Jumpstarter 10 of 10

Direct Answer Wesley’s critique (as quoted by Bercot) warns that a “bookkeeping” view of imputed righteousness can lull people into thinking ongoing unrighteousness doesn’t matter because Christ supposedly covers everything. Bercot’s alternative is that God gives a clean slate at baptism, then expects faithful, obedient fruit—so practices that foster repentance and perseverance protect against both self-righteous earning and careless denial.

Support from Transcript:

• Bercot defines “impute” (logizomai) as “ascribe, count, or consider,” not a technical transfer.
• He says at initial conversion God “considers us to be righteous, even though in reality we are not.”
• He rejects the idea Paul teaches Christ’s righteousness is “transferred over to humans,” saying “Paul says nothing” about that and “the early Christians knew nothing” of it.
• Wesley’s warning: people think they are “complete in Him” while still “proud… covetous… lustful,” believing they can “continue in unrighteousness.”
• Wesley cites 1 Cor. 6:9-10: “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
• Bercot’s positive model: baptism brings forgiveness of “all our past sins,” a “new, clean slate,” and afterward God expects “faithfully and obediently… bearing godly fruit,” requiring “faithfulness,” not “perfection.”