WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RIGHTEOUS?

Religious jargon often hinders one's attempt to reach someone with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Take for instance the use of this passage to explain how one can be saved:

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:9-13).

There are at least five words which may not be clearly understood by the person to whom one is witnessing for Christ: "confess," "Lord," "saved," "righteousness," "scripture," etc. Here, "confess" means to "declare or proclaim." "Lord" means "Master or the One to whom you submit yourself." "Saved" means "rescued from eternal damnation for one's sin." And "scripture" refers to the Holy Bible; other writings, sometimes called "scripture" by cults or other religions, are rejected as such by mainline Christianity.

The root of the word, "righteousness," in the Greek is δικαιοσ (dikaios), and it means "just or one meeting with judicial approval." All religions believe that man is sinful and in need of becoming righteous in order to be acceptable with God. The method of achieving a righteous standing with God is the main difference between religion and genuine Christianity. All religions, including false "Christian churches," teach that man can become righteous by doing good works, and by avoiding their specific list of sins. Genuine Christianity teaches that one becomes righteous by believing in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. The passage above states "man believeth unto righteousness." In other words, a man is not made righteous, acceptable to God, by being "religious," but by simply believing that Jesus died to pay for his sins, that Jesus was buried to prove He was dead, and that God, His Father, raised Him from the dead to reign over those who would put their trust in Him (1 Cor. 15:1-26).

The word "righteous," in some form, appears forty-three times in Romans. We learn that no man is righteous (Rom. 3:10); righteousness is by faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:22); Abraham's was considered righteous because of his faith (Rom. 4:3); and that righteousness is a "free gift" (Rom. 5:15-18; also Eph. 2:8-9).

Being considered righteous by God takes work;
thank God, Jesus has done that work!