The concept of the righteousness of God is central to Christian theology and is intricately linked to the believer's assurance of salvation and eternal life. The righteousness of God refers to His perfect moral nature, His justice, and His faithfulness to His promises. For the saints, or believers, this righteousness is not only a divine attribute to be revered but also a source of profound confidence and hope.

Biblical Foundation

The righteousness of God is revealed throughout Scripture as both a standard of holiness and a gift imparted to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. In Romans 1:17 , the Apostle Paul declares, "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.'" This righteousness is not earned by human effort but is granted through faith, leading to a transformed life and the assurance of eternal fellowship with God.

Confidence in Beholding God's Righteousness

The saints' confidence in beholding the righteousness of God is rooted in the promises of Scripture and the work of Christ. In Psalm 17:15 , David expresses this assurance: "As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with Your presence." This verse reflects the deep-seated hope and expectation of the believer to one day stand in the presence of God, fully enveloped in His righteousness.

The New Testament further affirms this confidence. In 1 John 3:2 , the apostle John writes, "Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is." This passage underscores the transformative power of God's righteousness, which not only justifies but also sanctifies the believer, preparing them for the ultimate vision of God.

The Role of Faith

Faith is the means by which believers apprehend the righteousness of God and the assurance of beholding Him. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This faith is not a blind leap but a confident trust in the character and promises of God, who is faithful to fulfill His word.

The Work of Christ

The confidence of the saints is anchored in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ has made a way for believers to be reconciled to God and to partake in His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, "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 divine exchange assures believers of their standing before God and their future hope of seeing Him face to face.

Living in Light of God's Righteousness

The assurance of beholding God's righteousness compels believers to live lives that reflect His holiness. Philippians 1:11 encourages believers to be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." This pursuit of righteousness is not a means to earn God's favor but a response to the grace already received, a demonstration of the transformative power of God's righteousness at work within them.

In summary, the righteousness of God is both a divine attribute and a gift to the saints, providing them with the confidence of beholding Him in glory. Through faith in Christ, believers are assured of their righteous standing before God and are called to live in a manner worthy of this high calling, eagerly anticipating the day when they will see Him as He is.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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Justification by Faith --Illustrated by Abram's Righteousness
... 4:5). To believe not in the Saviour of saints, but in ... let us seek more and more of
it, and God shall have ... his faith was counted to him for righteousness, it is ...
/.../justification by faithillustrated by abrams.htm

The Two Awakings
... solaced his heart with the confident expectation of ... Such souls are our saints and
prophets, but ... manifestation of the retributive energy of God's righteousness. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the two awakings.htm

Justification by an Imputed Righteousness;
... The righteousness of the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, imputed to his members ...
of God, justified, while they were, in the esteem of God's saints, in a state ...
/.../justification by an imputed righteousness.htm

Blessed Trust
... that we travel is the way on which all the saints from the ... to the old message that
nothing knits a man to God but faith with its child, righteousness. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/blessed trust.htm

Satan's Devices
... which is by faith in Christ, the righteousness which is ... to come," you will not murmur
against God, because you ... meet for the inheritance of the saints in light ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 42 satans devices.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... my name," saith he, "shall the Sun of righteousness arise with ... his servants the prophets,
and to his saints, "and to ... Now, I say, since the name of God is that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm

Written from Rome
... be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light ... being filled with the fruits
of righteousness, which are ... We are in danger of forgetting God, of looking ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 45 written from rome.htm

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
... of the Lord, which is uniformly attributed to all the saints, and which ... to every
one that believeth;" that "therein is the righteousness of God revealed from ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 of faith the.htm

The Epistle of Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria to Alexander ...
... the Psalms of Christ, Thou hast loved righteousness and hated ... patriarchs and apostles,
and of all saints, Lord: and ... the only-begotten Son of God, begotten not ...
/.../chapter iii the epistle of alexander.htm

The Truth.
... of God not yet revealed, the inheritance of the saints in light ... to the truth, the
being of God, his origin ... to be true, and that will being righteousness and love ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the truth.htm

What does it mean to pursue righteousness? | GotQuestions.org

What are the weapons of righteousness in 2 Corinthians 6:7? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about self-righteousness? | GotQuestions.org

Righteousness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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