Righteousness in the Bible:
A Complete Biblical Study of God’s Standard from Genesis to Revelation
In You, O Yahweh, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; save me by Your righteousness.
Righteousness is one of the most essential themes in Scripture, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood—especially within the modern church. Many Christians speak of righteousness but define it according to tradition, denominational language, or popular doctrines rather than the testimony of Scripture itself. As a result, concepts such as “imputed righteousness” or being “clothed” in righteousness are often interpreted in ways that detach righteousness from obedience, justice, and holy living—creating confusion about what God actually requires.
The Bible, however, consistently defines righteousness as right action according to God—living in alignment with His commands, His character, and His judgments. It is the opposite of sin, and it is inseparable from justice. In Hebrew, tsedeq (צֶדֶק) and tsedaqah (צְדָקָה), and in Greek, dikaiosuné (δικαιοσύνη), all speak not merely of a status but of a way of life that reflects God’s will.
This study seeks to clear away the confusion by examining righteousness directly from Scripture. Its purpose is to show, through the consistent witness of the Old and New Testaments, what God Himself calls righteousness—and why understanding it rightly is central to salvation.
Table of Contents
Imputed Righteousness: A Biblical Perspective
A Biblical Summary
“Imputed righteousness” is often taught as Christ’s personal obedience being transferred to believers so that God sees Christ instead of their actual lives. Scripture never teaches this. The Bible does speak of righteousness being “credited” or “counted,” but always in the sense of faith being counted as righteousness, not Christ’s righteousness replacing ours, and not a “cloak” that hides our sin.
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Genesis 18:19 – God affirms Abraham because he will lead his household to keep the way of Yahweh by doing righteousness and justice.
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James 2:17–24 – Abraham’s faith was completed by his actions, his living faith was counted as righteousness.
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1 John 3:7–10 – The one who practices righteousness is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil.
Abraham’s example shows that faith and action belong together. Paul’s teaching in Romans 4 highlights trust in God’s promises, not the transfer of Christ’s moral record. And passages often used to support imputed righteousness actually speak of faith, forgiveness, and transformation, not substitutionary obedience.
Key Scriptures
“Abram believed Yahweh, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Context: Abraham’s faith is recognized by God, but it is paired with obedience (see Genesis 18:18–19). Faith and works are intertwined, not separated.
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Romans 4:3 (cross-reference to Genesis 15:6)
“For what does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’”
Context: Paul reiterates Genesis 15:6, emphasizing faith in God. He is not introducing a new kind of legal transfer of Christ’s obedience. Abraham’s faith always produced action.
“David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.”
Context: Quoting Psalm 32, Paul highlights the blessedness of God’s mercy and forgiveness. “Apart from works” means apart from self-earned righteousness, not apart from obedience or living faith.
“…for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.”
Context: Righteousness is credited to believers who place their trust in God, demonstrated through faith in action.
“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Context: This verse is often cited to suggest a “legal transfer,” but the New Testament consistently shows that becoming righteous involves being born of God and practicing righteousness (1 John 2:29; 3:7–10).
Scripture teaches the crediting of faith, not the transfer of Christ’s righteousness. The righteousness God counts is living faith expressed through obedience.
Concept of Righteousness in the Old Testament
I, Yahweh, speak the truth; I say what is right.
The Old Testament gives the foundation for understanding biblical righteousness. Unlike cultural or religious ideas that define righteousness by human standards, Scripture consistently ties righteousness to God’s own character, His commands, and His expectations for justice, integrity, and faithful obedience. These passages reveal what God considers righteous—and what He condemns as unrighteous.
Righteousness is:
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Trusting Yahweh
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Observing Yahweh’s commandments
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Honesty and fair judgement
Examples of unrighteousness:
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Showing partiality to the poor or favouritism to the rich
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Excepting a bribe
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Doing wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow
6 Abram believed Yahweh, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yahweh by doing what is right and just, in order that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
16 At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. 17 Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God…
24 And Yahweh commanded us to observe all these statutes and to fear Yahweh our God, that we may always be prosperous and preserved, as we are to this day. 25 And if we are careful to observe every one of these commandments before Yahweh our God, as He has commanded us, then that will be our righteousness.”
18 You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that Yahweh your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 20 Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that Yahweh your God is giving you.
10 When you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to collect security. 11 You are to stand outside while the man to whom you are lending brings the security out to you. 12 If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession; 13 be sure to return it to him by sunset, so that he may sleep in his own cloak and bless you, and this will be credited to you as righteousness before Yahweh your God.
