The righteousness of God is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting His perfect moral nature and His commitment to justice and truth. God's righteousness is intrinsic to His character, meaning it is an essential and unchanging aspect of who He is. This righteousness is not only a standard by which He judges the world but also a gift He imparts to believers through faith.

Old Testament Understanding

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for righteousness, "tsedeq," often appears in the context of God's covenantal relationship with His people. God's righteousness is demonstrated in His faithfulness to His promises and His just dealings with humanity. Psalm 11:7 states, "For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face." Here, God's righteousness is linked to His love for justice and His desire for His people to live uprightly.

The prophet Isaiah frequently speaks of God's righteousness, emphasizing its role in salvation and deliverance. Isaiah 51:5 declares, "My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations." This passage highlights the connection between God's righteousness and His redemptive work, portraying His righteousness as an active force that brings about salvation.

New Testament Revelation

In the New Testament, the concept of God's righteousness is further developed, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. Romans 1:17 states, "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.'" Here, Paul introduces the idea that God's righteousness is revealed through the gospel and is accessible to believers through faith in Jesus Christ.

The righteousness of God is also a key theme in the doctrine of justification. Romans 3:21-22 explains, "But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." This passage underscores the transformative nature of God's righteousness, which is imputed to believers, allowing them to stand justified before Him.

God's Righteousness and Justice

God's righteousness is inseparable from His justice. Throughout Scripture, God's righteous character is portrayed as the foundation of His judgments. Psalm 9:8 affirms, "He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity." God's judgments are always fair and impartial, reflecting His unwavering commitment to righteousness.

The righteousness of God also serves as a moral compass for His people. Believers are called to emulate God's righteousness in their own lives, striving to live in a manner that reflects His holy character. 1 John 3:7 exhorts, "Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous."

Righteousness as a Gift

The New Testament reveals that God's righteousness is not only a standard but also a gift bestowed upon believers. Through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers are granted the righteousness of God, enabling them to enter into a right relationship with Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

This imputed righteousness is a cornerstone of Christian faith, providing assurance of salvation and empowering believers to live lives that honor God. Philippians 3:9 expresses this truth: "And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God on the basis of faith."

In summary, the righteousness of God is a profound and multifaceted attribute that encompasses His moral perfection, His just governance, and His gracious gift of salvation to humanity. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are invited to partake in this divine righteousness, transforming their lives and securing their eternal standing before God.Judges 5:11
They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.
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Ezra 9:15
O LORD God of Israel, you are righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before you in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before you because of this.
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Job 36:3
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
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Psalm 5:8
Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before my face.
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Psalm 7:9
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God tries the hearts and reins.
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Psalm 48:10
According to your name, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth: your right hand is full of righteousness.
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Psalm 50:6
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
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Psalm 71:15,19
My mouth shall show forth your righteousness and your salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
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Psalm 72:1
Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.
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Psalm 88:12
Shall your wonders be known in the dark? and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
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Psalm 89:16
In your name shall they rejoice all the day: and in your righteousness shall they be exalted.
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Psalm 97:2
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
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Psalm 111:3
His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endures for ever.
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Psalm 112:4
To the upright there rises light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
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Psalm 116:5
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful.
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Psalm 119:40,137,142,144,172
Behold, I have longed after your precepts: quicken me in your righteousness.
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Psalm 143:1
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in your faithfulness answer me, and in your righteousness.
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Psalm 145:7,17
They shall abundantly utter the memory of your great goodness, and shall sing of your righteousness.
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Isaiah 41:10
Fear you not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
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Isaiah 51:8
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
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Isaiah 56:1
Thus said the LORD, Keep you judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
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Jeremiah 4:2
And you shall swear, The LORD lives, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
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Jeremiah 9:24
But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, said the LORD.
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Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous are you, O LORD, when I plead with you: yet let me talk with you of your judgments: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
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Lamentations 3:34,36
To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
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Daniel 9:7
O LORD, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you.
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Hosea 14:9
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
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Micah 7:9
I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
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Matthew 6:33
But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
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John 17:25
O righteous Father, the world has not known you: but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me.
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Acts 17:31
Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.
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Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
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Romans 3:4-6,21,22
God forbid: yes, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged.
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Romans 9:14
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
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Romans 10:3,4
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.
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2 Timothy 4:8
From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing.
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1 Peter 2:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:
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2 Peter 1:1
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:
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1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I to you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
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Revelation 16:5
And I heard the angel of the waters say, You are righteous, O Lord, which are, and were, and shall be, because you have judged thus.
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1343. dikaiosune -- righteousness, justice
... justness, righteousness Definition: (usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere),
justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1343.htm - 7k

