This is a VERY SHORT BUT IMPORTANT MESSAGE Title: The Doctrine of Imputation Text: 2 Cor 5 vs 21 1. The gospel of grace is carried by the doctrine of imputation. 2. Apart from imputation of sin and righteousness there is NO GOSPEL. 3. Free Imputation of righteousness was always God's design for the salvation of sinners. 4. But how was that done? God "made Christ sin" and that means God imputed the sins of the elect to Christ. 5. Christ Jesus being God and sinless could not be infused with sin for many reasons. First being the immutable God, that was impossible. Secondly, that would have defiled Him and disqualified both His Priesthood and Sacrifice (Lev 21 & 22). 6. So, He was "made sin" not by infusion/impartation, but by imputation of sin debt/guilt. 6. Imputation does not transfer material or infuse things into a person. Rather, it legally reckons them as liable for the sins of another-as with Christ Jesus, and it makes the elect sinner also righteous in reverse. 7. The elect are legally righteous in the books of God, but not experientially, since they are not yet glorified. They all still have INDWELLING SIN. Indwelling sin is a constant REMINDER that our ONLY RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOPE lies in IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS (God's righteousness). 8. Thus, the matter of salvation is best understood and believed through the doctrine of imputation and accompanying doctrines. By the death of Christ God made us the righteousness of God in Him. THAT IS HOW GOD SEES THINGS. 9. And how GOD SEES THINGS IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS and IT IS FREE