The Significance of Pursuing Righteousness in the Christian Faith

“The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.” –Proverbs 15:9

In this post I emphasize the significance of pursuing righteousness within the Christian faith. I also stress the importance of adherence to biblical principles. It provides valuable insights and guidance. It also offers encouragement to believers seeking a deeper understanding of righteousness in their daily lives.

Growing up in a Baptist church, I knew nothing about the righteousness of God. It was not until adulthood that I began to meet Him in ways I didn’t understand. I was taught about salvation and baptism. Yet, I knew nothing about the righteousness of God. I also did not know the full benefits of my salvation. 

As a young adult I led a sinful, worldly lifestyle. There were times I encountered the Lord, yet I had no knowledge or understanding of the supernatural, spiritual realm. I was in a place of need in the wilderness. There, He began to woo me through the teaching of the Word. Scripture says, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

As I began to hear and study  the Word of God I encountered the Holy Spirit speaking to me. I had never experienced that before. I saw myself for the first time as I really was in God’s sight. did not know that when I was made a New Creation that the past had stopped being. I did not know that if I committed sin, I had an Advocate with the Father. Jesus Christ the Righteous. I did not know that when I was recreated I became the Righteousness of God in Christ.

The Christian life is supernatural and only the Spirit can sustain it. Learning to walk in the Spirit, pursuing an practicing righteousness became an integral part of my spiritual life. “…walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16)

God Himself is now our righteousness, and we are the righteousness of God in Him. I am convinced that we are partakers of the Divine Nature. There is no condemnation to us who “walk in the light as He is in the light.” (1 John 1:7)

Apostle Paul was instructing Timothy of the importance of pursuing righteousness in his daily life. Christians must understand that righteousness is a part of their walk with God. They should not be corrupted by the things of the world. Such corruption can easily separate them from the virtues that should be reflected in the Christian life.

What does it mean to pursue righteousness?

Righteousness is an important theme in the Word of God along with justice. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you” (Ps. 89:14). In the midst of the shaking I encourage you to pursue what is right in the eyes of the Lord. That you will “prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a perverted generation, a (Phil. 2:15 AMP)

Believers are to do everything without complaining or arguing. We are to stand blameless and pure, “children of God” without fault. We stand amidst a crooked and perverse generation. We shine as lights in the world as we hold firmly to the word of life. A a life that is pleasing to God. (Phil. 2:14-15)

Righteousness is one of the chief attributes of God as portrayed in the Hebrew Bible. Paul often uses the noun righteousness to denote ethical righteousness—the behavior that pleases God (e.g., Rom. 6:13, 16, 18, 19, 20; 2 Cor. 6:7, 14; 9:9; 11:15; Eph. 4:24; 5:9; 6:14; Phil. 1:11; 3:6; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22; 3:16; 4:8; Titus 3:5). 

Faith in Jesus Christ enables every believer to get the righteousness of God (dikaiosynē theou) as a free gift.

Let’s being by defining righteous, righteously and righteousness ¹:

The Hebrew words tsadiyq (Strong’s #6662) is translated as righteous, and yashar (Strong’s #3477) is translated as upright.

Righteousness or tzedakah means “righteous behavior.” As believers, we should practice righteous behavior at all times! Righteousness is key to building a peaceful, progressive and thriving nation and happy people. Sin, unrighteousness, oppression, racism, inequality and wickedness bring disaster and woes to nations and peoples. “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan (Prov. 29:2).

in part 2, I’ll talk more about what it means to pursue righteousness.

God’s standard is what defines true righteousness; His power is what enables it. Unless God is its author, we will never have righteousness. No amount of man-made effort will result in righteousness. To be righteous is to be right with God. A heart that is right with God results in a life that bears “fruit” (John 15:1-2; Mark 4:20).

To pursue righteousness means we must recognize that we can’t please God in our sinful state (Rom. 8:8). We turn from trying to justify ourselves by our good deeds and instead seek the mercy of God. We wish that He transform our minds (Rom. 12:2) and conform us “to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).

I choose to pursue righteousness, purity of heart, unity within the body of Christ

“Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy” (Jude 24).

Note:

All Scripture references are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.

1. KJV Dictionary Definition: righteous, https://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/righteous.html