3 This is what Yahweh says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.
Principles:
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The one who practices righteousness may abide in Yahweh’s tent
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The one who practices righteousness at all times is blessed
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Righteousness brings deliverance from death and hunger
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The one who sows righteousness reaps true reward
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Genuine righteousness leads to life
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The righteous hate falsehood
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Righteousness guards the man of integrity
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Righteousness exalts a nation
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The righteous are satisfied with little
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Righteous and honest lips are beloved by kings
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Righteousness and justice is better than sacrifice
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One man’s righteousness does not deliver another man
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A man is righteous as long as he practices righteousness
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Past righteousness does not deliver from present sin
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The fruit of righteousness is loving devotion
1 O Yahweh, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? 2 He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, 3 who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend, 4 who despises the vile but honors those who fear Yahweh, who does not revise a costly oath, 5 who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
3 Blessed are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times.
2 Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. 3 Yahweh does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked.
18 The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward. 19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
5 The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace. 6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
12 And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 13 “Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast, 14 then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord Yahweh.
12 Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’ 13 If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but he then trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteous works will be remembered; he will die because of the iniquity he has committed. 14 But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right— 15 if he restores a pledge, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without practicing iniquity—then he will surely live; he will not die. 16 None of the sins he has committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek Yahweh until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
Warnings to the Unrighteous
22 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing strong drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
9 My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. 10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of Yahweh.
5 You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? 6 Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. 7 No one calls on Your name or strives to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
In this verse the “righteous acts” are only righteous in the eyes of the people who actually live in iniquity or sin, as we can see from the context.
Amos 5:21-24 (Genesis 4:7, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 5:24)
21 “I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Here you can see a picture of hypocricy which God hates, people living is sin pretending to be righteous.
Amos 6:12-13
12 “Do horses gallop on the cliffs? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—13 you who rejoice in Lo-debar and say, ‘Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?’
Alongside the blessings promised to the righteous, the Old Testament issues severe warnings to those who reject God’s standards. These passages show that unrighteousness provokes God’s anger, corrupts worship, and destroys both individuals and nations. God makes clear that religious activity without obedience is hypocrisy, and judgment comes upon those who distort justice or refuse repentance.
Principles of Righteousness in the Old Testament
The Old Testament does not merely define righteousness—it shows the patterns, outcomes, and principles that consistently accompany it. These verses demonstrate what righteousness produces in a person’s life, how God responds to it, and why it is essential for covenant faithfulness. They also clarify that righteousness is something practiced, lived out, and maintained—not an abstract status.
Promise of the Coming Righteousness of God
The prophets look forward to a future work of God in which righteousness will be restored, revealed, and established through the Messiah. These passages point to the coming age when God’s justice, salvation, and righteous rule will transform His people and the nations. Righteousness is not merely an ancient command—it is a central part of God’s redemptive plan.
26 I will restore your judges as at first, and your counsellors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” 27 Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness. 28 But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake Yahweh will perish.
1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of Yahweh will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh. 3 And He will delight in the fear of Yahweh. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, 4 but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. 5 Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.
5 …in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness.
5 Yahweh is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
8 Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, Yahweh, have created it.
5 My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail. 7 Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults. 8 For the moth will devour them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, My salvation through all generations.”
1 This is what Yahweh says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
15 Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. Yahweh looked and was displeased that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him. 17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
10 I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables seed to spring up, so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still, until her righteousness shines like a bright light, her salvation like a blazing torch. 2 Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of Yahweh will bestow.
5 Behold, the days are coming, declares Yahweh, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: Yahweh Our Righteousness.
24 Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
3 Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of Yahweh’s anger.
Concept of Righteousness in the New Testament
With the coming of Jesus and the New Covenant, the concept of righteousness continues from the Old Testament but gains new dimensions. Here, righteousness is not only about obeying the law but is closely tied to faith, love, and living in accordance with God’s will. In this section, we focus on the gospels, Acts, and the writings of apostles to see how righteousness is described in practice.
Righteousness:
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Is fulfilled by keeping God’s commands
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Is an action you perform
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Is a measure we’ll be judged with
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Is sown in peace
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Is opposite of sin
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Is practiced by the one who has been born of God
Matthew 3:13-15 (Exodus 40:12, Numbers 8:6)
13 At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
1 “Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
29 If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. 8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. 8 She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
11 Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.” 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Principles of Righteousness in Paul's Letters
Paul’s letters bring further clarity to the understanding of righteousness in the New Covenant. While the Old Testament emphasized obedience to God’s law, Paul emphasizes that righteousness comes through faith in Christ and the transformative work of the Spirit. This section will show how faith, grace, and love intersect with righteous living, illustrating that true righteousness is both a gift and a way of life.
