What is impartation?

from the old testament

• Abraham’s standing before God came through faith, not what he had done. The LORD “counted it to him as righteousness” when he believed (Genesis 15:6), establishing a principle later reaffirmed in the New Testament: that righteousness is credited, not imparted.
• When David cried out for cleansing in Psalm 51, he recognized that holiness comes from God’s mercy, not from anything transferable through religious action. He pleaded for a clean heart and a right spirit, knowing that inward renewal could not be achieved by ritual or passed along by others.
• The image of being “clothed” with righteousness appears in Isaiah 61:10, where the believer rejoices in garments he received. This visual points to righteousness as something placed upon the worshiper, not something developed from within.
• God gives His people wisdom, not through mystical transfer but by His own initiative (Proverbs 2:6). Even spiritual growth is a gift from above.
• In Ezekiel 36:26-27, the LORD promises to give a new heart and place His Spirit within His people. This work is internal and transforming, yet it flows from God’s grace—not from the efforts or spiritual overflow of another.

from the new testament

• Righteousness, according to the New Testament, is something God credits to the believer by grace. Paul teaches that God justifies the ungodly and counts their faith as righteousness (Romans 4:5-6), echoing the pattern established with Abraham and David.
• This is possible because of the finished work of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul explains that God made Christ to be sin on our behalf so that we might become righteous in Him, not through gradual impartation, but through a divine exchange.
• Paul wanted to “be found in Him,” not with a righteousness of his own, but one that comes through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9). He had no confidence in mystical experience or religious achievement—only in the righteousness given through the gospel.
• God does sanctify His people. Believers grow in holiness over time as the Spirit works in them (1 Thessalonians 4:3; Galatians 5:16-25), but this transformation follows justification. It is never presented as the basis for being declared righteous.
• Paul also spoke of longing to “impart some spiritual gift” (Romans 1:11) and said he shared not only the gospel but also his very self with the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:8). These examples reflect relational ministry and spiritual encouragement, not the transmission of righteousness.
• Some interpret verses like 2 Peter 1:4 (“partakers of the divine nature”) as evidence of impartation. But Peter is describing the believer’s new relationship with God, not a transfer of divine essence. The passage affirms sanctification, not a mechanism for becoming righteous.

implications for today

The idea of impartation can sound spiritual, but it becomes dangerous when it replaces or confuses the biblical doctrine of justification. Many today seek a spiritual experience—a touch, a moment, a feeling—that will give them victory or power. But what they truly need is not an impartation, but imputation: the righteousness of Christ credited to them by faith.

God does strengthen His people. He gives grace, wisdom, and power to serve. He works within us to conform us to the image of His Son. But none of these are the ground of our salvation. They are the fruit of what God has already done through the cross.

Chasing impartation often leads to disillusionment. It tempts people to look for shortcuts to holiness or external signs of spiritual power instead of pursuing a life of humble obedience, rooted in the gospel. Worse still, it may cause some to trust in experiences instead of the finished work of Christ.

True righteousness is not passed from one person to another. It is a gift from God, received by faith, and sealed in the finished work of Jesus. That is the message we must believe, preach, and cling to with unwavering faith.