"so that you can be credited for good things that you haven't earned."

Great Debates
1

A daytime TV commercial for Time of Grace Ministry had the pastor Mark Jeske say the following:

What does that bolded sentence fragment mean?

2

I think it means you get to go to heaven even if you are a sinner. I.e., you get credited with having been perfect enough for heaven even though you weren’t.

3

I suspect it’s just some awkward phraseology and means that you haven’t received credit (whatever form that might take) for good deeds done. But, heh, we may find out soon. I’ve popped off an e-mail asking for some help understanding that passage.

4

Thanks UncleBeer, did you hear back yet?

5

Nope. Not a peep.

6

Any more context (if possible) would help.

I get the idea, but the actual substance? Obviously there’s the Jesus good You bad dichotomy, but beyond that… ?
Might it have something to do with the fact that God created love and you didn’t? Are you indebted to Jesus, so you haven’t earned your credit for good things (you’re not out of the hole)? Do you gain unearned good credit in God’s books by becoming a Christian?

This is gonna keep me up…

P.S. I think this would be better suited for GQ.

7

OK, hold onto your seats because there is actually a fancy theological name for this phrase… “imputational righteousness”. Basically, it is point c.) of the theology of atonement-
a.) Jesus took the penalty of our wrongs (“sins”) upon Himself at the Cross.
b.) By entrusting ourselves to Him, we have forgiveness of those wrongs…
c.) AND His goodness (“righteousness”) is then credited (“imputed”) to us.
d.) As we mature in Christian faith, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the goodness of Christ should change our character and behavior so that we actually develop His goodness.