JGR:

<<  If the perfect righteousness of Christ earned by keeping the Law is imputed to us then why would we need a sacrifice for sin since we would already be accounted as perfectly righteous?  >>

I have been away for awhile, and I know this e-mail is almost 3 weeks old, but would like to enter my 2 cents worth.

The reason both Christ's obedient life and obedient death, both His earned righteousness under the Law, and His becoming a curse under the Law were necessary is due to the very nature and contents of the Law itself.  The Law does not just contain commandments, nor does it just contain sanctions (penalties).  It contains both.  The satisfaction of God under the Law requires both obedience to its commands, and the imposition of sanctions for disobedience to those commands.  The mere payment of the penalty does not absolve from further obedience.  There is both Gerizim and Ebal, blessings and cursings.  Christ did not just become a curse for us.  He also procured blessing by rendering substitutionary obedience, thus absolving all of His people from Law righteousness by procuring it on their behalf.  He did not just assume our sanctions, but in this, His death, He accomplished what was the final act in an incarnate life which ensured our full justification.  It is all of a piece. Every aspect of it was necessary.

Suggestion:  If the Law has been taken out of the way without full obedience being rendered, is not the charge of "antinomian" in order?

"It wonders me", too, John!

Soli Deo Gloria,

John T. "Jack" Jeffery