Righteousness is “the character or quality of being right or just; it was formerly spelled ‘rightwiseness,’ which clearly expresses the meaning” (Vine). The word is used many times in the book of Romans. We will notice just a few of them.

A trait of God. Holiness is a fundamental trait of God (Heb. 12:10), and righteousness is connected with it. God’s holiness will not permit Him to be a part of, or approve of, sin therefore the sacrifice of Christ was necessary “to demonstrate His righteousness...that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:25,26). The sacrifice of Christ made it possible for God to be just when He justifies man. Christ is the “propitiation,” which carries the idea of appeasing wrath (Rom. 1:17,18).

The Jews who tried to “establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end (purpose, goal) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:3,4). Anyone who thinks he can be “good enough” without coming to Christ is deceived. That would demand perfection. God cannot righteously forgive people who do not believe in Christ.

Right doing. Righteous refers to right doing while in a right relationship with God. “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom. 6:13). We must be “slaves to righteousness” (vs. 18,19).

It is by “one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men” (Rom. 5:18), because the sacrifice of Christ was a propitiation for the sins of those who put their trust in Christ. If God demanded perfection, He would have simply sent us a law, but His grace also sent us a perfect sacrifice. We strive to keep the law of Christ, but know that we will fail on occasions. The grace system has provided forgiveness so that we can be reckoned as innocent. “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).

A right relationship with God. This relationship cannot be attained through works (perfect obedience), but through faith. “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness...For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness” (Rom. 4:3,9). It is our faith that makes it possible for God to forgive us and account us as righteous, or justified.  Faith that justifies must be the kind that Abraham had—obedient.

Righteousness of law. Paul said the Gentiles “attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law…” (Rom. 9:30,31).