What is imputed righteousness?
Imputed righteousness is the doctrine that, in justification, God credits the righteousness of Jesus to the account of the believer. We are declared righteous not because of what we did but because of what Christ did and what God reckons to us in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The classic exchange: "He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Imputation is forensic — God credits to our account. It is not infusion (where God gradually pours righteousness into us); that is sanctification, which is real but later.
For the conscience this is everything. When the believer falters, God still looks at us in Christ — robed in his righteousness, not in our spotty performance.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.