What is righteousness? Bible questions and answers

 

763. What is righteousness? 

Holiness; a condition of the mind, heart and life conformable to the divine Being and law. 

764. Where do we look for righteousness in its perfection? 

To God. 

765. What is self-righteousness? 

Self-adoration and justification, because of our own real or supposed goodness, not regarding the Word and 

will of God. 

766. What is meant by the righteousness of God? 

When His righteousness is imputed to us by faith it is called the righteousness of God (Romans 1:17) as dis-

tinguished from self-righteousness (Romans 10:3). 

767. What is meant by the righteousness of the law?

 A righteousness based upon instructions commandments and obedience. 

768. What is said of this righteousness? 

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified” (Romans 3:20). 

769. Wherein did the law fall short? 

It was weak through the flesh” (Romans 8:3). 

770. How may we attain the righteousness of God? 

In Christ through faith (Jeremiah 23:6; Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30). 

771. Was the righteousness of the law a failure? 

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the like-

ness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be ful-

filled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:3,4). 

772. What is true of all people to whom the righteousness of God is not imputed? 

“I am carnal sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). 

773. What is the duty of those to whom the righteousness of God is imputed? 

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in 

this present world” (Titus 2:12). 

774. What shall be our verdict where these fruits are lacking? 

That there is no righteousness dwelling within. 

775. May not a person have the righteousness of God dwelling within the soul, and still commit many er-

rors? 

Yes; we are all weak, and prone to error. But there is a difference between a cropping out of imperfections 

while conscientiously performing duty, and carelessly, wantonly, and wilfully walking after the ways of the 

world. 

776. What rule may be universally applied? 

They who have the righteousness of God within the soul will manifest the same in a pious, devoted, godly, 

righteous outward life. 

777. Have we scripture proof for this assertion? 

Yes. Read Matthew 7:13-21. 

778. Is it possible for a man of his own accord to live such a strictly moral life, that God will not cast him 

aside, even though he may never have confessed Christ as his Saviour? 

“All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) 

779. But suppose he goes to the Bible as his guide?“Except your righteousness shall exceed righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter 

into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). 

780. What was wrong with their righteousness? 

There was nothing said against it in point of morals or obedience to law; but it fell short in that there was no 

“Christ our righteousness” in it; to say nothing of the fact that the righteousness of the law did not go far 

enough “in that it was weak through the flesh” Only the righteousness of God is perfect. 

781. What advice should be given to all men? 

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 8:33). 

782. Are there degrees in righteousness? 

There are no degrees in righteousness. But after it dwells within the soul, the body becomes more and more 

conformable to the will of God. This is what Peter calls growing in grace (2 Peter 3:18). 

783. When will we be perfect in righteousness? 

When the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) will have been placed upon our heads.