RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness is more than just doing what is right in the eyes of society—it is a deep and foundational concept rooted in the moral, ethical, and spiritual frameworks of humanity. At its core, righteousness is the quality or state of being morally right or justifiable, often anchored in divine or religious law. It encompasses a broad spectrum of moral correctness, justice, and virtuous living as dictated by a higher authority or a system of spiritual beliefs.
ETYMOLOGY:
Hebrew(OT)
Word: Tzedaka ( צְקָ קָה)
Root: Tz-D-K
Meaning: Righteousness, justice, doing what is right.
Greek (NT)
Word: Dikaiosynē (δικαιοσύνη)
Root: Dik- (δίκαιος, δικη)
Meaning: Righteousness, justification, being declared right
i. The General Meaning of Righteousness
In secular and philosophical contexts, righteousness refers to:
- Acting in accordance with ethical or moral principles.
- Living a virtuous life based on what is deemed just and right in society.
- Upholding truth, justice, and fairness in dealings with others.
Examples of righteous behavior in this sense might include honesty, integrity, kindness, fairness, and respect for others’ rights. Different cultures may interpret these virtues in slightly varying ways, but the core idea remains: righteousness is moral uprightness.
ii. The Biblical Standard of Righteousness
In the Bible, righteousness carries a much higher and more absolute standard. It is not determined by fluctuating societal norms but by the every nature of God. According to Scripture, God’s own perfection is the standard of righteousness. This includes:
- Perfect attributes: God is holy, just, loving, merciful, omniscient, and faithful.
- Flawless attitudes and motives: His actions are never tainted by sin or selfish intent.
- Sinless behavior and speech: Every word and deed of God is true, right, and purposeful. This divine perfection becomes the “plumb line” or measuring stick by which human behavior is evaluated.
“Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” ( Leviticus 19: 2 )
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” ( Matthew 5: 48 )
iii. God’s laws as a Reflection of his Character
The laws given in Scripture (e.g., the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus) are not arbitrary rules; they reflect God’s own character. When God tells humanity not to lie, steal, commit adultery, or murder, He is commanding behavior that mirrors His own truthfulness, faithfulness, and justice.
- Truthfulness reflects God’s nature as the God of truth.
All who invoke a blessing or take an oath will do so by the God of truth. For I will put aside my anger and forget the evil of earlier days. 17 “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. 18 Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. ( Isaiah 65: 16 )
Justice mirrors God’s role as a righteous judge.
God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day. ( Psalm 7: 11 ).
Mercy corresponds with His enduring love and compassion.
The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. ( Lamentations 3: 22 -23 )
iv. Human Righteousness and the Problem of Sin
The Bible teaches that all humans fall short of God’s righteous standard because of sin.
As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. ( Romans 3: 10 )
Human efforts, no matter how sincere, are inadequate to meet God’s perfect standard.
This creates a spiritual dilemma: if God’s standard is perfection and no human is perfect, how can anyone be considered righteous before God?
- Righteousness Through Faith
The solution presented in the New Testament is righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. According to the Gospel, Jesus lived a sinless, perfectly righteous life and died as a sacrifice for humanity’s sins. Those who believe in Him are not only forgiven but are also credited with His righteousness.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ( 2 Corinthians 5: 21 )
This righteousness is not earned through deeds but is a gift of grace. It leads to a transformed life that seeks to reflect God’s character out of love and gratitude.
- Living Out Righteousness
Though salvation is by grace, believers are called to pursue righteous living. This involves:
- Obeying God’s commands
“If you love me, obey my commandments. ( John 14: 15 )
- Practicing justice, kindness, and humility .
No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ( Micah 6: 8 )
- Bearing the “fruit of the Spirit,” such as love, joy, peace, and self- control.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self- control. There is no law against these things! ( Galatians 5: 22 -23 )
- True righteousness is not mere outward behavior but flows from a heart aligned with God’s will.
v. From The Scripture:
Righteousness is a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments. It is intricately connected to God’s nature, His expectations of humanity, and His plan for redemption. While the concept remains consistent—right standing with God and moral integrity—different New Testament writers emphasize various aspects of how righteousness is attained and expressed.
