True Righteousness According to Scripture

Righteousness

Understanding True Righteousness According to Scripture

I. Introduction

Righteousness is not a vague spiritual quality or a feeling of being “right with God.” It is a concrete, defined concept in Scripture—one that reflects the very character of God.

Misunderstood righteousness leads to legalism on one end and lawlessness on the other. The Bible calls us to pursue true righteousness—not as a means to earn salvation, but as evidence that salvation has taken place.

II. Word Study: What Is Righteousness?

The New Testament word for righteousness is δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē, Strong’s G1343), meaning justice, uprightness, or being in right relationship with God and others. It derives from δίκαιος (dikaios, G1342), meaning just or righteous, and is used frequently to describe both God's nature and what He expects from His people.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term צֶדֶק (tsedeq, Strong’s H6664) carries similar weight, emphasizing right conduct according to God’s standards—not man's. It is often paired with justice, especially in the Psalms and Prophets.

This is not subjective morality; it is the objective standard of God Himself.

III. Contextual Examples in Scripture

1. Romans 3:21–22 (NLT)

“But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law… We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.”

Context Note: Paul is contrasting righteousness through faith in Christ with the failed attempts to earn righteousness through the Law. This is the heart of the gospel: righteousness is imputed through faith in Jesus, not achieved by moral performance.

2. Matthew 5:6 (LEB)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be satisfied.”

Context Note: Jesus defines the blessed person not as one who has already attained righteousness, but who craves it—revealing that righteousness is more than justification; it is also sanctification, a lifelong pursuit.

3. Philippians 3:8–9 (NLT)

“For his sake I have discarded everything else… so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.”

Context Note: Paul renounces any claim to self-righteousness based on Torah obedience, underscoring that true righteousness is “from God,” and “based on faith.”

IV. Two Aspects of Righteousness: Justification and Sanctification

Many false teachings arise from failing to distinguish between:

• Imputed Righteousness (Justification) – God declares the believer righteous through faith in Christ (Romans 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Practiced Righteousness (Sanctification) – The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live in a way that aligns with God’s righteousness (1 John 3:7, Romans 6:13–19).

1 John 3:7 (LEB)

“Little children, let no one deceive you: the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous.”

This verse exposes the lie that righteousness is merely a legal status without corresponding fruit. A changed heart results in a changed life.

V. Righteousness and the Law

Romans 10:4 (NLT)

“For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.”

Context Note: Christ is the τέλος (telos, "goal" or "end") of the Law—not its abolishment, but its fulfillment. He embodies what the Law pointed to: righteousness through faith.

VI. False Teachings to Refute

1. Works-Based Righteousness

Any claim that we can earn righteousness by keeping the Law or doing good works directly contradicts Scripture (Galatians 2:21). Our good works are filthy rags apart from Christ (Isaiah 64:6).

2. “I’m Righteous Because I’m Saved” Antinomianism

Others err in the opposite direction—claiming that because they are declared righteous, their behavior doesn’t matter. This is a lie. “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26), and no one who lives in unrepentant sin has truly known righteousness (1 John 3:9–10).

3. “Jesus Wasn’t Concerned with Righteousness”

This is false. Jesus told His followers to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, NLT). The Sermon on the Mount is a blueprint for living righteously.

VII. God’s Righteousness vs. Self-Righteousness

Jesus condemned the Pharisees for outward religion with no inner transformation (Matthew 23). Self-righteousness exalts man’s performance. God’s righteousness humbles the sinner and exalts the Savior.

Luke 18:13–14 (NLT)

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes… saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner… returned home justified before God.”

VIII. Application

• Hunger for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)

• Flee from self-righteousness (Philippians 3:9)

• Pursue practical holiness (Romans 6:13–19)

• Stand firm in Christ’s righteousness (Ephesians 6:14 – the breastplate of righteousness)

• Test teachers who twist the gospel of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13–15)

IX. Conclusion

Righteousness is not earned. It is not political. It is not external. It is the nature of God revealed in Christ and reproduced in His people. We are justified by faith and sanctified by obedience. The righteous live by faith, but that faith is never passive.

Let us not settle for mere outward moralism or inward license. Let us walk in the righteousness of Christ, bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10), and eagerly awaiting the crown of righteousness He has prepared for all who long for His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).