SCRIPTURE; Romans 4:6-8 "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
PROPOSITION: to use this text and others to show that in salvation there is a glorious subtraction of sin, and also a glorious addition of righteousness, and to show that where this addition and subtraction have not taken place there is absolutely no salvation. and also to show that anyone can have this blessed addition, and subtraction because the atonement of Christ is sufficient for all sinners, but it is only effective to those who will appropriate it. some " deny the Lord that bought them" and by doing so they "bring upon themselves swift destruction"
1.) Why a glorious subtraction of sin is necessary for being reconciled to God. vs. 7 "Blessed are they who's inquities are forgiven"
A. Because sin is a clinched fist in the face of our creator, and by sinning we fall short of the infinite worth of God's glory, and drive an evil wedge between a holy God and ourselves, because of this a subtraction of sin is absolutely essential to remove this vile wedge, and restore a relationship with God through Christ. Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
B. Because not only is there a separation from the fellowship of God in this world, but there must be a separation and punishment for sin in the world that is to come. "the wages of sin is death"
Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
2.) Why a glorious addition of God's righteousness is absolutely necessary in the salvation of sinners. (vs 6 "Whom God imputeth righteousness without works")
A. Because man's original righteousness has been completely lost through the foolish decision of Adam our first father according to the flesh, and because of this, we need a righteousness that would replace what was lost in Adam. Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
1 Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
B. Because the righteousness that we would offer to God is tainted, and defiled at best. no one would eat a hamburger that had been flushed through a sewage pipe, and God cannot accept a righteousness that has been flushed through the carnal hearts of unregenerate men.
3.) How is it possible for this glorious subtraction and addition to take place.
A. First, we must consider that forgiveness of sin and the imputation of an unblemished righteousness is offered to us at great cost, I can hear someone say, what is the cost? What do I have to pay? this is why the gospel is the good, and great news. This redemptive merit has been purchased entirely for you and me by the shed blood of the Son of God, it is offered to us "without money and without price." It is a gift given to ill deserving, hell deserving sinners.
B. Because Christ fulfilled the law and made a full atonement for sin, now anyone who will repent and trust in Christ receives a glorious subtraction of guilt and a glorious addition of righteousness.
Isaiah 44:22 "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.." 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
C. This transaction is so complete and thorough that the scripture declares that sins are never imputed to us again saying "blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin"
Romans 8:33 "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
2 Corinthians 5:19, 21 "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
Psalms 32:2 "Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."
CONCLUSION: we are all under the guilt, and curse of a broken law, but Christ who is absolute purity "magnified the law and made it honorable", and in his death he "redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us". now anyone can receive or reject this glorious subtraction of iniquity, and this glorious addition of righteousness as a gift freely given. Revelation 1:5 "...Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood"
