In 2 Nephi
9:14, we read the following:
Wherefore we shall have a perfect knowledge
of all our guilt
and our uncleanness and our nakedness.
And the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge
of their enjoyment and their righteousness,
being clothed with purity,
yea, even with the robe of righteousness.
and our uncleanness and our nakedness.
And the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge
of their enjoyment and their righteousness,
being clothed with purity,
yea, even with the robe of righteousness.
In this
text, Jacob contrasts the “nakedness” (as a result of guilt/uncleanness [sinful
actions]) with the righteous, who are considered “righteous” which is based,
not on an imputation of an alien righteousness, but, just as their enjoyment is
not a mere declaration or “label,” their “righteousness,” as a result of
righteous living (the contrastive parallel with the guilty and their sinful
lifestyle). As a result, we are to understand that the clothing imagery to be
an outward sign of an inward reality.
I have discussed this theme a few times on this blog. See, for e.g.:
Martha Himmelfarb on Clothing Imagery and Transformation in 2 and 3 Enoch
Clothing Imagery, Psalm 109:29, and Romans 5:19: Further Proof that the Reformed Understanding of Imputation is Unbiblical
See also:
Response to a Recent Attempt to Defend Imputed Righteousness
Clothing Imagery, Psalm 109:29, and Romans 5:19: Further Proof that the Reformed Understanding of Imputation is Unbiblical
See also:
Response to a Recent Attempt to Defend Imputed Righteousness
Also, note
the parallel with “purity” and “righteousness.” This is also significant. In
Hebrew, the word for "clean" or "pure" is טָהוֹר and is often used for "pure" gold
(e.g. Exo 25:11, 17, 24, 29, 31, 36, 38, 39). The term for righteous is צַדִּיק and even in legal contexts, is used to
denote a reality (i.e., one is declared not guilty as they are, intrinsically,
innocent/righteous; cf. Deut 25:1 and Lev 17:3-4). All this supports the view
that justification is not a mere declaration wherein one is declared to be “pure”
or “righteous”; we are also made
such in justification, too.