1345. dikaioma -- an ordinance, a sentence of acquittal or ...
... literally, "a judicially-approved act") -- properly, an act God , focusing on its ""
(Zodhiates, , note the ending); justification (righteousness), with its ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1345.htm - 8k

2315. theopneustos -- God-breathed, ie inspired by God
... 2315 ) relates directly to God's (Gk ) which ... singular) is (2315 ) and profitable
for teaching, for convincing, for correction, for training in righteousness.". ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2315.htm - 8k

4266. proginomai -- to happen before
... This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He
passed over the sins (4266 ); 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4266.htm - 7k

1342. dikaios -- correct, righteous, by impl. innocent
... For more on the root-idea see the cognate noun, 1343 ("righteousness").]. 1342
("righteous, just") describes what is in conformity to God's own being (His will ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1342.htm - 8k

4976. schema -- figure, shape
... even original sin). [2 Cor 5:21: "He made Him , so that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him" ().]. Word Origin from echo ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4976.htm - 7k

1344. dikaioo -- to show to be righteous, declare righteous
... I make righteous, defend the cause of, plead for the righteousness (innocence) of ...
Moreover, they are (1344 , "made right, righteous") by God's grace each time ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1344.htm - 9k

Who May be Said to Wish to Establish their Own Righteousness. " ...
... XII.]"Who May Be Said to Wish to Establish Their Own Righteousness.
"God's Righteousness," So Called, Which Man Has from God. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 xii who may be.htm

The Occasion of Publishing this Work; what God's Righteousness Is.
... A Treatise on nature and grace, against pelagius; Chapter 1 [I.]"The Occasion
of Publishing This Work; What God's Righteousness is. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 1 i the occasion of.htm

Righteousness is the Gift of God.
... said, "not by faith, but as it were by works," [983] he most clearly explained in
the following words: "They, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 50 xxix righteousness is the.htm

The Righteousness of God Manifested by the Law and the Prophets.
... A Treatise on the spirit and the letter, Chapter 15 [IX.]"The Righteousness
of God Manifested by the Law and the Prophets. Here ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 15 ix the righteousness of.htm

God's Goodness and Righteousness Shown in All.
... A Treatise on the gift of perseverance, Chapter 28 [XII.]"God's Goodness
and Righteousness Shown in All. It is therefore settled ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 28 xii gods goodness and.htm

On the Righteousness and Efficacy of the Providence of God
... of injustice, and that no stain of sin can attach to him, on the contrary, that
this efficiency is highly conducive to the commendation of God's righteousness. ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 10 on the righteousness.htm

Christ as Righteousness; as the Demiurge, the Agent of the Good ...
... That Christ is righteousness relatively to us appears clearly from the words: "Who
was made to us of God wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of john/40 christ as righteousness as.htm

The Righteousness which is of God, and the Righteousness which is ...
... A Treatise on the grace of christ, and on original sin, Chapter 14 [XII.]"The
Righteousness Which is of God, and the Righteousness Which is of the Law. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 14 xii the righteousness which.htm

The Kingdom of God and his Righteousness.
... Book II. Chapter XX."The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. "Peace be
to all of you who are prepared to give your right hands ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xx the kingdom of god.htm

On the Righteousness and Efficacy of the Providence of God ...
... of sin is an act of the Providence of God, by which sin is recompensed with the
chastisement that is due to it according to the righteousness of God. ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 9 on the righteousness.htm

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