Jesus teachings:
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” ( Matthew 5: 20 )
This statement would have shocked His listeners. The Pharisees were known for strict adherence to the Law of Moses. However, Jesus was not condemning obedience, but rather exposing a form of righteousness that was external, performance-based, and often lacking inner transformation.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. ( Matthew 23: 27 –28 )
Jesus called for a righteousness of the heart—motivated by love for God and others, not by legalism or self-righteousness. This standard laid the groundwork for the New Covenant, which would not just impose law from outside, but transform from within by the Spirit.
By Faith, Not Works
The Apostle Paul teaches that while the Law of Moses outlines God’s standard of righteousness, no one can fulfill it perfectly. Thus, the Law reveals sin more than it produces righteousness.
Two Paths
Paul acknowledges two theoretical ways to achieve righteousness:
- By the Law (Torah) – through perfect obedience.
- By faith – trusting in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. ( Romans 10: 3 –13 )
But in practice, Paul makes it clear:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” ( Romans 3: 23 )
Therefore, faith is the only effective path.
This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” ( Romans 1: 17 )
Righteousness by Faith
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” ( Romans 5: 1 )
Paul consistently affirms that righteousness is a gift from God, not earned by works but received by trusting in Christ. This idea is central to Pauline theology and marks a turning point from Old Covenant law to New Covenant grace.
Faith Must Be Proven by Works
James addresses—that faith alone justifies. James insists that genuine faith is always accompanied by righteous action:
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” ( James 2: 1 )
Charity as a righteous act
Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? ( James 2: 15 –16 )
Obedience to the Law’s moral principles.
For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery, ”also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. 12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. ( James 2: 11 –12 )
He cites Abraham, who was considered righteous for both his belief and his obedience
Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. ( James 2: 21 –24 )
For James, works are not a replacement for faith, but the proof of it.
vi. Jewish Roots of Righteousness and Charity
The concept of tzedakah in Judaism provides important background. It refers not just to righteousness, but also to charity and acts of justice.
As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” ( 2 Corinthians 9: 9 )
“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” ( Psalm 112: 9 )
The New Revised Standard Version notes that the word translated “righteousness” also implies “benevolence.” Messianic Jewish scholars, like David Stern, link this to the Jewish practice of doing tzedakah—acts of charity seen as essential expressions of righteousness. This understanding highlights the biblical theme that righteousness encompasses our relationship with both God and other people. Seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness involves caring for others, not just personal holiness.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. ( Matthew 6: 33 )
vii. Righteousness in Action
Peter highlights practical righteousness by describing Lot as a righteous man:
But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. ( 2 Peter 2: 7 )
Lot is described as being tormented by the wickedness around him, suggesting that righteousness includes a moral sensitivity to evil and a desire to live rightly, even in a corrupt society.
Though Lot is not without flaws, his example shows that God recognizes those who strive to live according to His standards, especially in difficult environments.
viii. Righteousness through Christ
“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.” ( Isaiah 61: 10 )
When God looks at those who trust in Jesus, He doesn’t see our past mistakes, our failures, or our shame. He sees the righteousness of Christ wrapped around us like a spotless robe. This is not righteousness we have earned. On our own, we could never measure up to God’s perfect standard. But through Jesus—who lived as in less life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again—we are made right with God. The Bible says:
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” ( Romans 5: 1 )
Peace with God is not based on our performance, but on His mercy. Not because we are good, but because He is good—and gracious.
Jesus became sin for us, so that in Him, we could become the righteousness of God.
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 5: 21 )
Ultimately, biblical righteousness is not merely about following rules. It is about being in right relationship with God, trusting in His salvation, and living in ways that reflect His character. It integrates faith, transformation, and moral action, revealing God’s nature through His people.