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- Feb 9, 2004
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Righteousness is a big word in the Bible. It’s used hundreds of times. The Bible says that God loves righteousness and that God is righteous. It says that one day God is going to judge the world in righteousness. Psalm 23 says that God leads us in the paths of righteousness.
So what in the world does this word mean?
I once looked it up in a theological dictionary, and there were 27 pages on the definition! But I’ll boil it down to two words: Righteousness is a relationship and a lifestyle.
Righteousness simply means being right with God. Romans 1:17 says, “The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself” (NCV). The Good News is that God made us right with himself through Jesus’ death as a payment for our sins. Because of Jesus’ death, we can have a personal relationship with God.
Righteousness is also a lifestyle. It means living right as God intends. The Bible says in 1 John 2:29, “All who practice righteousness are God’s true children” (MSG).
By Rick Warren
So what in the world does this word mean?
I once looked it up in a theological dictionary, and there were 27 pages on the definition! But I’ll boil it down to two words: Righteousness is a relationship and a lifestyle.
Righteousness simply means being right with God. Romans 1:17 says, “The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself” (NCV). The Good News is that God made us right with himself through Jesus’ death as a payment for our sins. Because of Jesus’ death, we can have a personal relationship with God.
Righteousness is also a lifestyle. It means living right as God intends. The Bible says in 1 John 2:29, “All who practice righteousness are God’s true children” (MSG).
By Rick Warren
