Internal righteousness, a fundamental concept in Christian theology, refers to the genuine transformation of the heart and mind that occurs through faith in Jesus Christ, as described in Romans 5:1, where it is written, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This inner righteousness is a gift from God, as stated in Philippians 3:9, where the apostle Paul expresses his desire to be "found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ." Through this internal transformation, believers are empowered to live a life that honors God, as guided by Psalms 51:10, which says, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Zac Poonen emphasizes that the righteousness of God and sin are primarily internal rather than external, challenging the conventional understanding of the Ten Commandments. He identifies five sins that Jesus hated most: hypocrisy, spiritual pride, impurity, indifference to human need, and unbelief,