Righteousness is a theme that runs throughout the Bible. You are either righteous or you are unrighteous – there is nothing in between. All God’s blessings and promises are for the righteous. In Hebrew, the main words for righteousness are Tzedek and Tzedakah, meaning justice, or doing what’s right; in Greek (New T.), it is Dikaiosyne, often translated as righteousness, justice, or moral integrity.
In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said- ”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” According to Romans 14:17 ”the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but a principle of righteousness, peace and joy.”
Currently I am reading the teachings of Proverbs, where much insight and wisdom can be gained. I quote important verses from Prov. 10 which are most meaningful. ”The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life;” and ”The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;” and ”The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.” (V.s 11,20 + 31) Righteousness and wisdom are married which affects our thoughts and speech, whether we cause death or life. ”…righteousness delivers from death” (Prov. 11: V4b); and ”The wage of the righteous leads to life.” (Prov. 10:16)
”The desire of the righteous ends only in good.” (Prov. 11: 23a). Prov. 11 continues – ”The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight.” (V 5); ”The righteousness of the upright delivers them.” (V 6); ”By knowledge the righteous are delivered.” (V 9b) Knowledge of the Word and living it out, gains wisdom, understanding, guidance, integrity, even pleasure, joy, peace and blessings.
Righteousness is a gift. You cannot earn it, you cannot buy it, and you don’t deserve it. You can only receive it by faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 4:5 confirms, ”But to him who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted to him as righteousness.”
Being RIGHTEOUS is being acceptable to God. ”Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God” [Gen. 6:9]; ”And Abraham believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness.” [Gen. 15:6]
Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that our own righteousness is like filthy rags to the Lord. Self-righteousness is the root of many other problems e.g. pride, unforgiveness or bitterness. It takes humility to say – ”I’m made righteous ONLY by FAITH in Christ Jesus.”
We get righteousness by believing it in the heart and pronouncing it with the mouth. ”For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:10)
May we eagerly and willingly lay aside our garments of self-righteousness and unrighteousness to clothe ourselves with Christ’s garment of true righteousness. The most expensive, most beautiful, and everlasting robe we will ever wear is the one our Abba Father gives to us, which Jesus paid for with His precious blood. A few lines from a hymn written by Edward Mote in 1834 say – ”My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…Dressed in His righteousness alone – Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid rock I stand – All other ground is sinking sand”
Thank You, precious Lord Jesus, that You are willing to clothe me in Your righteousness and not my own. Thank You, that Your Holy Spirit presence in my life, leads me in the paths of righteousness. (Psalm 23:3) Thank You that I can ”pursue righteousness, godliness and faith” (1 Tim.6:11) in the ”strength of Christ’s righteousness.” (2 Cor. 5:21) Help me to die to sin and live unto Your righteousness. Amen
Myrtle Turunen