explicit and clearheaded' of those who challenge the traditional doctrine. Besides, it was two articles Gundry wrote for Books and Culture in 2001 that served as impetus for Piper to tackle this issue.

Gundry believes that God decided to count our own faith as our righteousness. There is no such thing as positive imputation of Christ's righteousness to those who believe. And justification, according to Gundry, includes freeing the believer from 'sin's mastery,' something that has traditionally been called sanctification and kept distinct from justification.

The middle section and greatest part of this short book (66 of 125 pages) contains Piper's exegetical basis for the traditional Protestant view that justification includes the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer, and that it is not faith that is counted as as our righteousness. This bit is difficult reading. I had to work to follow the arguments, and there are sections I've marked to go over yet again. It was, however, worth the effort, because Piper builds what is, in the end, an airtight case for the historical Protestant view of justification as the biblical one.

That's good news for me. My faith is unreliable and a pretty wobbly at times, and if it serves (along with Christ's death, of course) as grounds for my justification, how can I be assured of my justification? Christ's righteousness, on the other hand, is rock solid, and anything based on it is certain. As Piper writes, 'the full meaning of justification, as pardon and imputed perfection, has proved to be a mighty antidote to despair for the saints.'

But more than that, writes Piper, the historical Protestant doctrine of imputed righteousness "bestows on Jesus Christ the fullest honor that he deserves. Not only should he be honored as the one died to pardon us, and not only should he be honored as the one who sovereignly works faith and obedience in us, but he should also be honored as the one who provided a perfect righteousness for us as the ground of our full acceptance and endorsement by God."

Counted Righteous in Christ is an important book, one you'll want to read if you're interested in the doctrine of justification, and especially if you've been bothered by the attacks by some evangelical teachers on the doctrine of the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer. Be prepared to take the time to study carefully the 66 pages of scriptural exegesis.

This a very impressive work! This is the first John Piper book I have read, and all I can say is WOW!

A lot of "punch" is packed into such a little book (just over 100 pages). Some readers who are not keen on indepth exegesis may find it a bit overwhelming, but if they stick with reading it they will not be disappointed.

I heartily recommend this book.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Effectively Plugs the Leak on Justification
John Piper is among the most respected American pastors of our day, in part because he comprehensively integrates pastoral theology with biblical and systematic theology in a way... Read more

Published on July 2 2003 by J. F Foster

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, short and readable
Firstly, it is nice and short (140p), good for those who have to study other books for college courses. Read more

Published on May 26 2003 by Craig Ashhurst

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Defense of Imputed Righteousness
John Piper is hard NOT to respect. He is among a handful of solid theologians who makes the effort to address the challenges to the evangelical faith (from within) with grace,... Read more

Published on April 27 2003 by Edward J. Vasicek

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put it Down!
This book caught my eye and kept me enthralled! I will certainly read it again and have already recommended it to friends who are serious about their faith. Read more

Published on Mar 4 2003 by John

5.0 out of 5 stars The Compassion of a Shepherd, the Competence of a Scholar
What a wonderful book this is, combining pastoral warmth with exegetical precision in the defense and confirmation of the very heart of the Christian gospel: justification by... Read more

Published on Feb 20 2003 by Brian G Hedges

5.0 out of 5 stars Exult in the centrality of Christ in our salvation!
Just as the title doesn't mince words, this book presents a clear and concise examination of the issue at stake: the historic protestant doctine of the imputation of Christ's... Read more

Published on Feb 15 2003 by Darren Hsiung

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