In this short book John Piper responds to Robert Grundy and others who propose a change in the biblical doctrine of imputation of Christ’s righteousness through faith in His work. Grundy states that “the doctrine that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believing sinners needs to be abandoned. . . . That doctrine of imputation is not even biblical.”  Grundy’s position is “our faith is reckoned as righteousness” and our righteousness “consists of faith even though faith is not in itself a work.”  Piper takes strong exception to that position.

The author cites several biblical passages (Romans 4:4-8, Genesis 15:6, Romans 3:28) that demonstrate Christ’s or God’s righteousness is credited to the believer as an objective reality outside the believer. He then quotes 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (niv).

Not only is our justification tied to the doctrine of imputation, but also is our sanctification. We possess the ability to grow in grace through the indwelling righteousness of Christ. We are “in Christ,” not through our imperfect obedience, but through His perfect righteousness.