Righteousness is a central theme in the Bible. At its core, righteousness refers to living in right relationship with God and with others according to God’s standards. The Bible reveals that true righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus Christ.
The meaning of righteousness
The word “righteousness” in the Bible is primarily translated from the Hebrew word tsedek and the Greek word dikaiosune. These words convey the meaning of conforming to an ethical or moral standard. Righteousness involves living in accordance with God’s laws and commands. It means doing what is just, lawful, and right in God’s eyes.
Righteousness is one of God’s core attributes. Deuteronomy 32:4 declares, “All his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” God always acts righteously; He cannot contradict His holy nature.
As creatures made in God’s image, human beings are called to reflect God’s righteousness in their thoughts, words and actions. We are exhorted to pursue righteousness and justice throughout the Bible. Deuteronomy 16:20 states, “Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
However, the Bible makes it clear that no one aside from God is inherently righteous. Romans 3:10 states, “None is righteous, no, not one.” Despite our best efforts, all humanity falls short of God’s perfect standard of righteousness. We need righteousness to be given to us.
Righteousness comes through faith
The Bible reveals that true righteousness is a gift granted by God on the basis of faith. We cannot earn righteousness through good works or the law. Righteousness comes only through believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Romans 3:21-22 explains, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”
When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment for our unrighteousness upon Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” By grace through faith, the perfect righteousness of Christ is credited to us. We are declared righteous in God’s sight.
Romans 5:17-19 further explains, “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ… For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”
Righteousness is imputed or transferred to us when we are united with Christ by faith. This happens at the moment of salvation. Believers are simultaneously justified and regenerated, positioned in right relationship with God.
Righteous living flows from salvation
While righteousness is a gift of grace, it inevitably produces changes in the life of a believer. Receiving Christ’s righteousness leads to actively pursuing righteousness. Though we cannot earn salvation, the desire to live righteously is evidence of true conversion.
Ephesians 2:8-10 highlights, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
2 Timothy 2:22 instructs, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” As Christians, the Holy Spirit works in us to produce righteous attitudes, thoughts, words and deeds. We live differently because we have been made new creations in Christ.
Followers of Jesus practice righteousness by loving others, speaking truthfully, keeping promises, acting ethically, generosity and resisting temptation. We are to pursue holiness in response to our positional righteousness in Christ. Romans 6:13 exhorts, “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”
Righteousness exalts a nation
In addition to living righteously on an individual level, nations also thrive when righteousness prevails in society. The Bible often speaks of righteousness and justice as the foundation of a prosperous community.
Proverbs 14:34 declares, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Similarly, Proverbs 29:2 warns, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” A culture that honors God and upholds righteousness will experience His blessing.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be salt and light influencing society for righteousness (Matthew 5:13-16). We must speak up for justice, defend the oppressed, love our neighbors and live out godly values in public and private life. Righteousness starts with individual hearts but should permeate all levels of culture.
The future hope of righteousness
The Bible promises that one day God will make all things new and perfectly righteous. Believers live with this future hope that they will live in a society that is completely just and sinless. The promise of future righteousness motivates us to pursue righteousness today.
2 Peter 3:13 assures, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” Until then, we work to grow in personal holiness and strive to see righteousness increase in our communities.
Revelation 21:1-4 gives a beautiful picture of the future righteousness in eternity with God: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'”
As believers, we can look forward to the promise of perfect righteousness and justice when Jesus returns to make all things new. This compounds our motivation to live righteously and spread righteousness today.
Righteousness requires total dependence on God
In summary, the Bible makes it clear that righteousness is a gift from God that we cannot earn or manufacture in our own strength. True righteousness flows out of a life surrendered to Jesus Christ and rooted in the gospel. We depend fully on the righteousness purchased for us through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Human weakness highlights God’s abundant grace. We lean wholly on Christ’s righteousness and strength.
As we grow in the gospel, understanding our unrighteousness apart from Christ and His complete righteousness given to us, our lives overflow with righteous living. We are motivated to obey God not to gain righteousness but because we already have it in Christ. Righteousness requires total reliance on and submission to our Savior.
Though imperfect, we increasingly lives of holiness, integrity, generosity and justice as we walk by faith in God’s power and grace. Righteousness will one day prevail fully when Jesus returns. Until then, we pursue righteous living for God’s glory.