When it comes to justification by faith, I have argued at length that if we connect justification to union with Christ, then it is better to speak of an incorporated righteousness rather than an imputed righteousness. This also enables us to see justification as tied to both the cross and resurrection, properly understand the forensic nature of justification, and better explain the language of reckoning in Romans 4. It is a position I articulate in dialogue with Bob Gundry, N.T. Wright, John Piper, and many others.

But it is a controversial thesis as it grates against the traditional way of articulating justification in Reformed circles. I think this is partly a case of biblical theology vs. systematic theology as different domains of discourse. Consequently, I received a lot of criticism for my thesis in several places. Mike Horton is not convinced and I remember being indicted for heresy by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in America at some point. But several scholars like Kevin Vanhoozer, Scot McKnight, N.T. Wright, and Michael Gorman have given my approach tacit approval.

So dang it, I still think I’m right: “… and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through the faithfulness of the Messiah the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Phil 3:9).

Anyway, I’ve turned my original essay in The Saving Righteousness of God on this subject into an AI-generated podcast which explains the debate and my assertions in an easy-to-listen-to way. Here’s the blurb:

Michael Bird's "Incorporated Righteousness" analyzes the ongoing evangelical discussion surrounding the imputation of Christ’s righteousness in justification. Bird reviews the history of this doctrine since the Reformation, highlighting key figures and varying perspectives. He then examines contemporary debates, particularly those sparked by the New Perspective on Paul, weighing arguments for and against imputation from scholars like Gundry, Piper, and Wright. Ultimately, Bird argues that the concept of "incorporated righteousness," emphasizing union with Christ and his resurrection, provides a more nuanced understanding of Pauline soteriology than imputation alone. The essay seeks to bridge divides and offer a fresh perspective rooted in biblical exegesis.

Let me know if you’re convinced or if you’d like to co-sign the OPC denunciation of me as practicing popish deviancy.

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