It’s Useful to Understand What It Means to Be Righteous

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Do you know what it means to be righteous?

The Urban Dictionary defines it as:

• Something having the best possible attributes.
• A state of extreme perfection bordering on divinity that bestows moral authority.
• Awesome, amazing, cool, exciting, etc.
• The ultimate of anything, especially sins of pleasure like lust, gluttony & greed. 

The American Heritage Dictionary says it means:

• Morally upright; without guilt or sin.
• Being virtuous and honest … doing what is right.

And finally, the Biblical defines righteousness as:

• One who is right.
• The character of God.
• The perfect holiness of Christ Jesus.
• Fully based on God’s standards for both outward behavior and inner attitudes.

Psalm 111 says…

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
    All who delight in Him should ponder them.
Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty.
    His righteousness never fails.

Psalm 111:2-3

And Solomon wrote…

Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

Yet, Paul quoted David saying…

“No one is righteous—
    not even one.
No one is truly wise;
    no one is seeking God.

Romans 3:10–11

So, what is necessary to make people like you and me righteous?

The Bible tells us that 1) God is righteous and wants us to be righteous. 2) It’s impossible for sinners like us to become righteous on our own. 3) Because of His tremendous love, God made a way for sinners to be righteous.

Jesus said,  “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Mark 2:17

And Paul who called himself the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), wrote…

“This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 1:17

He also wrote the following to the Galatians…

For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.

Galatians 5:4–5

So, no matter how hard we try or what the world tells us, it’s impossible for us to be righteous without repentance and faith. It’s funny in a way. We can knock ourselves out trying to be perfect and still never be righteous without Jesus.

The righteousness we need for salvation is only available through God making the impossible possible!

[The disciples asked,] “Then who in the world can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Matthew 19:25–26

Through Jesus and the power of the Spirit, we can come to the Lord in repentance and faith. and surrender to God’s grace, mercy, and love.

And then, because of His unfailing love, God makes the impossible possible. He takes our humble forgiven hearts and declares them righteous making us part of His family.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer to Surrender in Faith and Be Righteous

Father God, You are righteous. Everything about You is right, pure, and holy. If You declare it—it is so! You are I AM, Savior, and Comforter. You are everything we need today, tomorrow, and forever.

You promise that when we SEEK You and Your Kingdom, You will give us everything we need. And what we need most is Your love and forgiveness offered through Jesus. We need to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST You through Him.

You promise that Your love is unfailing and everlasting. You promise that when we repent You will remove our sins completely —as far as the East is from the West. Through Jesus, You declare righteous all who humbly come to You in faith.

So, I ask for Your forgiveness and surrender my all to Your grace, mercy, and love. I give myself to Your care asking You to guide me and give me everything I need to follow Your perfect will. And I faithfully pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Here are a couple of quotes about being righteous…

 “Christ took our sins and the sins of the whole world as well as the Father’s wrath on his shoulders, and He has drowned them both in Himself so that we are thereby reconciled to God and become completely righteous.” ~ Martin Luther

“We’re not righteous within ourselves; we’re righteous through Jesus Christ. I cannot be sanctified within myself; I am sanctified through Jesus Christ Who stands in the Presence of God in my place. It isn’t my holiness; it’s His holiness. My holiness won’t work at all, but His does.” ~ William Marrion Branham

By God’s grace, He not only declares us righteous through faith and forgiveness but He also works within us to transform us and give us the desire to live righteously … glorifying Him through our love and obedience.

May you be blessed by the righteous love of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

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