I was wondering today, what does it really mean to be or not to be righteous in the biblical view?
I must preface this, when I was still an unbeliever, and in a way up to now, I saw righteousness as a form of just-ness. But not like the justice a peasant has in his obedience or discipline, but more the justice a king has towards his subjects.
In my german mother tongue, the terms justice and righteousness are both given with the word "Gerechtigkeit". But the bible doesn't describe us as kings who have justice to give, instead it is our duty to cling to God, to do as He says, to be mindful of our duties, that is the biblical idea of righteousness.
Am I wrong?
But then, how do I become righteous in a biblical way? The bible says if we believe in Jesus, we are righteous before God. But there is a new problem, catholics say our righteousness is imparted, ie we are given the righteousness of Jesus, but we are really becoming righteous through this. Lutherans and Calvinists, on the other hand, argue that our righteousness is imputed to us. The whole idea of the cloak of righteousness - we don't really become righteous after all and just "put on" Jesus like a garment. Biblically this does make sense, but it leaves a bad taste, why can't I be really righteous in myself? Why do I have to live with an utterly despicable wretch in me that is only covered up?
So this is what I am thinking about today. What are your thoughts?
I must preface this, when I was still an unbeliever, and in a way up to now, I saw righteousness as a form of just-ness. But not like the justice a peasant has in his obedience or discipline, but more the justice a king has towards his subjects.
In my german mother tongue, the terms justice and righteousness are both given with the word "Gerechtigkeit". But the bible doesn't describe us as kings who have justice to give, instead it is our duty to cling to God, to do as He says, to be mindful of our duties, that is the biblical idea of righteousness.
Am I wrong?
But then, how do I become righteous in a biblical way? The bible says if we believe in Jesus, we are righteous before God. But there is a new problem, catholics say our righteousness is imparted, ie we are given the righteousness of Jesus, but we are really becoming righteous through this. Lutherans and Calvinists, on the other hand, argue that our righteousness is imputed to us. The whole idea of the cloak of righteousness - we don't really become righteous after all and just "put on" Jesus like a garment. Biblically this does make sense, but it leaves a bad taste, why can't I be really righteous in myself? Why do I have to live with an utterly despicable wretch in me that is only covered up?
So this is what I am thinking about today. What are your thoughts?