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Righteousness comes by faith in Jesus
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Righteousness of God is revealed apart from the law
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The faith of the one who believes in Jesus is credited without work as righteousness
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Righteousness is a gift through Jesus Christ
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Through obedience of Christ many will be made righteous
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In Christ your body should be an instrument of righteousness
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Freedom from sin leads to being a worker of righteousness which leads to holiness
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In Christ your spirit is alive because of righteousness
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Righteousness has to be pursued in faith
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God’s righteousness is different from men’s righteousness
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The kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness
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Christ is our righteousness
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In Christ we become the righteousness of God
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Righteousness should not fellowship with wickedness
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Righteousness does not come through the law
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The foundation of righteousness is faith expressed through love
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All scripture is useful for training in righteousness
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Discipline leads to righteousness
17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 3:21-26 ( Philippians 3:1–11 )
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Him as the atoning sacrificei through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. 26 He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” 9 Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
23 Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, 24 but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
13 Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
30 What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. 3 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus— 22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
Here Paul gives us an example of what self-righteousness looks like.
11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
22 Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
8 From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
13 For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
FAQ on Biblical Righteousness
1. What is biblical righteousness?
Biblical righteousness is living in alignment with God’s commands, turning away from sin, and doing what is just, right, and true according to His standards. It combines right belief, right action, and a transformed heart empowered by God.
2. Is righteousness the same as being a “good person”?
No. Scripture does not define righteousness by human morality or cultural standards. Righteousness is measured only by obedience to God’s revealed will and His definition of what is right (Psalm 119:172; 1 John 3:7–10).
3. What does it mean that righteousness is “credited” by faith?
“Credited righteousness” means God recognizes faith as genuine when it produces trust, loyalty, and obedience. This phrase does not teach automatic righteousness without repentance or transformation—it affirms that true faith is accepted by God and results in a righteous life (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4).
4. Does the Bible teach “imputed righteousness”?
The Bible uses terms like “credited” or “counted,” but it does not teach that righteousness is merely transferred to a person while they continue in sin. Scripture consistently shows that believers become righteous by obeying God and living by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:29).
5. Does God see Christ instead of my sin?
No. Scripture never says God is “blind” to a believer’s behavior. Instead, God forgives sin, cleanses us, and expects us to walk in righteousness. The idea of a “righteousness cloak” that hides ongoing sin is not found anywhere in the Bible (1 John 1:7; 3:7–10).
6. Can someone be righteous without obeying God?
No. Righteousness is defined by obedience to God’s commandments. Faith without obedience is considered dead, empty, or false (James 2:14–26). True righteousness is both inward (heart) and outward (actions).
7. What is the difference between righteousness and holiness?
Righteousness focuses on doing what is right according to God; holiness focuses on being set apart unto God. They overlap—holiness is the condition, righteousness is the conduct that flows from it.
8. How does a believer grow in righteousness?
A believer grows in righteousness by:
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obeying God’s Word
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walking in the Spirit
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resisting sin
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practicing justice, mercy, and integrity
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living out the teachings of Jesus
(see Romans 6; Galatians 5:16–25)
9. What is the righteousness Jesus taught about?
Jesus taught a practical, lived righteousness—a righteousness of the heart that results in right actions, truthfulness, mercy, purity, and obedience to God’s commands (Matthew 5–7).
10. Will righteousness matter at final judgment?
Yes. Scripture states clearly that God will judge everyone according to their works—whether they practiced righteousness or continued in sin (Romans 2:6–10; Revelation 20:12–13). Righteousness is essential for entering the Kingdom of God.
Conclusion
Scripture speaks with one voice: righteousness is not a passive status but a lived reality produced by faith that responds to God’s commands. Though righteousness is “credited” to believers, it is never separated from turning away from sin and doing what is right. God does not hide sin beneath a cloak—He cleanses it, renews the heart, and empowers His people to live in holiness, justice, and truth.
From Abraham and David to Jesus and the apostles, the pattern is consistent: genuine faith results in concrete actions—keeping God’s ways, practicing righteousness, loving others, and walking uprightly. This is the righteousness of the Kingdom: it begins with faith, is demonstrated in a life that aligns with God’s will, and is perfected as we continue in the light.
True biblical righteousness is not merely accounted to us; it is formed in us by God. This is the faith of Abraham, the teaching of Christ, and the promise of the new covenant.