RIGHTEOUSNESS DEFINED
Like Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Immutable, Holy, Sovereign, Merciful, Eternal, and Love, Righteousness is an attribute of God. Psalm 145:17 says, "The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The phrase, "the Lord is righteous" is also found in Exodus 9:27; 2 Chronicles 12:6; Psalm 129:4; Lamentations 1:18; and God is declared to be righteous in Daniel 9:14; 1 John 2:29; and 1 John 3:7.
Righteousness may be defined as "always doing what is both moral and just." It is the state of being in harmony with the nature and will of God. In other words, it is the state of perfection.
MAN'S PROBLEM
The Bible declares that human beings are far from being righteous:
Psalm 14:1-3 - The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one.
Isaiah 64:6-7 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none who calls upon Your name, that stirs up himself to take hold of You: for You have hidden Your face from us, and have consumed us, because of our iniquities.
Romans 3:10-12, 23 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. . . . all have sinned, and come short of the glory of (the righteousness of) God....
GOD'S SOLUTION
John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through (faith in) Him might be saved.
1 Corinthians 15:1-6 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved . . . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that He was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve: after that, He was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present (time), but some are fallen asleep (some have died).
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 - Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you (plead with you) by us: we pray you, in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God. For He has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God (by faith) in Him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace (God's unearnable favor) are you saved (from the guilt of your sins and God's certain judgment) through faith; and that not of yourselves (salvation is not of your own doing): it is the gift of God: not of (religious) works, lest any (so that no) man should boast.
TRUST IN GOD'S LOVE AND ACCEPT
JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR!
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