The Concept of "Righteousness" (Tzedakah)
The concept of "righteousness," particularly as understood in the Bible, is foundational to comprehending God's character, His relationship with humanity, and the path to salvation. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as righteousness is tzedakah (צדקה). While in modern Hebrew, tzedakah is primarily associated with charity or giving to the poor, its biblical meaning is far broader, encompassing justice, moral rectitude, conformity to God's holy standard, and the fulfillment of covenant obligations. It describes a state of being right with God and acting justly in the world. This article will explore the multifaceted nature of righteousness, beginning with God's perfect standard, examining humanity's inherent failure, and ultimately revealing God's gracious provision of righteousness through Jesus Christ, leading to a life lived in accordance with His will.
God's Righteousness: The Unchanging Standard
At the heart of biblical righteousness is the very nature of God. God Himself is inherently righteous, and His righteousness is the ultimate, unchanging standard against which all things are measured. It is not merely one of His attributes but an intrinsic part of His being, defining His actions, His judgments, and His laws. His holiness demands righteousness, and His justice ensures its manifestation. The Scriptures repeatedly affirm God's perfect uprightness:
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
The psalmist echoes this sentiment, declaring, "Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments" (Psalms 119:137). God's righteousness is the bedrock of His covenant with Israel, the basis for His commands, and the assurance of His faithfulness. When God acts, whether in blessing or in judgment, He acts righteously. His Law, given through Moses, was a reflection of His righteous character, providing Israel with a blueprint for how to live righteously in His sight and in their dealings with one another. This divine standard, perfect and unyielding, sets the stage for understanding humanity's predicament.
Man's Unrighteousness: The Universal Problem
In stark contrast to God's perfect righteousness stands humanity's fallen state. Since the disobedience of Adam and Eve, all people are born into sin, inheriting a nature that is inherently unrighteous and incapable of meeting God's holy standard. The Bible is unequivocal on this point: no human being, by their own efforts or merits, can achieve true righteousness in God's eyes. Our attempts at self-justification are futile and offensive to a holy God.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
The prophet Isaiah graphically illustrates this human condition:
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
This stark reality underscores the desperate need for a divine solution. If righteousness is a prerequisite for fellowship with a holy God, and humanity is utterly incapable of achieving it, then a bridge must be built, a provision made, by God Himself. This is where the glorious truth of God's saving grace in Jesus Christ becomes paramount.
Imputed Righteousness: God's Provision in Christ
The New Testament reveals God's magnificent solution to humanity's unrighteousness: the imputation of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Because no one could earn righteousness, God, in His infinite love and justice, provided it as a free gift. This is the core of the Gospel message. Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This "righteousness of God" is not something we achieve, but something received. It is Christ's perfect righteousness, perfectly fulfilled in His life and perfectly demonstrated in His atoning death, that is credited to the believer's account. Paul beautifully articulates this divine exchange:
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The example of Abraham, who "believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6; quoted in Romans 4:3), serves as a powerful Old Testament precursor to this New Testament truth. Abraham's faith, not his works, was the basis for his being declared righteous by God. This imputed righteousness is the only way for sinful humanity to stand justified and accepted before a holy God. It is a gift, received by faith alone, and it transforms our standing from condemned sinners to righteous sons and daughters in Christ.
Practical Righteousness: Living in Accordance with God's Will
While imputed righteousness is a judicial declaration based on Christ's work, it does not mean that believers are exempt from pursuing a life of practical righteousness. On the contrary, those who have received God's righteousness through faith are called to live righteously as a natural outflow of their new identity in Christ. This is not a means to earn salvation, but rather the evidence and fruit of it. The Holy Spirit indwells believers, empowering them to live in a manner that reflects the righteousness they have received.
This practical righteousness involves:
- Obedience to God's Word: Living according to the principles and commands found in Scripture, not out of legalistic compulsion, but out of love and gratitude for what Christ has done.
- Pursuit of Justice: Reflecting the broader biblical meaning of tzedakah, believers are called to act justly and to advocate for justice in society, particularly for the oppressed and vulnerable, mirroring God's own character.
- Moral Purity: Striving for holiness in thought, word, and deed, putting off the old man and putting on "the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).
- Good Works: Engaging in acts of love, compassion, and service, which are "ordained" by God for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
The Apostle John makes it clear that true righteousness is evident in one's actions:
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Jesus Himself taught us to "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33), implying both our primary pursuit of God's right standing and our active participation in living out His righteous ways. This practical righteousness is a lifelong process of sanctification, growing in conformity to the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
The concept of "righteousness" (tzedakah) in the Bible is a profound and comprehensive truth that defines our relationship with God. It begins with the absolute, unblemished righteousness of God Himself, the ultimate standard against which all creation is measured. It then confronts us with the sobering reality of humanity's inherent unrighteousness, a condition from which we cannot escape through our own efforts. But in His boundless grace, God has provided the perfect solution in Jesus Christ, whose perfect life and atoning death grant us an imputed righteousness, received by faith alone. This divine gift not only changes our standing before God but also empowers us to live a life of practical righteousness, reflecting His character in our thoughts, words, and deeds. True righteousness is not something we achieve, but something we receive and then, by God's grace, live out, bringing glory to the One who made us righteous in Him.