What does the Bible teach about the righteousness of God?
The Bible teaches that God is absolute righteousness, perfect goodness. He is holy and free from sin or wrong—guiltless (Psalm 145:17; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5). His plan is perfect and right because He is perfect and right (Gen. 18:25; Psalms 11:7; 71:24; 111:3; Jer. 23:6; Rom. 8:28). God's righteousness demands that disobedience against His laws be punished, but He has taken the punishment for all men's sin and disobedience on the cross (Rom. 3:25–26). Because of this, God is able to offer us mercy and grace, which gives us what we do not deserve—the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the riches of His glory, inheritance, power, and much more. However, only those who realize their need for mercy can lay hold of grace (Rom. 5:1–2; 2 Cor. 5:18-21). God's evaluation is that all human good is dead in His sight, utterly unacceptable to Him (Isaiah 64:6), and it is called 'dead works' in Hebrews 6:1-2.
Source: The Basics The Basics — Righteousness of God (canonical doctrine) · Read this lesson in the book →
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Related questions
- What is the true test of spirituality?Rom. 8:29–30 · The Basics
- What does the Bible teach about righteousness?Rom. 8:29–30 · The Basics
- What is justification?Rom. 8:29–30 · The Basics
- What is the nature of sin?2 Cor. 5:21 · The Basics
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life?2 Cor. 5:21 · The Basics
- What is the character of God, and how does it relate to sin?2 Cor. 5:21 · The Basics
- What are the three kinds of sin and how is each dealt with?2 Cor. 5:21 · The Basics
- What is the origin of evil in the world?2 Cor. 5:21 · The Basics
See also
- What is the Bible's doctrine of inspiration, and how does it ensure the accuracy and authority of Scripture?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 2–1: The Manual—The Bible
- What is the goal of a Christian's life, and how can it be achieved?Same lesson · The Basics
- What is the Bible's role in training believers in righteousness?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 2–1: The Manual—The Bible
- What is the Bible's teaching on hermeneutics, and how does it guide us in understanding Scripture?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 2–1: The Manual—The Bible
- What is the role of illumination in understanding Scripture?Same lesson · The Basics
- What is the Bible's teaching on interpretation, and how can we accurately understand its meaning?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 2–1: The Manual—The Bible
Scripture this answer rests on
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Where this is taught in the book
Lesson 5–3: The Attack—Satan’s Strategy
Lesson 4–2: Perception—Discernment
Lesson 5–1: The Enemy—Satan
Lesson 2–3: The Commission—Evangelism
Lesson 2–4: The Equipment—Spiritual Gifts
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