What does it mean to be righteous? First, it is the foundation of who we are in Christ, and it is not through our own efforts, but it is through our faith in Christ. The righteousness we have is not our own--it is God's own righteousness, bought through the sacrifice of our king, Jesus Christ.
• It is the foundation of our life in Christ—it comes first
o Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before thee.
o Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit;
o Psalm 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD
o Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
o Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
o Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
o Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
o Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
• It comes by faith in Christ, not by works
o Romans 3:22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction;
o Romans 4:5 And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.
o Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness.
o Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness.
• It is the likeness of God (and it is God's righteousness that we have)
o Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
o Hebrews 7:2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
o 1 Corinthians 1:30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption;
o 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• It provides fruit for his kingdom
o Philippians 1:11 filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
o 2 Corinthians 9:10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
o Isaiah 32:16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
o Isaiah 32:17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever.
