I used to think righteous living had more to do with behavioral modification than heart transformation. The wages of sin is death, but in the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. To commit sin is to go against God’s design for our lives, therefore righteousness is the only living standard that is acceptable for us to stand before the Father. Think of it as the polar opposite of sin. It is an essential attribute to the character of God quite literally meaning “One who is right”. Righteousness is the perfect holiness of Christ. What is righteousness and what does it mean to be righteous?
Thankfully that usage of the word rightous has come and gone, but how does the Bible use the word? Righteousness can sometimes get buried in the collection of church words we throw around, so I’d like to make an attempt to clear the air about what it means to be righteous. When most people think about the word righteous, it often accompanies an image of a surfer-guy describing a big wave.