The Need for Righteousness
We have clearly understood from the scriptures that, first, man has no righteousness of his own; and second, that whatever may be referred to as the righteousness of man is actually filthy rags; and third, that however much of man’s righteousness we may possess, it is always insufficient.
These truths put us in a bind. The scriptures cannot be clearer than they are regarding the need for righteousness. If a man does not possess righteousness, he is as hell-bound as he can be. A man must possess righteousness, a specific righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees – the righteousness of God. There are many today who possess some type of righteousness – their own righteousness – a mere form of godliness – but they are as ignorant as can be regarding the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:3 – “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
The need for righteousness is stated in so many ways in scripture. First, it is plainly taught that the UNRIGHTEOUS shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
I Corinthians 6:9-10 – “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
We are further exhorted by the apostle John that nothing that defiles will enter into the holy city.
Revelation 21:27 – “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Even a casual reader can see the evident truth that only complete perfection is going to heaven. There is most definitely a need for righteousness. Without it, we are eternally and hopelessly lost.
How Do We Become Righteous?
This brings us to the all-important question. It is completely unprofitable to discuss righteousness in detail if we do not present the truth regarding HOW to become righteous. I would be a poor insurance agent if I told you everything about insurance except how to obtain it.
First, in examining how a person becomes righteous, let us at the very start admit that there are some ways in which we are NOT made righteous.
We are not made righteous by doing righteous deeds. This is a shock to some readers, but, however shocking, it is undeniable Bible truth. A man may “repent” as far as the word is taught by some Bible teachers, and still be unrighteous. A man may cease from his habits of smoking, drinking, and drug abuse, and yet be as lost and unrighteous as he can be. A man may reform his ways so that he ceases from profanity, adultery, and pornography, and yet be unrighteous.
So let me say it again. We are not made righteous by performing deeds of righteousness. While it is true that a person who is truly righteous will do righteous deeds (I John 3:7), it is not the righteous deeds that make a man righteous. The Bible is clear that conformation to any righteous law cannot make a person righteous.
Galatians 2:21 – “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Galatians 3:21 – “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”
Since we are not made righteous by doing righteous deeds, or by keeping laws or commandments, then the question must be asked, how DO we become righteous?
One must understand that the reason that the performance of righteous deeds will not make us righteous is because the performance of sinful deeds did not make us sinful. You were not made a sinner the first time you sinned. When were you made a sinner? Let us let the scripture answer for us:
Romans 5:19 – “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
The Bible cannot be clearer. “By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” You became a sinner when Adam sinned. The parallel is then made. “So by the obedience of one [Christ] shall many be made righteous.” Just as the disobedience of Adam made us sinners, the obedience of Christ made us righteous. If you are sinner (the “if” is hypothetical; all have sinned), you are a sinner because Adam sinned. If you are righteous, you are righteous because Christ became obedient in dying upon the cross.
So, how do we become righteous? The blood of Jesus Christ makes us righteous! Until you are washed in the blood of Christ by placing your faith in Him, you are unrighteous, regardless of how much reformation you have sustained. Before we can do any righteous deeds that are truly righteous in the eyes of God, we must first be MADE righteous. This is where so many seem to err. Many well-meaning ministers place so much emphasis on DOING righteousness that they forget that one must first be MADE righteous! Until we are MADE righteous, all our performance of righteousness is really not righteousness at all – it is merely filthy rags. We must be made righteous by the blood that our Lord shed upon the cross of Calvary.
II Corinthians 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be MADE the righteousness of God in him.”
Being Made Righteous Produces Righteous Living
I most certainly believe in righteous living. But I believe in living righteous as a RESULT of being made righteous, not as a REQUIREMENT to being made righteous. To get these truths out of order is to preach a gospel foreign to that of scripture.
In the last verse of Romans 5, Paul the apostle teaches that our righteousness comes solely by Jesus Christ. Look at what he wrote:
Romans 5:21 – “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“Righteousness unto eternal life,” Paul says, is “by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Some may object to this, stating that if righteousness is indeed gained because of Christ and Christ alone, then one may continue to live in sin while claiming grace. One may say that he is righteous because of Christ while persisting in a sinful lifestyle. Paul must have sensed this objection. Look at the very next verse, the first verse of the sixth chapter:
Romans 6:1-2 – “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Paul then expounds upon the fact that he who is first made righteous solely by Christ then lives righteous. In the sixth chapter of Romans, Paul proceeds to expound upon HOW to live the overcoming life – the life that conquers sin.
You see, if you preach that we are MADE RIGHTEOUS by Christ, but do not emphasize the resulting holy life, your doctrine is incomplete. The same power that makes you righteous in God’s sight can make you righteous in man’s sight. The same blood that cleanses the inner man cleanses the outer man. The wicked religious generation of our day says “God looks on the heart.” While that is true, it is only a half truth. The same verse (I Samuel 16:7) that states that God looks upon the heart also states that “man looketh on the outward appearance.” We are not to let our light shine before God; we are called to let our light shine before MEN – and man most certainly sees the outward man. Man sees my deeds, my dress, my dedication, my devotion, my attitude, my words, my work ethic, my enthusiasm, my zeal, my teaching, my preaching, my business ethics, and my morals. Any so-called righteousness that cleanses in inner man, but does not touch these outward aspects of our life – this is not the righteousness of God!
Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
