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While we have not given every occurrence of the word, we believe we have accounted
for every phase of its meaning. It will be observed in Rom. 4: that where "sin" and
"righteousness" are being dealt with, these are "imputed"; but where faith is being dealt
with, it is "imputed for". Faith is not righteousness; it is "reckoned for" righteousness.
In Rom. 6: 11 there is no "imputing for"; it is as actual and real as the imputation of sin
to a sinner.
When we were considering the usage of the words "crucify with", we observed that it
was Luke who recorded the incident of the dying thief, and thus illuminated the doctrine
which the words implied. This is as we might expect, if it is true that Luke was raised up
to work with Paul. So here, again, it is Luke who gives us the one clear passage that
bears most upon our theme. Let us give the passage--Luke 22: 37 in full:--
"For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in Me, And He
was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning Me have an end." (The
verb, "to be accomplished", is teleo; the noun, "end", is telos).
The Lord declared that something that was "written" was to be accomplished. Where
is this written prophecy recorded? The reference is to Isa. 53: 12:--
"He was numbered with the transgressors: and He bare the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors."
Earlier in this chapter the prophet had said:--
"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed"
(Isa. 53: 5).
The things concerning Him had an "end"--not merely a termination, but a goal,
something attained and accomplished. When the Saviour cried with a loud voice, "It is
finished", the words meant more than that His sufferings were at last ended; they meant
that He had "finished the work" which the Father had given Him to do. In Rom. 6: we
stand looking at that finished work. He died for sin, He died to sin; and He rose again,
the Victor over death. With Him we also died to sin; with Him we rose again victors
over death. We were buried "into His death" and so became "in Christ". And just as
surely as He was "reckoned" (or "numbered") among the transgressors, so are we to
"reckon also ourselves" to have died unto sin and to be alive unto God in Him.
Let us examine verse 11 still more carefully. It commences with "Likewise", Houto.
This is usually translated "so"; other renderings are: "in like manner", "on this fashion",
"thus", etc. The words, "indeed . . . . . but" are a translation of "men . . . . .de"; they
express the idea conveyed by the English form: "on the one hand . . . . . on the other
hand", indicating two sides of a story. Most important of all is the rendering, "in Christ
Jesus". Whether the words, "our Lord", should be included or not is not a serious matter;
but the translation of en Christou Iseou by "through Jesus Christ" is a double error.
Firstly, the title "Christ Jesus" is important, emphasizing that the Lord is the risen and