And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. 25 Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us. (Deut. 6:24-25, NKJV)

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. (1 John 3:7, NKJV)

The terms righteous and righteousness are used well over 300 times in Scripture, and are translated as doing right, being declared right, and being right, or just. In fact, the Greek word translated righteous could very well be translated just; the context determines which word should be best used in the translation.

The Bible speaks of the righteousness of God. When referring to this, in some contexts, it refers to the righteousness that God Himself possesses. God is right, He will always do what is right and just, and He will never do any wrong. We take comfort in that fact and rejoice in it.

In some contexts, the phrase “righteousness of God” refers to His declaration of justice. When God punishes the evildoer, He is righteous in so doing. When God forgives us of our sin, because of our obedient faith in Jesus Christ, He is still “righteous” or just in so doing, for this is the way He has provided for man to be saved. Jesus’ blood has made it possible for us to be forgiven, and when we trust that for our salvation, God forgives us and formally declares us “not guilty.”

We stress the idea of obedient faith, because it is OBEDIENT FAITH that is the only Biblically true faith. Obedient faith demands that we obey the commands of God in all that we say and do, and this includes being obedient to what God has commanded for us to do to be saved. Hence, when we read and understand that we are to repent (Acts 2:38; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30–31), confess Christ (Romans 10:9–10), be immersed in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) and remain faithful to Christ until death (Revelation 2:10), we do it because we believe in God’s plan to save us, and we do it because we love the Lord.

Righteousness also demands that we do what is right and live according to the precepts and commands of God. In Deuteronomy 6, God tied righteousness for Israel to “observing all these statues, and to fear the Lord our God.” In 1 John 3:7, John says that no one should deceive us, but the one who practices righteousness is righteous. Notice the phrase “practices righteousness.” That demands that we know what God requires of us and practice on a continual basis what is right. We do this because that is what God requires.

Who is righteous? The one forgiven by God because of loving, obedient, confident faith in God in obedience to the commands God has given us. He wants and desires righteous people. Are we striving for God’s righteousness daily in our lives? Will we allow Him to help us attain that worthy, high and honorable goal (Philippians 2:13–14)?