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Answer
Proverbs 15:9 states, “The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.” If God encourages us to seek righteousness, what about verses like Romans 3:10 that declare, “There is none righteous, no not one”? If no one is righteous, then who can genuinely pursue it? Do these verses conflict?
Before striving for righteousness, we must first define it. The term often translated as “righteousness” can also signify “justice, justness, or divine holiness.” In its broadest sense, righteousness can be described as “the state of being acceptable to God as made possible by Him.” True righteousness is defined by God’s standard and empowered by Him. Without God as its source, we can never attain righteousness. Human effort alone cannot achieve righteousness. To be righteous is to be in right standing with God. A heart aligned with God produces a life that bears “fruit” (John 15:1-2;Mark 4:20). Galatians 5:22-23 enumerates some of this fruit.
Self-righteousness often masquerades as true righteousness. Self-righteousness contradicts God’s will. It creates a checklist of rules and proudly compares itself to others. The Pharisees in Jesus’ time epitomized self-righteousness, but Jesus rebuked them sternly: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, outwardly you appear righteous to others, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:27-28).
To pursue righteousness, we must acknowledge that we cannotPlease God in our sinful state, «So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. », (Romans 8:8). We turn away from attempting to justify ourselves through our good deeds and instead seek the mercy of God. We long for Him to renew our minds «And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. », (Romans 12:2) and mold us “to the image of His Son” «For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. », (Romans 8:29). In the Old Testament, men were deemed righteous when they believed God and acted upon it (Genesis 15:6;Galatians 3:6;James 2:23). Before Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), people pursued righteousness by observing God’s Law, striving for holiness, and “walking humbly with God” «He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? », (Micah 6:8). No one was justified by rule-keeping but by the faith that empowered them to obey God (Romans 3:20;Galatians 2:16).
Similarly, today we are justified by the faith that guides us to Jesus (Romans 3:28;Romans 5:1;Romans 10:10). Those who are in Christ continueWe seek God to please Him «If you then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. », (Colossians 3:1). When we come to faith in Christ, He gives us the Holy Spirit who empowers us to pursue righteousness for its own sake «Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. », (Acts 2:38). He commands us to “walk in the Spirit” « This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. », (Galatians 5:16,25) «If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. », (Galatians 5:16,25). Walking in the Spirit means we live a lifestyle of total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We cultivate the ability to hear God and the habit of obeying His voice in everything.
We pursue righteousness when we seek the character of Christ and desire holiness more than fleshly indulgence. We avoid the temptation to become self-righteous when we understand that true righteousness begins with godly humility «The meek will he guide in judgment: And the meek will he teach his way. », (Psalm 25:9). We remember that Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” «I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. », (John 15:5). When we spend time in the presence of God, we become more
Being aware of our own sin and shortcomings is crucial. A dingy shirt may look white next to a dark wall, but when compared to snow, the same shirt appears dirty. Pride and self-righteousness cannot coexist in the presence of a holy God. The journey towards righteousness commences when a humble heart seeks God’s continual presence (James 4:10;1 Peter 5:6). A humble, believing heart leads to a lifestyle of righteous actions that are pleasing to God «Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. », (Psalm 51:10).
