What Is God’s Righteousness?

The dictionary defines righteousness as “conduct that is morally right or justifiable.” This type of behavior is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or integrity. The Bible’s standard for human righteousness is God Himself—His perfect character in every attribute, attitude, action, and word. Therefore, the laws God gave in the Bible both describe His own character and serve as the plumb line by which He measures human righteousness.

In the Greek New Testament, the word “righteousness” primarily describes behavior related to others, especially concerning their rights in business and legal matters. It begins with one’s relationship with God. Righteousness is contrasted with evil, which is the behavior of a severely self-centered person who neither fears God nor respects others. The Bible describes the righteous as those who are upright, trusting in God and relying on Him (Psalm 33:18-22).

It is impossible for people to achieve true and perfect righteousness on their own. Genuine righteousness is only possible for humanity through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We do not have the ability to achieve our own righteousness. However, Christians possess the righteousness of Christ because, as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” On the cross, Jesus exchanged His perfect righteousness for our sins, so that one day, when we stand before God, He will see not our sins, but the holy righteousness of the Lord Jesus.

Because of the Lord Jesus, we become righteous in God’s sight. We are accepted as righteous and justified by God. The Lord Jesus became sin, while we became righteous. On the cross, Jesus was treated as a sinner, even though He was completely holy and pure, while we are treated as righteous, even though we are defiled and fallen. Because of what the Lord Jesus endured for us, it is as if we have perfectly obeyed God’s law and will never have to face punishment. This precious gift of righteousness is given to us by God, who is rich in mercy and grace.

Glory be to God.