What is Righteousness?

Put simply – What is Righteousness?

The quality of goodness that God has perfectly and we lack.

A little more complicated –

The Bible talks about righteousness in a few different ways, but it is always referring to a perfect standard of goodness. When the Bible refers to our righteousness it is often talking about our condition before God. Sometimes this is speaking of the righteousness we have in Christ; other times it refers to our complete lack of righteousness and need for a savior (see Isaiah 64:6 below). God’s righteousness is a praiseworthy attribute that affirms his perfect goodness.

Scripture references:

• Psalm 24:5 “He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
• Psalm 71:19 “Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?”
• Isaiah 33:5 “The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.”
• Isaiah 64:6 “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
• Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
• Romans 5:17 “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.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:30 “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”