What Does the Bible Say About Righteousness?

Righteousness means living rightly and holily before God, and is the opposite of ungodliness, i.e., living wrongly and sinfully before God. The only one who is fully righteous is God himself, and we humans need to learn from Jesus how to live righteously. However, it is impossible for a person to live completely righteously because we are tempted by sin and are not able to live fully holy. The only person who has lived 100% righteously is Jesus Christ. Because God allowed Jesus, who had never sinned, to take the punishment for the sins of all people, we humans, who have all sinned, are offered the righteousness of Jesus. We become righteous before God by believing in Jesus and confessing him as Lord and Savior, and are progressively justified as the Holy Spirit sanctifies us so that we become more and more like Jesus, the perfect image of God. The righteous Jesus was made sin which led to us sinful people being made righteous.

Bible Verses

“¹³⁷Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules.” (Ps 119:137)

“¹⁰as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;” (Ro 3:10)

“²⁰For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. ²¹But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:” (Ro 3:20–22)

“²¹For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Co 5:21)

“³⁸Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” (Ac 13:38–39)

“¹⁸Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Ro 5:18–19)

“²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Pe 2:24)

“¹⁷For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”” (Ro 1:17)

“¹Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ro 5:1)

“¹⁹For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Ro 5:19)

“¹⁶Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (Jas 5:16)

“¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:10)

“¹⁴But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,” (1 Pe 3:14)

Study Questions

1. What does it mean to be righteous?
   1. Can a man make himself righteous?
   1. How does you become righteous?
   1. How do you live a righteous life?
   1. Why do some suffer for the sake of righteousness?

Additional Bible Verses

Gen 15:6, Matt 23:28, Rom 6:13, Rom 6:16-20, Rom 14:17, Gal 3:6-12, Phil 3:8-9, Rom 8:10, Hab 2:4, Rom 3:27-28, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 2:29, Rom 10:4, Eph 4:24, Rom 8:3-4, Heb 11:6, Isa 53:5, John 8:46, Gal 3:13, Pr 10:16