How to Be Righteous

Righteousness – it’s one of the main focuses of the Christian life, and many people are constantly striving towards the goal of being righteous; or being more righteous. There are entire books, study guides and conferences all centered around living righteously, and learning how to be more righteous.

There are countless numbers of Christians today who are on a quest to “better themselves”, to be more righteous, and be more like God and please Him. I used to be one of those people, as well. I know exactly how it feels, and it seems right; it seems like a very good thing. You may even be asking right now “why wouldn’t that be a good thing?! We need more righteous people, who want to please God!”

And I do agree that it is a very good thing for people to be righteous, and of course to please God – we all want that. However, the question isn’t really whether that’s a good thing or not; but rather how do we accomplish it?

You see, no-one is questioning the importance of being righteous, but rather where we diverge is how to be righteous. Because when you ask this question, most people immediately jump to their own works and performance, and what they need to do for God.

So today, we will be examining what the scriptures actually say about how to be righteous; and the answer may surprise you!

As we begin, to answer a question such as this, we must first know what “righteousness” actually means. Have you ever thought about it? In Christian groups, and churches and books, we use the words “righteous” and “righteousness”, but has the word ever been clearly defined?

This is not quite as easy as looking up the word “righteous” in an English dictionary, because the English word “righteous” has changed in meaning over time, and several slang definitions have clouded things even further.

What we can (and should) do for this topic is look at how the scriptures themselves define righteousness – and by doing so we can find our first answer. So let’s take a look at Romans 4:3-11:

“For what said the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Comes this blessedness then on the circumcision only, or on the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed to them also.”

Examining verses six through eight, we can see that righteousness is described quite clearly as coming apart from works. This is the first key point for us to see, because there are still many (as I mentioned in the opening) who believe that they must work for their righteousness, and improve their behaviors to earn their own righteousness, when in-fact that methodology is the reverse of what the scriptures teach.

We can also notice that righteousness is defined in verses seven and eight as having your iniquities forgiven, and sins no longer imputed. And here also is something that a great number of people have difficulty actually believing.

In truth I have spoken with many people (and was one myself, in the past) who did not believe what this verse says. I did not actually believe that God wasn’t imputing my sins to me – but just as with the people that I speak to today, I really believed that God was imputing my sins to me, and then I had to “offset” that imputation with the appropriate act of repentance, or suffer enough to earn my righteousness back again. And you might be surprised how many Christians hold to that same belief today, secretly in their hearts, even though they outwardly profess Grace. Many church-buildings even believe this same way, and teach it from their pulpits.

My friend, if that describes you today, I’m here to encourage you to embrace the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! You are righteous, as a free gift of God!

This is the truth. Righteousness is not something you earn, or work towards, or gradually build-up. This is why these verses that we read here, are actually referencing an earlier event in the scriptures, because they are making a point on how righteousness comes – how to actually be righteous!

Notice in verse three of our text, that it says Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. This is a reference way back to Genesis chapter 15, and it can plainly show us how to be righteous – and as a side-note this is the very first time that righteousness is ever mentioned in the scriptures!

So let’s now take a look at the reference in Genesis 15:6, where we can read this regarding Abram:

“And he believed in the LORD; and the LORD counted it to him for righteousness.”

And one thing we can immediately see here is that Abram (the “he” in this verse) believed in the LORD, and that his belief in the LORD was counted to him for righteousness.

So just as with the verses we read prior, we can see that righteousness, does not come by our strength, effort, force-of-will, or behavioral performance; but righteousness comes by our belief in the LORD.

Now question: do you honestly believe that?

Or do you believe as I described earlier, like many who profess the grace of God, but secretly are trusting in their own works.

It’s okay to admit that – because it is better to take an honest look at this now, than to continue on slowly being destroyed by the religious mentality that holds people in chains against the truth of God’s Grace. I know that’s a bit raw, but it is intended to be in order to open your eyes to the marvelous reality of the Gospel and how good God really is, and what Jesus truly accomplished on that cross.

You may be thinking: well that was Abraham, he was a great man of God!

Not back in Genesis 15!

In Genesis 15, he hadn’t done anything noteworthy yet! He wasn’t circumcised! He didn’t have full confidence in God, and he didn’t even have a son yet – let alone sacrifice him! This was actually part of the argument made in the verses of Romans chapter 4 that we read earlier! Righteousness apart from your works! Righteous as a gift of God’s unmerited favor and grace!

My dear friend, the scriptures make it clear… the way to be righteous, is to stop “trying to be” and simply “be”.

You are righteous – not because you earned it, but because God has given you righteousness as a gift.

That is the biblical reality.

Let go of the religious, merit-mentality, and receive the real good news, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be blessed.