Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. (1 John 3:7)

Who Is Righteous?

There are a lot of good people in the world. They go about doing benevolent things, they obey the laws of the land, encourage community unity, and show the world a kind spirit. The world is filled with religious groups that follow a certain faith that makes them distinctive. Some of the world’s religions are very old, while new movements of religious fervor begin with each generation. There is an innate desire in the human experience to worship. How that worship is directed depends upon the philosophy of the belief system. Not all faiths have an eternal reward. For some, it is a matter of living a good life, and there is nothing more after death. Some religions have an eternal view of the afterlife, calling it Nirvana, Valhalla, Reincarnation, or Heaven.

Righteousness is the state of being right. There are two kinds of righteousness: the system of right and wrong, which is determined by human wisdom, and that which the Lord God establishes. While there are some similarities to both ideals of righteousness, there are glaring differences in how righteousness is determined. The righteousness of human wisdom allows man to live as he desires to justify what he believes is right and wrong. This system of righteousness fails because man’s righteousness changes to his whims. Idolatry is a system of righteousness based on the carnal desires of human wisdom that would include sexual immorality and human sacrifice. God calls idolatry an abomination because His righteousness condemns the meaning of what is right and wrong in idol worship. Sexual immorality and murder are abominations to the righteous character of the Lord.

Defining who is righteous cannot be done through human wisdom. A man is righteous when he does what is right in the sight of God. Human wisdom cannot determine what is right and wrong. God establishes government, but it cannot assess righteousness apart from the law of God. Individual choice cannot say what righteousness is. The character of right is founded on the word of God given to man to know how to live before his Creator. Only God can say what is right and wrong. Failing to obey the word of God is unrighteousness because righteousness is in God’s mind. A man can live a sterling good life and be lost because he has not followed the will of the Father. Jesus described many who were very religious but were cast out because they did not follow the will of the Father.

Human wisdom has convinced the world that being good is all a person needs to do, and having some sense of religion will suffice. The apostle John warns his readers not to be deceived into believing that righteousness is found in any form. Only those who practice righteousness or do God’s will can be saved. This demands action on the part of the individual. James writes that faith, without works, is dead. Righteousness is found in those who practice following the word of God. Being a good person will not save and being religious will not save. Human wisdom cannot and will not save. If a person is to be righteous, he must practice righteousness.