Living for righteousness means dedicating one’s life to pursuing holiness, virtue, and uprightness according to God’s standards. Righteousness is one of the chief attributes of God’s character (Psalm 119:137) and as His followers, Christians are called to emulate His righteousness (Matthew 5:48). The apostle Peter touches on this concept in 1 Peter 2:24, which states:
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
This verse points to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and how His atoning work enables believers to now live righteously. When we place our faith in Christ, we are justified before God, counted as righteous in His sight because of Christ’s righteousness which is credited to us (Romans 4:22-25). As justified believers, we are now empowered to live rightly and honor God with our lives.
So what are some key aspects involved in living for righteousness?
1. Repenting from sin
An integral part of living righteously is turning away from sin through heartfelt repentance. We cannot make progress in godly living if we tolerate or cling to sinful habits and behaviors. True repentance involves not only feeling sorry for our sins but also completely abandoning them (Proverbs 28:13). As we humble ourselves before God, confess and turn from sin, He grants us cleansing and the strength to walk in newness of life (1 John 1:9).
2. Obeying and following God’s commands
Living righteously also requires obeying God’s moral commands and precepts as laid out in Scripture. We are called to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). As believers, God’s Spirit empowers us to walk in obedience to His commands and reflect His holy character through our conduct (Ezekiel 36:27). Our lives should be marked by qualities such as honesty, sexual purity, generosity, kindness, patience, self-control, and love.
3. Cultivating godly virtues
In addition to avoiding sin and obeying God’s explicit commands, living righteously involves cultivating Christlike virtues and godly attitudes. We are to “put on” godly virtues such as humility, integrity, mercy, righteousness and purity of heart (Colossians 3:12-14). Living righteously means nurturing these virtues through prayer, God’s Word, fellowship and by yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s work in our inner being.
4. Serving God wholeheartedly
An essential aspect of living righteously is serving the Lord with our entire being – with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). We honor God by stewarding our gifts, resources, and opportunities in full devotion to Him. This involves participating in the good works God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10), using our spiritual gifts to build up the church (1 Peter 4:10), and making disciples (Matthew 28:19). Wholehearted service to God is a hallmark of righteousness.
5. Walking in the Spirit
As believers, we have the illuminating, empowering presence of the Holy Spirit within us to enable righteous living. A key part of living righteously is walking in the Spirit – following His guidance, depending on His power, yielding to His convictions and living in step with Him (Galatians 5:16,25). The Spirit produces His fruit of love, joy, peace and other virtues in us as we submit to Him.
6. Fleeing worldliness
Living righteously involves fleeing worldly attitudes, mindsets and behaviors that can compromise our walk with Christ. We cannot blend in with the world’s values and still live as righteous believers. The Bible instructs us not to love the world or adopt its patterns (1 John 2:15-17). We must guard our hearts against influences like greed, sexual immorality, impurity, lust and other sins frequently tolerated and promoted by society.
7. Pursuing Christlikeness
As Christians, we are called to grow in reflecting the character of Christ through the process of sanctification. Living righteously involves ardently pursuing Christlikeness – to increasingly think, speak, act and respond as He would in every situation and relationship. As we behold Christ through prayer and studying the Gospels, the Spirit transforms us into His image with “ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
8. Being a light to others
Living righteously also involves our call to be salt and light in this darkened world (Matthew 5:13-16). The way we live and conduct ourselves can point others to our Father in heaven. By modeling righteous attitudes, speech and behavior, we can draw people to glorify Him. Our hope is that many will come to know Christ personally as we live out the Gospel before them.
9. Persevering through trials
While living righteously, believers will face various trials that test our faith and commitment to obeying God. But His Word exhorts us to persevere in righteousness even in the furnace of affliction. “The Lord tests the righteous” (Psalm 11:5) for our good and His glory. As we rely on His grace, God uses trials to refine our faith and make us “mature and complete” (James 1:2-4).
In summary, living for righteousness involves pursuing holiness in every area of life through repenting from sin, obeying God’s Word, cultivating Christlike virtues, serving God wholeheartedly, walking in the Spirit, fleeing worldliness, reflecting Christ, shining as a light, and persevering through difficulties. As believers, we can only live righteously through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit at work within us. By God’s strength, as we yield ourselves completely to Him each day, He enables us to walk uprightly to His glory.
This is the essence of what it means for us as Christians to “die to sin and live to righteousness” as 1 Peter 2:24 instructs. Empowered by Christ’s saving work, we now can honor Him by pursuing all that is pure, right, and good.
Living righteously also provides a powerful apologetic to the world around us. When unbelievers see the authentic transformation in our values and conduct, it gives credibility to our testimony of Christ’s life-changing salvation. Our hope is that many will turn to Him as they see our good deeds and give glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). As Peter wrote, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).
So in light of God’s mercy towards us, we aim to walk in righteousness by His enabling grace, for the glory of our Savior and the furthering of the Gospel to all nations. This brings great joy and purpose to our lives as believers.
We also can have assurance that our labor in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Even when our righteous living does not seem to produce visible fruit, God promises to reward those who diligently follow Him in uprightness (Hebrews 6:10). Our righteous deeds, motivated by love and faith, have eternal significance in God’s economy.
Most importantly, living righteously expresses our deep love for the Lord who showed such extravagant grace toward us. Out of adoring gratitude for our salvation, we now devote our lives to honor Christ by pursuing all that is noble, right and admirable (Philippians 4:8).
Paul summed it up well: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12).
As recipients of God’s grace, we now live to please the One who gave Himself for us. Empowered by His Spirit at work within, Christ’s followers seek to walk in righteousness in every sphere of life – at home, at church, at work, and in society. Our aim is to live as children of light before a watching world.
We do this not out of compulsion but with joy and gratitude, knowing our labor in the Lord has eternal weight. Since we have been raised with Christ, we intentionally “set [our] minds on things above, not on earthly things” as our life is now hidden with Him (Colossians 3:2-3).
Living righteously will often require courage and resolve in the face of temptation, trials, and the world’s opposition. But Christians have heavenly power within to enable righteous living. Paul urged Timothy: “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).
As we run this race of faith with endurance, Jesus provides living hope to sustain righteous living each day. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Through the Spirit’s enabling power, we aim to honor Christ through living righteously while “looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Even when we stumble, His grace is greater than all our sin. As we repent and rely on that grace, our Father is pleased to empower righteous living that brings Him glory and joy.