New Testament Righteousness

April 25, 2026

The definition of righteousness in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is: the quality or state of being righteous, conformity to the divine or moral law. We can definitely see similarities in the biblical definition and the definition found in the dictionary. We can determine that this description is disclosing the importance of following divine moral law.

The Word “righteousness” when pertaining to the New Testament is the Greek word “dikaiosynē” which means: the state of him who is as he ought to be. Righteousness, the condition acceptable to God. It also means: having integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting. It has to do with living your life in a way the lines up with the Word of God including your thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

That is why Romans 12:2 is so significant and it states, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The Apostle Paul is revealing to us the way that we are able to keep our minds lined up with the Lord’s will for our lives. When we stray away from His Word, that is what allows the world to influence the way that we think, feel, and act.

One thing that we need to make sure that we understand is the fact that the state of righteousness that is acceptable to the Lord cannot be obtained within our own righteousness. Isaiah 64:6 breaks that down for us as it states, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…” There is only one way that we can achieve righteousness in the eyes of Lord and that is putting our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ because that is what paid our sin penalty in full allowing us to be in right standing with God.

The Word of God details the fact that righteousness must come through faith in Jesus to all of those that believe in Him. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but we are justified through the redemption found in Jesus Christ. The shed blood of Christ satisfied the righteous wrath of God against the sins that we committed because it atoned for them making reconciliation with the Lord a possibility.

Those that put their faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross at Calvary are washed of all sin just as if it never happened, Romans 3:21-26. Our belief in Jesus is what keeps us in right standing with the Lord, so when He sees us, He doesn’t see us, but He sees His Son. Galatians 2:20 reveals, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

The words “I have been crucified” being used here is the Greek word “systauroō” which means: by the death of Christ upon the cross I have become utterly estranged from (dead to) my former habit of feeling and action. In other words, you are no longer the old you but are now a new creation in Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

You no longer act the way you used to when you were living in the sin that you were in, you don’t talk or think the way that you used to. Being in right standing before the Lord means that you do what it takes to avoid doing anything that is going to cause a wedge between you and the Lord. One of the number one ways that you can create separation between you God is willful sin.

Let’s take a look at some passages of Scripture pertaining to a person maintaining their righteousness.

1 John 3:7-8

“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

Here we can see a clear distinction between a person that is living their lives righteously by the standards of God and one who is not. John is letting us know through the leading of the Holy Spirit that a person saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ is just as righteous as Jesus is, if they make it a habit to PRACTICE righteousness.

The key word we need to focus on is the word practice which means: to act uprightly. God is letting us know that His children will obey His commandments and live their lives according to the rules and stipulations laid out in His Word. We are to be doers of the Lord’s Word and not just a hearer only, James 1:22. When we attempt to act and think according to our standards, that is when we deceive ourselves into believing that we are in right standing with God.

Within the verses of Scripture out of 1 John 3:7-8, we can also see the direct contrast from a person that is living a life obedient to the Lord vs. one that is living their life in habitual sin. They have no regard for the Lord or what His Word has to say about how they should conduct themselves. God makes it very clear what category this kind of person falls into and that is of the devil.

As we can see, there is no in between. Matthew 12:30 details it perfectly as the Jesus declares, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” We are either with Him or we are against Him, but if we choose to be against Him (in the way that we live our lives) we will be dispersed abroad. We have the free will to make that decision.

We can never forget that when the Lord Jesus Christ died, was buried, and resurrected declaring that it was finished, it meant just that! He finished His part in paying the entire sin debt for all of humanity which reconciled us back to the father, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. Those that put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are justified and righteous in the eyes of God.

However, it is our responsibility to maintain the righteousness that was given freely to us as a gift from God. We cannot continue living the way that we used to before we became believers of Jesus Christ, disregarding the Word of God or the stipulations and regulations provided within it. Romans 6:1-2 describes whether or not we should remain living in sin perfectly as Paul states, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

We need to take heed to the advice given to us by the Apostle Paul and do whatever we can to ensure that we don’t turn back to our old sinful ways! Jesus Christ died for us and took on the entire penalty of sin on His body which makes those that believe in what Jesus did for us, righteous in the eyes of God, Romans 3:22.

Conclusion:

Righteousness is such a powerful word as we will see when we dissect the meaning of this word in the New Testament Scriptures. One thing that we can never forget is the fact that we cannot achieve righteousness within our own doing, but we can only obtain it through our faith in Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross at Calvary!

It is then our responsibility to live our lives upright in the eyes of the Lord. Jesus is very clear when He lets us know that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments, John 14:15. It is so important that we all strive to be more and more like Christ every single day!

Also, don’t forget to check out my other current blogs:

Old Testament Righteousness

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Fight Back

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Feed Your Spirit

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Renouncing

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Confess and Repent

Recognizing Spiritual Strongholds

What are Spiritual Strongholds?

The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 1

The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 2

The Spiritual Laws of God-Restoration

The Spiritual Laws of God-The General Principles

The Spiritual Laws of God-The Power of Your Tongue!

The Spiritual Laws of God-Having an Understanding

Below are some books that I have personally read that I recommend to help you get set free from the enemy and his devices. Each one provides you with warfare practices that you can apply to your daily life. Just click on the Link below the book and it will lead you straight to it. You will not be disappointed!