Mizpeh, YES forgiveness and imputation of righteousness are connected. We are forgiven because the righteousness of Christ (the righteous blood of Christ) has been sprinkled on the altar and is imputed to us. We enter into this forgiveness by faith in the work of Christ.
Our faith in Christ's resurrection is a faith in the fact that God has accepted the work of sin remission performed by Christ on the Cross. He was the Lamb who took away the sins of the world. If God had not accepted the sacrifice....
Christ would not have been resurrected. The Good News in the death, burial and resurrection is that the resurrection proves God has forgiven us through Christ. It proves that Christ's work was effective.
Those who accept the testimony of God by accepting Christ accept the forgiveness of God in Christ. All who believe
(all who trust in his forgiveness*) are given the same promised gift Christ received of the Father in
Acts 2:33. Those who believe receive eternal life (
John 3:6, 15-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40,47; 11:25,26). He that hath the Son hath life.
If we require anything beyond a simple trust in what Christ already did to obtain forgiveness we say that what he did was inadequate. Christ meant it when he said, "It is finished." Those who trust in this reality SHALL receive the gift of God which is eternal life.
*Baptism is the response of those who have accepted this forgiveness. Baptism is the response of those who have a good conscience toward God (1Peter 3:21). Forgiveness does not come because of baptism, baptism comes because of forgiveness.
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