The Meaning of righteousness
What is righteousness?
A proper understanding of Righteousness is a key to victorious Christian living.True Godly righteousness is greatly misunderstood by Christians and non-Christians alike. I will attempt to explain the meaning of righteousness in the following paragraphs.
What is Righteousness? The quality of be right, upright or just.
Let us take a moment to examine these three words. Right: being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper right conduct; conforming to facts or truth. Upright: marked by strong moral rectitude an upright citizen: having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right, a strict adherence to moral principles. Just: acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good.
Where does true righteousness come from?
Let us take a look.
Isaiah 54:17bThis is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
1 Corinthians 1:30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
2 Corinthians 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Clearly the believer is made Righteous by God through Christ and not of themselves.Righteousness comes by faith.
Galatians 3:6-9 6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
So in conclusion Righteousness comes from God through Christ by faith and not of ourselves. It is that God righteousness that we are to seek. And that Righteousness alone.