In Romans 3:21-31, God's righteousness is defined as a divine gift, revealed apart from the law, that makes people right with God, not through their works but through faith in Jesus Christ. It's God's perfect standard of right standing, freely given through Christ's atonement, to everyone who believes, demonstrating His justice while justifying sinners. This gift means believers are declared righteous (justified) by God, as if they never sinned, a concept often called "imputed righteousness".
It reinforces that fact that we can't earn salvation, but shows it is available to everyone. There is always hope for salvation up until the moment of death, just like the thief who believed in Jesus right before he died. Just as God is not partial when He judges, He is not partial when He saves.
Paul says God's righteousness is a declaration that he is 'just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus' (v. 26). In other words, the righteousness of God refers to both the righteous (ethical) attribute of God and his grace through which he forgives and imputes a righteous status to and on, the sinner.
The “righteousness of God” (Romans 3:21–22) refers to God's saving activity in Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection frees people (i.e., redeems them; 3:24) from the power of sin that alienates them from God and brings them into right relationship with God.
The God of creation and redemption is a righteous God. Divine righteousness refers first and foremost to the perfection and uprightness of the divine nature. For God to be righteous principally means that God measures up to Himself and is always all that He ought to be as God.
So God's righteousness means that he rules his creation with impartiality, he punishes the wicked with wrath, he keeps his promises, and he rescues the oppressed. All of these things are right.
The righteousness of God is the root of all integrity. It is the definition of all that is genuinely good in this life. We cannot earn righteousness, but because Jesus Christ became our righteousness, it is ours through Him (see 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
The answer: FAITH. The problem of no fruit is the problem of no faith. Jesus says “if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done” (Matt. 21:21).
[2 CORINTHIANS 5:21]
God made Christ to be sin, even though he was without sin, so that believers would “become the righteousness of God.” The meaning of God's righteousness is explicated by verse 19, which refers to forgiveness of sins.
Romans 3:22-24 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Paul indicates in Romans 3:21–26 that righteousness is the Lord's gift to believers (the righteousness of God is for all who believe). Second Corinthians 5:21 says we become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
The law is out and faith is in just because you say so?" Paul uses his standard emphatic response to these kinds of questions: "By no means!" This is the phrase mē genoito in Greek. Paul insists that his teaching about faith in Christ does not overthrow or nullify the law. Instead, it upholds or establishes the law.
Romans 3:21–26. “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Romans 3:21-26 explains how to get right with God: God saves sinners through faith in Christ alone. Leon Morris said, “In what is possibly the most important single paragraph ever written, Paul brings out something of the grandeur of Christ's saving work.” How can one get right with God?
Righteousness (right standing with God) can only be received by faith. Consider these scriptures: Romans 10:10 With the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Ephesians 4:24 Put on the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The apostle Peter called Noah a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). Abraham was called a righteous man by the apostle Paul (Galatians 3:6). Abraham's nephew, Lot, was also called a righteous man in 2 Peter 2:7-8. The parents of John the Baptizer were also described as righteous before God (Luke 1:5-6).
Because righteousness is what gives us “right standing with God.” Another way to put it would be that it puts us in right relationship with God, by just receiving what Jesus did for us. You become righteous when you are born again. (Eph. 4:24.)
The fig tree was a tree with rich symbolism, first and foremost: fertility and fecundity. But it was also a medicinal source (2 Kings 20:1-7): King Hezekiah, afflicted with ulcers, was treated with “a fig poultice” and healed.
When the tree has no fruit, Jesus curses it in order to send a message to the disciples about the connection between not bearing fruit and being cursed. A key observation brought me to this possibility: Jesus expected the tree to have fruit, but it did not. It only appeared to have fruit.
Jesus curses the fig tree because in it he has found only the appearance of fruitfulness — many leaves. Let this be a lesson to us. There is no excuse for being unproductive. Some might say “I don't know enough…” But that is no excuse.
Truth, Compassion, Austerity and Charity are the four pillars of #Righteousness/#Dharma. Falsity, violence, discontentment and cruelty are the four pillars of #Unrighteousness/#Adharma.
We are made righteous in the eyes of God by the blood of Jesus. Through His death and resurrection, and our acceptance of that free gift, our sins are forgiven and God sees us as righteous. This is called justification.
Practice Righteousness in Daily Life • Make choices that reflect integrity and moral uprightness. This includes being honest in your dealings, compassionate in your interactions, and ethical in your conduct. Engage in Authentic Worship • Ensure that your spiritual practices are heartfelt and not just routine.