What is Righteousness?
The Oxford American dictionary defines righteousness as “The quality of being MORALLY right or Justifiable”. But… how does one determine what is morally right or justifiable? For example, What looks straight to you… may look crooked to me, and what looks crooked to me… may look straight to you. And…what looks straight to both of us…. can be crooked in God’s sight! So who is right? Who is wrong?
Romans 3:10-12
“None is righteous, no, not one; ”
Proverbs 14:12 says,
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
Our eyes and heart can deceive us but the gravity of God’s word are always right. Therefore we can only make righteous judgments according to the righteous word of God. The word of God correctly interpreted is our and plumbline for what is right and wrong.
Why is Righteousness is SO Important?
When we fight with the devil it’s important that we have on the ” breastplate of righteousness” ( Ephesians 6:14), When we don’t have righteous attitudes protecting our heart and emotions it gives Satan a place to stab us with fatal lust, greed, and rebellion. When we aren’t righteous we allow cracks in our armor that satan can penetrate. Unrighteousness has been the cause of many failed marriages, jobs loss, and discredit. But, there is a power that comes from purity, and being all in.
” The wicked flee though no one pursues, the righteous are as bold as a lion.”(Proverbs 28:1)
When we are righteous, we allow God’s power to flow through us like streams of pure water, refreshing many and bringing glory to God. But when we are unrighteous we are like a dirty pipe, contaminating what God is trying to do through us.
Jesus is righteousness
“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30
Ultimately when we put our faith in Christ and forgive like Him, then we become righteous. Bitter ways and shame can no longer cloud our thinking because Christ empowers, and makes us righteous.
Conclusion
- No one is righteous, only God’s standard is right.
- Righteousness ensures we don’t have any cracks in our armor. It protects our heart and emotions.
- When we are righteous it allows God’s power to flow strongly through us like water through a clean pipe.
- Trusting in Jesus and forgiving as he has forgiven us makes us righteous.