“…to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ” (Romans 3:26).
The Greek word for righteousness is “Dikaiosunē,” which essentially means divine approval, divine verdict or divine justice. Apostle Paul makes us to realize there is a divine perspective to righteousness vis-à-vis the human perspective (Romans 10:3). This write-up seeks to highlight the divine perspective of righteousness.
The Position or Platform of Righteousness: Every child of God stands on the platform of righteousness before God, whether he or she realizes it or not. God declares sinners who exercise faith in Christ (as Savior and Lord) not guilty, and He accepts and causes them to approach Him by the blood of Jesus. He makes them to stand on the platform of righteousness before Him. King David, an Old Testament saint with uncanny insight into the New Testament encapsulated this reality when he said: “Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You that he may dwell in Your courts …” (Psalm 65:4). This truth is the whole essence of our redemption: that a just God justifies sinners who demonstrate faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26). Righteousness is an imputed gift.
The Posture of Righteousness: Posture here means an inward attitude or stance or viewpoint. Abraham’s sins were cancelled and blotted out, and he was declared righteous because he had faith in God (Romans 4:1-3). He was willing to obey God, so he took risk and followed God blindly. His inner posture and desire was inclined to pleasing God at all times, even to his own detriment. A posture of righteousness comes by carrying the mentality that we are justified before a just and holy God because of the shed blood of Christ (Titus 3:4-7). This mentality is different from when one thinks he is vindicated because of his or her own righteousness and good deeds.
The Practice of Righteousness: Anyone who deliberately violates the law even if he is a law keeper and enforcer is still a lawless person (1 John 3:4). Many policemen, who in the course of duty murdered in the name of self-defense, are prosecuted and punished, if found guilty. Of what use is a sown seed which never germinates into a fruit-bearing tree? Yes, we have the seed of righteousness in us, but the only way we glorify God is when we allow the seed within to grow and bring forth good fruits to our world (Matthew 5:16). Apostle John wrote: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7). The righteousness we practice is akin to how light dispels darkness in the world.
CONCLUSION: The above-listed points capture what divine perspective of righteousness is about. Jesus was made sin apart from His righteous deeds; we were also made righteous apart from our sinful deeds. Now that we have been made righteous, Heaven expects and demands from us works and practices of righteousness.
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