The preachers quoted here describe righteousness as being and doing what is right before God. They say it is revealed in Christ, that the lost world does not welcome the word, and that the real thing is alive, humble and worked out in obedience. They place the emphasis differently between righteousness as a gift and righteousness as conduct.
In both Testaments the words for righteousness mean conformity to a standard, being in the right.12 The standard is God himself. "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works" (Psalm 145:17). "The righteous LORD loveth righteousness" (11:7).
Measured by that standard, Scripture says human beings fail. "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus told his hearers that their righteousness would have to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20), the most careful people they knew.
The gospel announces a righteousness that God gives. Abraham "believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). In the gospel "is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith" (Romans 1:17), "even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (3:22). Paul wanted to be found in Christ, "not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ" (Philippians 3:9). Jeremiah's name for the coming king is "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:6).
Martin Luther made this the centre of his teaching: "True Christian righteousness is the righteousness of Christ who lives in us."3 In recent years some scholars have argued that the phrase means chiefly God's own faithfulness to his covenant, and others have replied in defence of the Reformation reading; the discussion continues.
The New Testament is equally clear that those who are counted righteous are to live righteously. "He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (1 John 3:7). Believers have become "the servants of righteousness" (Romans 6:18). The prophets apply it to public life: "let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream" (Amos 5:24).
Jesus made it a matter of appetite and priority. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (6:33). The hope held out is a world put right: "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13).
- Strong's Hebrew 6666, tsᵉdâqâh: "rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively...".
- Strong's Greek 1343, dikaiosýnē: "equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification".
- Martin Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, "Chapter 3: letter, and the minister of the spirit; the minister of...".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Righteousness is the act of being or doing right.
Chuck Smith
in Jeremiah 23:5
Read in context
The righteousness of God is revealed in Christ.
Denny Kenaston
in (Christ--the Way God Makes Man Righteous) 1. God's So Great Salvation
Listen at 46:40
True righteousness is always marked by deep, deep humility.
Zac Poonen
in The Two Righteousnesses
Listen at 51:47
True righteousness is a spiritual pulse--which will ever be beating.
Thomas Watson
in The Crown of Righteousness
Read in context
Righteousness is knowing God's will and his commands and seeking to apply them to our lives and to live them out.
Max Hougham
in Wisdom and Righteousness
Listen at 22:24
Righteousness is a relationship with God founded on obedience.
Tony Sargent
in The Mount No.5 A Greater Righteousness
Listen at 14:12
Righteousness is not a word easily acceptable to lost men and women in a lost world.
A.W. Tozer
in Lord of Righteousness
Read in context
Where they differ
These preachers place the emphasis differently. One stresses that righteousness is received as a gift; another that it is a matter of how we treat people.
You see, righteousness is a gift, but godliness is not.
K.P. Yohannan
in Righteousness Is a Gift - Godliness Is Not
Read in context
Righteousness is behavior among people, honesty, friendliness, kindness, compassion.
Robert B. Thompson
in According to My Righteousness
Listen at 31:07
What Scripture says
- Romans 3:21-22 the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ
- Philippians 3:9 not having my own righteousness, which is of the law
- Genesis 15:6 he believed, and it was counted to him for righteousness
- Matthew 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness
- 1 John 3:7 he that does righteousness is righteous
How this page is made: the quotes are taken word for word from sermons on SermonIndex and checked against them by program before the page is published. The transcripts of audio and video sermons are machine-made, so follow the link to hear the words as they were spoken. The answer above the quotes is an overview with its sources listed; it is not a statement of doctrine by SermonIndex.