Figure Comparitive

The righteousness required for salvation	How the righteousness of God is received	Reason or rational
As understood by the traditional Churches of Christ:
God has provided man a rational plan of salvation that anyone can understand and follow. By following this plan (the salvation requirements of the New Testament) forgiveness is now provided to the believer.	The forgiveness of sins is provided to the believer through obedience and cooperation to the commands found in the New Testament. For example, if the believer will obey God's "5 step" plan of salvation (i.e. hear, believe, repent, confess and be "water" baptized), they can receive the forgiveness of sins.	Man has the moral power and ability to cooperate with all the necessary moral and religious commands that God requires. Thus, when man chooses to cooperate and be obedient to them, he can now be saved.
As understood by evangelical Christianity:
The righteousness of God is a gift and provides the believer both the forgiveness of sins and the positive addition of the righteous-ness we need. God's forgiveness is based upon Jesus Christ, who as our substitute, took our punishment for sin so that God would not have to punish us. Jesus also lived holy for us so that the basis of going to heaven is based on His perfect life and not our own.	God's gift of perfect righteous-ness is available to all who will place faith in Jesus Christ. Author's note: When we place faith Jesus Christ, we are born again or born from above. While this new birth should bring about the added benefit of a holy life in that of the believer, it is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is given (credited, imputed) to us by faith that makes us Holy in God's sight, without blemish and free from accusation.	Because of the fall of Adam, man is a sinner by nature and by choice and lost the moral power and ability to be saved by the principle of keeping commands and laws. However, because of God's great mercy and grace towards us, He has provided both the forgive-ness of sins and the very righteousness we need and is provided to all who will place faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Author's Note:

Perhaps this will explain why many in the Churches of Christ have had such an unhealthy interest in methodology and procedural matters of the church, such as the controversy over instrumental music, the celebration of Christmas or Easter, church name, etc.

Because if our righteousness is dependant upon our own moral and religious ability to respond positively to all the commands given to us in the New Testament, then it is imperative that we are then completely obedient in every possible way in order to receive it and thus be saved.

The idea that God imputes or credits the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ to us by faith is completely foreign to those in the traditional Churches of Christ; here they are often trying to be made righteous by what they do (a "by works" righteousness), rather than trusting in God who makes people righteous (a "by faith" righteousness).

Phil. 3:9 says that Paul wanted to be found "…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ -the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

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February 2012