From William Gurnall

My favorite thing about the Puritans is their ability to articulate and organize. Here is some thoughts that I found very illuminating from William Gurnall's The Christian in Complete Armor. I am paraphrasing from memory, by the way.

On Righteousness

We can distinguish from the Scriptures three types of righteousness.

1) There is a legalistic righteousness. This is the righteousness of the law, of which Moses says, "the man who does these things will live by them." Through perfect obedience, a man may obtain life through legalistic righteousness. It is a righteousness actually performed by the man who possesses it. Because no man can perform this, no man will be justified, or declared righteous by it.

2) These is an imputed righteousness. This is the righteousness of our justification, referred to in Romans as "the righteousness of God," because it is performed not by us, nor in us, but for us. This righteousness God ordained to be performed by Christ and reckoned, or counted, or imputed onto us. It is not inherent in us, as are the other two.

3) There is an imparted righteousness. This is the righteousness of our sanctification, which is wrought, through Christ by the power of the spirit, in us. It is acceptable to God as a crown to his work only so far as it proceeds from our life in Christ, that is, only so far as it is by faith.


Isn't that all freaking brilliant? So helpful.