FK: "Yes Christ says that [we must become righteous — exceeding the righteousness of the Pharisees], and no, as far as I know that does not go against the teachings of Luther and Calvin."
Kosta: "Oh, I think you are in denial! It does very much so show that both Luther and Calvin were in grave error. That command puts the "becoming" on our shoulders and does not in any way suggest righteousness by imputation."
Well, I think Joe got me there and I unwittingly agreed to more than I bargained for. :) The actual verse says:
Matt. 5:20 : For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
At the time I did not understand the distinction between the status of righteousness and actually being righteous, as regards this verse. Lucky for me, it makes no difference in this case, as I'll explain below.
In this verse, all it says is "your righteousness". It does not distinguish between the status of righteousness and actually being righteous. But even if it is the latter, that command does not put "becoming" on anyone's shoulders, by itself. It describes a condition that must occur, it does not specify the manner in which it is achieved. Reformers believe that all of the elect will, in fact, become actually righteous. It's a matter of timing.
[JK in his 6242 responding to the same] FK, you are blowing me away here. Over the course of these discussions, you have remained consistent in that God does everything, we do nothing towards salvation. There is no cooperation, no transformation internally in man. Thus, we enter heaven, according to Luther and you, through the external righteousness of Christ, who covers over our own wickedness - since we can do nothing whatsoever of merit, even AFTER our regeneration.
NOW, you talk about imputed righteousness? That man has an ability placed within himself (after regeneration) to turn to God - to cooperate with the graces given? I am beginning to wonder if you are not becoming Methodist (which is an improvement - congratulations!)
I honestly do not know if there is any difference between extrinsic justification and imputed righteousness. I found very little on the former term. In my understanding of imputed righteousness, I do agree with it, but I have no knowledge of it involving any cooperation on the part of us. Can you point me to something that says that? As far as I know, man's cooperation has nothing to do with imputed righteousness.
My understanding of the two views on justification is that Apostolic Christians and Reformed Christians both believe that God DECLARES righteousness (in a forensic [legal] sense), and that God MAKES us righteous in an actual sense. Apostolics believe that both the declaration and the making happen at the same time, at Baptism. Reformers believe that the declaration happens at belief, when God imputes the righteousness of Christ on the believer. Then, God actually makes us righteous after physical death, for the elect.
No Catholic worth his salt (or Orthodox, I presume) would say that we can become righteous by our own actions without Christ's abiding Spirit within us. That is the problem with our arguments we have been having. When we say we must become righteous, you (Protestants) automatically assume that we mean ALONE! This is absolutely not the case! God comes into our beings and shares His divine life with us - eternal life enters into us, directing us towards the greater good. Because of Christ's abiding Spirit, we DO become righteous - because of Him - not because anything we do alone. What can we give to God that we have not already been given? Where Protestantism fails here is to claim that this regeneration, this "being born from above" is merely a status. As if God cannot CHANGE or TRANSFORM us!
I honestly do not know if there is any difference between extrinsic justification and imputed righteousness
The difference is manifold. Extrinsic justification means we are only given a new status - there is NO change within our being. We are like a puppet through which God acts upon, while we doing nothing of value. Intrinsic justification means we are indeed raised up to a new level, a supernatural level. We begin to BECOME righteous in God's eyes as a result of His work WITHIN us. Thus, WE can become holy, WE can become pure. Christ doesn't cover a mound of manure and "sneak" into heaven while God holds His nose!
As far as I know, man's cooperation has nothing to do with imputed righteousness.
Sure it does. We are empowered by God's graces to repent, to have faith, hope and love. We are given the ability to love even our enemies. WE! Not God disguised as me. I can love! Scriptures throughout tell of MAN doing "x". That is how Scriptures speak - we understand that MAN is responsible for his actions, but he IS empowered by God to do the good - thus, man cannot brag. Man can only cooperate - he cannot generate good deeds on his own.
Then, God actually makes us righteous after physical death, for the elect.
Ah. No, we become righteous even in this world! We become pleasing in God's eyes through faith. Even today, God abides in us - and we know this when we obey the commandments. Yes, we are given a status, but it is much more. Christ came to heal us and to give life to the fullest, even in this life. Not just a bus ticket to be redeemed 50 years from now! We share in the divine nature even today - but fully after our death.
Regards