Fides 18 N2 - Revista do Centro Presbiteriano Andrew Jumper

Ralph F. Boersema, Original Righteousness
would have received the inheritance by fulfilling the cultural mandate, while
continuing to be just. As a son rejoices to labor on the family properties, so
man was to work diligently in the Lord’s estate and, in due time, would have
come into possession of full participation in God’s rest and glory. Eschatological
life is inherited. An inheritance is not earned or bought. Inheritances are
entitlements of sonship and, even so, they are gifts, for the father has the right
to designate his heirs as he chooses.
God’s promises are received as gifts by faith, and that is also how Christ
took possession of them and was crowned with glory and honor. Entitlement
to the heavenly inheritance is not through justification, but a blessing that
accompanies it, one that comes to us through Christ’s faithful covenant obedience
in Adam’s place. Title to life eternal is not established through some
form of purchase, but as a gift received by faith. The principle that applies is
not that of earning or purchase, but of inheritance.
conclusions
Original righteousness for Adam was not work to be produced in order
to earn a reward. Rather it was a gift to be preserved. Adam was not presented
with a goal to one day achieve justification. God accepted him as righteous
and this judgment applied from the beginning and would have remained the
same forever if Adam had not sinned. He was not created merely guiltless
with a calling to become righteous through obedience. There are no degrees
of righteousness and Adam’s works and obedience would add nothing to his
purity or standing as innocent, approved, and accepted by the Lord.
Jesus, also, was just from the beginning of his incarnate life. His lifelong
obedience added nothing to his purity or status as the Righteous one. He
became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21), bore the curse of the law for us (Gal 3:13),
redeemed us by his blood (1 Pet 1:18-19), and was raised for our justification
(Rom 4:24-25). By God’s grace we are righteous in him, both because he
cancelled our debt on the cross (Col 2:14) and because, in him, we share in
his righteousness (2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). In addition to granting right-standing
with God through justification, Christ Jesus works righteousness in us through
sanctification (Eph 5:25-27; Titus 3:5).
Christ saves us from our sin and also fulfills the cultural mandate 21 and
leads us into possession of the eternal inheritance that is ours as a gift that
comes with adoption. By faithfully pressing on in his priestly office he offered
a perfect sacrifice for sin, and in his kingly office he provided for our heavenly
21 Space limitations do not permit expansion on how the Second Adam and his people are fulfilling
the cultural mandate. Suffice it to call attention to the importance of the gospel mandate, since it
is through the discipling of the nations that the multitudes of the redeemed who will fill the new earth
(where all will be fully subdued to man and his God) are gathered in.
114