What a glorious exchange!

Continuing on the theme of imputation: lately I have been reading Christian Spirituality: Five Views of Sanctification, and through this book, learning much about understandings of sanctification that differ from my own preconceived view... and finding myself more grounded in my view!

A song has struck me on the exchange of sin and righteousness, and God's immeasurable grace and mercy. For your listening pleasure and edification, listen to We Have Been Healed by Sovereign Grace Music

Lyrics:
You bore our sins in Your body
As You were hung on a tree
So we might die to rebellion
And live for Him who set us free

You were mocked and reviled
Suffering in our place
Trusting all to Your Father
So enemies could know Your grace

Chorus
We have been healed, justified
Made alive in the life of Christ
Righteous blood covers every sin
Risen Lamb, heaven's light
Crucified and now alive
In Your love You have drawn us in

Like straying sheep we were wandering
Destitute and alone
You sought us out like a shepherd
You carried us and brought us home

Bridge
All our sin for Your grace
What a glorious exchange

All our sin for Your grace
What a glorious exchange

All our sin for Your grace
What a glorious exchange

Life of God in soul of man

Henry Scougal (1650-78) writes in The Life of God in the Soul of Man the following:

They know by experince that true religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul, or, in the apostle's phrase, "It is Christ formed within us.".

This state, which Scougal calls "Divine Life", is a large component of what I mean when I ask questions such as What does it mean to present every man mature in Christ?  or  What does a mature Christian look like?

In short, the answer to questions of Christian maturity to some measure involves God dwelling in our soul, i.e. Christ being formed within us.

Imputation and Reconciliation

This text grabbed me recently: 2 Corinthians 5.17-21.  Does this knock you off your chair?

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Do we - do I - understand the gravity, the magnificence, of Paul's words here?

In Christ, our old self has passed away; it is DEAD! We are recreated by the Creator! We have been reconciled (passive on our part; Christ reconciled is the active verb) to God through Christ. He called us to this same ministry of reconciliation, in growing conformity to our Master.

We also are made ambassadors.  We have nothing in ourselves which merits our being given this role.  The Creator and Recreator is appealing through us to the world - amazing!

Finally, perhaps the most astounding of all: imputation of sin and righteousness.  This is double imputation:  first, Jesus was made to be sin at the Fatther's behest and on our behalf.  Secondly, this was done so that - ἵνα hina - the righteousness of God might (assuredly) be formed in us.

Absolutely incredible!

Maturation in Christ

Cracking open the door of my mind and heart a bit, I see the Lord taking me back to the basics of faith in Christ. He is prompting me, presenting me with opportunities, causing me to ask questions. He is leading me to delve more deeply, and with also some amount of breadth, into basic doctrines of our faith.

Christian maturity. Imputation. Justification. Sanctification. Salvation.

These are terms I know, and, at least to some level, can define.

It seems God is challenging me (in the process of maturing me, disciplining me as a son), asking "So do you really know as much as you think you know? You cannot put Me in a box. Here are some idea on which to ponder; as you are renewed through these, you will understand Me more, and know yourself and your limitations all the more."

My next several posts will revolve about these themes.