What Righteousness Means
Our Divine Identity
There is no word in the Bible or theology more misunderstood than righteousness—yet wrapped within it is everything for which humanity has longed. Across history, people have sought righteousness through religion, philosophy, and self-discipline. But what if righteousness is not something to be attained through human effort, but something already restored to us through Christ?
Righteousness Restores What Was Lost
From the moment of the fall, humanity lost its standing before God. Sin introduced guilt, fear, and a sense of separation that drove people to seek countless ways to restore what was lost. Pagan rituals, religious traditions, and even modern philosophical movements all stem from this deep longing. Yet, the answer has always been found in Christ.
Through Jesus’ finished work, we are not just forgiven—we are made righteous. This righteousness is not a distant hope or a theological concept, but a reality that changes everything about our relationship with God.
What Righteousness Gives Us in Christ
1. Boldness in God’s Presence
Righteousness removes sin consciousness and restores our confidence before God. Many believers struggle with feelings of guilt and inferiority, but righteousness erases these barriers. We now have the same standing before the Father that Jesus had.
Jesus walked with fearless confidence, unshaken by Satan, nature, sickness, or even death itself. Why? Because He knew His righteousness. When He spoke to the storm, commanded the sick to be healed, or raised Lazarus from the dead, He did so with the boldness of one who had perfect standing with the Father.
This same righteousness is ours. We no longer have to approach God timidly, feeling unworthy. Instead, we can come as beloved children, just as Jesus did.
2. Restored Fellowship with the Father
Sin created a barrier between humanity and God, but Jesus restored our fellowship. His righteousness allows us to speak to the Father with the same intimacy and confidence that He did. There is no longer a sense of distance—we are not just saved; we are sons and daughters.
When Jesus prayed, He spoke to God as a child speaks to a loving parent. He never doubted His Father’s love or hesitated to ask for what was needed. This is the kind of relationship we now have through righteousness.
3. A Life of Faith, Not Doubt
A lack of righteousness leads to a lack of faith. Many believers today struggle with faithlessness because they are more conscious of their failures than of God’s righteousness in them.
But righteousness restores our faith. When we truly grasp that we have been made right with God, faith becomes natural. We no longer rely on human reasoning or demand physical proof like Thomas, who needed to see Jesus’ wounds. Instead, we believe because we know our standing.
Jesus did not struggle to believe—He simply knew. And we, as the righteousness of God in Christ, can walk in that same assurance.
4. Perfect Peace and Freedom
Isaiah 57:20-21 describes the wicked as restless, like the troubled sea, always stirring up mire and dirt. This describes the world today—filled with anxiety, fear, and a lack of peace. But righteousness restores our peace.
When we know that we are right with God, fear and uncertainty disappear. No more anxiety about the future. No more fear of judgment. No more worry about provision.
Jesus had no sense of lack—when He needed to pay the temple tax, He confidently told Peter to catch a fish, knowing the money would be inside. He fed thousands with a few loaves and fish because He wasn’t conscious of limitations—only of His Father’s abundance.
This same peace is ours in Christ. We are no longer slaves to fear, sin, or circumstances. We are free.
5. The Joy of Sonship
Righteousness is not just about being forgiven—it is about being restored to sonship. We are no longer sinners struggling to earn God’s favor. We are sons and daughters, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
This means we can live with joy, confidence, and authority. We don’t approach God as beggars but as beloved children. We don’t fear His judgment but rejoice in His love. We don’t walk in weakness but in divine strength and purpose.
Step Into Your Righteousness Today
Righteousness is not about striving—it is about receiving. If you have placed your faith in Jesus, you are already righteous. You don’t have to live in guilt, fear, or spiritual defeat. You have been given everything Christ has—boldness, peace, faith, freedom, and sonship.
It’s time to embrace who you are. Stand boldly before God. Walk in faith. Live in peace. You are the righteousness of God in Christ—now and forever.