What is righteousness?

In the New Testament, the word righteous appears about 228 times, and in the letter to the Romans, about 40 times.

The word ‘righteous’ in Hebrew is called sadik, which means “someone who is in right relationship with God and with others.”[1] See Micah 6:8 (justice, mercy, and humility).

In Greek, it is dikaiosune, which means living in a righteous relationship with God, people, and creation in general. See Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [dikaiousune], for they shall be filled.”

In English, it means “to move in a straight line.” It means being “in the straight or right way.”

To put it correctly, righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of God. It is living a life that is right before God, regardless of what people consider right or wrong.

To what extent does God expect righteousness from us?

God not only expects us to live righteously, but He wants our righteousness to exceed the regular. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

This means, unless the way we live our lives is right before God, even more than our teachers and other believers, we will not see the kingdom of God. So, you and I are not to measure our lives with pastors, teachers of the bible, or anyone who purports to be religious. We are to seek to please God always. May God give us strength to depend on Him for our righteousness.

How can one obtain righteousness?

  • First, we must acknowledge that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23. So, according to Romans 3:10-12, “there is no one righteous, not even one…”  However, glory be to God, Jesus obtained righteousness for us by His finished work on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21). This means that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our sins are transferred to Him in exchange for His righteousness. So, our righteousness is a gift obtained from God, through Christ, not through our own works, efforts, or morals (Romans 5:17).
  • Further, admit that the Lord is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
  • We obtain righteousness by God’s mercy through the washing and renewing the Holy Spirit does (Titus 3:5).
  • Further, we can obtain righteousness through God’s direction. Isaiah 30:21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.”

How is righteousness from God different from self-righteousness?

  • Righteousness from God is a free gift received by having faith in Christ Jesus. It moves one to serve God with humility and makes one compassionate toward people.
  • Self-righteousness comes from one’s own good deeds, abilities, and efforts, which leads to pride and a false sense of perfection. One’s behavior towards others might then be clouded with a sense of superiority, and one may not think God’s grace is needed, since they can be morally right in their own efforts.

What are some of the advantages of living in righteousness?

  1. God blesses the righteous and surrounds them with His favor (Ps. 5:12)
  2. The integrity of the righteous guides them (Prov. 11:3)
  3. Righteousness delivers one from death (Prov. 11:4)
  4. Righteousness directs people to the right ways (Prov. 11:5)
  5. The righteous is delivered from trouble (Prov. 11:8; Psalm 34:17)
  6. He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward (Prov. 11:18)
  7. “The seeds/posterity of the righteous shall be delivered.” (Prov. 11:21)
  8. The children of the righteous never beg for food (Psalm 37:25)
  9. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.” (Ps. 37:29)
  10. The desire of the righteous only ends in good (Prov. 11:23a)
  11. Righteousness brings about thriving like a green leaf (Prov. 11:28b; Psalm 92:12)
  12. Righteousness establishes us and removes us far from oppression, fear, and terror (Isaiah 54:14-17)
  13. “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12)
  14. “The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life.” (Prov. 11:30)
  15. If you obtain this gift of righteousness, you have eternal life through the mercy of God (Titus 3:5)

How can one sustain a righteous living?

  • Live daily by walking in the fruit of the Holy Spirit, as shown in Galatians 5:22-23

Altar Call

Jesus can help you today. Accept Him as your Lord and Savior. He came to take your sins away and put His robe of righteousness upon you. Once you are wearing this robe, you begin to live a life of eternal peace.

Come now, and begin to enjoy Jesus.

[1] Seth Addis, “Bible’s Definition of Righteousness: Beyond Behavior #Shorts,” YouTube video, 0:43, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PKdk8b0Y3rA