Forensic Justification and the Doctrine of Imputation: Where We Divide From Works-Based Religions - Disntr

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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This apparently is an authorless article. Ordinarily we find these disntr articles published under the cowardly moniker "publisher," but we don't even get that for this article.

Frankly, the phrase "forensic justification" is new to our ears. And like so many theological terms, it obscures more than it illuminates. Thus the author finds need for today's article, to explain the doctrine.

Happily, the author quotes some Scripture, an all-to-rare event among these supposed Bible teachers. Unfortunately, however, the quoted Scriptures do not bolster the author's point. We are looking for biblical evidence for the doctrine of "forensic" justification, but the author cites only verses that document justification. He doesn't cite Scriptures that document the "forensic" part. 

Most likely because there aren't any.

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The doctrine of forensic justification holds a critical place in the Christian faith, as it explains how an individual can be considered righteous before a holy and just God. At its core, the doctrine teaches that through faith in Jesus Christ, God not only imputes the believer’s sin to Christ and carries out His wrath on Christ, (Bare claim. We have elsewhere noted that Jesus was not punished for our sins, because the OT sacrificial animals were not punished. Jesus was not regarded as guilty, because the OT sacrificial animals were not regarded as guilty. Jesus was not regarded as sinful in our place, because the OT sacrificial animals were not regarded as being sinful in place of Israel.

Further, there is no place in the Bible that tells us Jesus was subject to the Father's wrath.)

but also imputes the righteousness of Christ to the believer, and thus they are justified or declared to be in a state of right standing with God. It is a legal or judicial transaction, hence the term forensic. (The author makes another bare claim, that it's a legal or judicial transaction. So, where in the Bible does it say that legal charges are brought against us as sinners, for which Jesus intervened and pronounced us not guilty? It doesn't. 

This idea of a legal process we think descends from Calvin, who trained to be a lawyer. It did not exist before Calvin. Unlike a court of judgment, the sinner does not experience a trial, no evidence is presented, and there is no presumption of innocence or right to confront one's accuser. We need to remember that our idea of legal process has no comparison to the Law of ancient Israel. So it is wrong to impose a western cultural understanding on a uniquely Hebrew concept. 

Absent evidence that it was a legal transaction, we will acknowledge the Bible teaching: It was a sacrifice. No other element comes to bear regarding our sinfulness. The spilling of blood is the "cleansing agent" in operation here:

He. 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

His blood is the agent and avenue of cleansing, forgiveness, and deliverance from condemnation. It's the means by which we are saved. In the same way the OT animals were sacrificed, so was Jesus. 

There is no legal arrangement to satisfy some process of justice.)

This doctrine is rooted in the Bible, and can be seen in passages such as Romans 3:21-22, which states, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” This passage, and others like it, make it clear that it is through faith in Jesus Christ that an individual is made righteous before God. (Agreed.)

It is important to note that the doctrine of forensic justification does not teach that an individual becomes inherently righteous through faith in Christ. Rather, it teaches that through faith, an individual is credited with the righteousness of Christ, and is thus considered righteous before God. This is known as an “imputation” of righteousness, and it is a key aspect of the doctrine. (Sigh. The author does not actually explain "imputation." To impute is to ascribe or credit something to someone. The source of this imputation is primarily derived from here:

Ro. 4:23-24 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

The word "credited" ["imputed" in the KJV] is the Greek word logizomai, to take into account, to make account of. So this means that God took into account Abraham's faith and declared it as righteousness. Paul tells us this righteousness is not only for Abraham, but for us. 

The English meaning does not correspond to the Greek meaning. Nothing is credited to us. "Credited" is a bad translation. There is no transaction of any kind. That is, no imputation. Rather, we are justified as righteous because God takes our faith into account when He considers us:

Ph. 3:9 ...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

(...)

The doctrine of imputation is significant for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it teaches that it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that an individual can be justified before God. (Imputation is not needed in order to assent to this statement.)

This is a powerful reminder that salvation is not something that can be earned or achieved through good works, but rather it is a gift that is received through faith in Jesus. (Imputation is not needed in order to assent to this statement.)

Ephesians 2 teaches us that these good works are a result of our salvation rather than a cause:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Additionally, the doctrine of forensic justification also reminds us of the holiness and justice of God. (Imputation is not needed in order to assent to this statement.) 

Because of our sinful nature, we are all guilty before God (Well, no. Our prior lost status is described as condemnation:

Jn. 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already...

That condemnation is is not a legal determination of guilt, it is a divine declaration. Condemnation is the default state of the unsaved. That's where the lost start. Everyone who has ever lived or is living now on the planet began as dead and condemned. They are condemned already. We discuss this further here. We discuss the errant idea that Jesus substituted His death for ours here.

This means that when we are saved we are declared to be justified:

Ro. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...

"Justified" is

dikaioó, to judge, declare, pronounce, righteous and therefore acceptable...

Thus God pronounces the saved person as righteous. It is a declaration from the mouth of God. He didn't impute, He declared. Our condemnation is lifted. 

It is not a legal process, it is a sacrificial process.)

and are in need of righteousness and teaches that it is only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we can be considered righteous before God. (Imputation is not needed in order to assent to this statement.) 

This doctrine is an essential aspect of the Christian faith, as it teaches how an individual can be considered righteous before a holy and just God through faith in Jesus Christ. (Imputation is not needed in order to assent to this statement.) 

Through this doctrine, we are reminded that salvation is a gift that is received through faith and that it is only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we can be considered righteous before God. (Imputation is not needed in order to assent to this statement.) 

As believers, it is important to understand and embrace this doctrine, as it serves as a powerful reminder of our need for salvation and the grace of God. (Imputation is not needed in order to assent to this statement.)