Dictionaries often define righteousness as morally justifiable behavior, aligning with accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, and uprightness. However, the Bible elevates this definition, portraying righteousness as mirroring God’s own perfection in every aspect: attribute, attitude, behavior, and word. God’s laws, as revealed in the Bible, not only reflect His divine character but also serve as the ultimate standard for measuring human righteousness.
The New Testament Greek term for “righteousness” primarily describes conduct in relation to others, especially concerning their rights in business, legal matters, and most importantly, in our relationship with God. It stands in stark contrast to wickedness, which is characterized by self-centeredness and a lack of reverence for God and respect for others. The Bible depicts a righteous person as just, upright, holding fast to God, and trusting in Him (Psalm 33:18–22).
The challenge lies in the fact that achieving true and perfect righteousness is impossible for humanity through our own efforts; the bar is simply too high. However, the good news is that genuine righteousness is attainable, but only through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit. We are inherently incapable of achieving righteousness on our own. Yet, Christians possess the righteousness of Christ, as “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 is a profound truth: We are made righteous in God’s eyes; we are accepted and treated as righteous because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished. He took on our sin, and we receive His righteousness. On the cross, Jesus exchanged our sin for His perfect righteousness, allowing us to stand before God, who sees not our sin but the holy righteousness of the Lord Jesus.
This signifies that we are considered righteous in the sight of God. We are accepted and treated as righteous by God because of the actions of the Lord Jesus. He became sin, and we become righteousness. On the cross, Jesus was treated as if He were a sinner, despite His perfect holiness and purity. Conversely, we are treated as if we were righteous, despite our defilement and depravity. Because of what the Lord Jesus endured for us, we are treated as though we have completely fulfilled God’s Law and never faced its penalty. We have received this invaluable gift of righteousness from the God of all mercy and grace. To Him be the glory!
Further Exploration
Consider delving deeper into this subject with resources like:
- God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum
- Explore Logos Bible Software for comprehensive insights and study tools.
Related Questions
- Why does Christ’s righteousness need to be imputed to us?
- What does it mean to pursue righteousness?
- What does the Bible say about self-righteousness?
- What does it mean to live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24)?
- What is the difference between righteousness and holiness?
