On whom must we believe to receive imputed righteousness?
We must believe on Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. That same righteousness imputed to Abraham is put to the account of those who believe this gospel: that Christ died, was buried, and rose again for our justification.
Les explains that the imputation of righteousness was not recorded for Abraham alone; it applies to us also. The qualification is not a list of works or 'if we do this and that,' but belief. We receive that same righteousness put to our account if we believe on Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. Les identifies this as the gospel: Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead. He ties it to verse 25, where Christ was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. If He had not been raised, Paul could not write about justification and redemption would be incomplete. Christ arose victorious over sin, the devil, the flesh, and the world, and we take it by faith.
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
More Questions
Can we receive the same imputed righteousness that Abraham received?
We can receive the same imputation to our account that Abraham received, even though we live thousands of years later.
What do we have to do to receive the same imputation Abraham received?
The qualification for getting the same imputation Abraham received is simply believing on God who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; it is not if we do this or that.
Was the imputation of righteousness to Abraham meant only for him?
The statement that righteousness was imputed to Abraham was not written only for Abraham's sake, but also for believers living about four thousand years later, so that the same imputation can be credited to our account.