No One is Righteous

What makes a person truly righteous before God?

If we were to ask the world this question, many would say that righteousness is about being a good person, following the rules, or being better than others. Some might say it’s about going to church, reading the Bible, or avoiding major sins. And yet, as we look at Scripture, we find a sobering truth—none of these things can justify us before God.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 2, makes this clear: religious devotion, moral effort, and external righteousness are not enough. In fact, Paul exposes the shocking reality that even those who seem the most religious and morally upright—whether Jew or Gentile—are still under sin and stand guilty before a holy God.

This is a hard truth to accept because we often measure righteousness by comparison. We think, “At least I’m not as bad as that person.” Or we assume that our church attendance, generosity, or moral lifestyle earns us favor before God. But Paul dismantles this mindset, showing us that self-righteousness is just as damning as open rebellion.

The good news, however, is that there is a way to be truly righteous—not through our own works, but through faith in Jesus Christ. My prayer today is that we would abandon any trust in our own goodness and cling to Christ alone, the only source of true righteousness.

This morning, turn with me to Romans chapter 2. I want to read the first 16 verses.

Romans 2:1–16 NIV

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

The Danger of Self-Righteous Judgment

In chapter 2 of Romans, Paul is pointing out those that judge others then they go and do the same thing they were judging others for.

If you live with someone long enough you can find the faults in that person more easily than someone you just met. Just ask a married couple. I can tell you things about my wife that you may not believe and the same thing goes with her, she can tell you things about me that you may not believe.

So, for believers, it is easy for us to step back and look at non-believers and make judgement about another person. Why is that?

Part of it is because we understand what God’s Word says, so we look at people and if they are not doing what we think they should do we tend to critique and cast judgment on what they are doing.

However, when we do the same thing that we were judging that person for, it is harder for us to look at ourself and cast judgment on ourself.

This is what Paul is getting onto the Romans for. Paul is quick to point out that our judgment is partial. We like to pick and choose who we judge. But God’s judgment is impartial. He will judge everyone.

God’s kindness towards us should lead us to repentance not to self-righteousness.

Are We Quick to Judge Others While Excusing Our Own Faults?

Do we judge others while ignoring our own sin?

Are we presuming upon God’s kindness rather than responding in repentance?

Jesus gave us a perfect example of this in Luke 18:10-14

Luke 18:10–14 NIV

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

God is an impartial judge. He will judge each of us according to what we have and have not done.

God’s Impartial Judgment

Paul tells us there are two paths. Look at verses 7 and 8 again.

Romans 2:7–8 NIV

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

God shows no favoritism. Both Jews and Gentile alike are accountable.

Each of us wants a judge that shows no favoritism in life. If you were to stand before a judge and it was you against someone else, you would want a fair judge. You don’t want someone that would favor the other person and that person wouldn’t want someone that would favor you over them. We want an equal judge. God is an equal judge.

Just because we have a religious background or we put forth an effort to be morally sound, does not make us exempt from God’s judgment.

The only way that we will make it through the judgment of God is by putting our trust in Jesus. You will not make it through judgment on your own works. You must place your trust in Jesus Christ.

The Law and The Heart

Most times, in the New Testament, when you hear “the Law”, it is referring to the law of Moses, usually the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Jews felt they were required to keep the law, however, the Gentiles had not studied the law like the Jews had so their law was whatever moral code they were raised on.

Paul does not exempt anyone. He tells us that any Jew or Gentile is not exempt from God’s judgment.

He also points out that it is a matter of the heart.

Everyone’s heart is unseen. I do not know the intent of your heart. I can try to know it, I can act like I know what it is, but there is no way for me to know what your heart is like. I can see your outside actions. You can act a certain way. Be good and righteous on the outside, but your heart can be as evil as ever.

Proverbs 16:2 AMP

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

David understood that when he sinned by having relations with Bathsheba that he needed a heart change. He said…

Psalm 51:10–12 NIV

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Matthew 23:27 NIV

27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.

Outward morality is not enough; true righteousness comes through Christ.

Have you surrendered your hearts to Christ?

Have you surrendered your hearts to Christ for true righteousness?

We Need True Righteousness

None of us are righteous by our own effort. It doesn’t matter if you are a moral person or you are a religious person, you can not attain righteousness without Jesus Christ.

It is important that we move away from self-righteousness and place all of our trust in Christ alone for justification. True righteousness is only found in Jesus.

This morning, I want each of you to take a look at your heart. Are you trusting in moral superiority or in Christ’s righteousness?

Imagine a man who has been wearing the same set of clothes for years. Over time, the fabric has become tattered, stained, and covered in filth. Yet, in his own eyes, he still believes he looks clean. When he looks in a dim mirror, he convinces himself that his clothing is presentable. He walks around proudly, thinking he is well-dressed—until one day, he steps into the bright light of the sun.

For the first time, he sees the truth. His garments are not just slightly dirty—they are ruined, unfit, and repulsive. No amount of patching or scrubbing can make them clean again. Then, a kind and wealthy man approaches him and offers him a new robe—spotless, pure, and perfect. But the man hesitates. He clings to his old rags, still wanting to believe they are enough. The only way he can be truly clean is if he surrenders his filthy rags and accepts the new clothing.

This is the picture of our own righteousness. Isaiah 64:6 tells us that all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags before God.

Isaiah 64:6 NIV

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

No matter how moral or religious we appear, our own efforts can never make us clean. But the good news is that Jesus offers us His perfect righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 declares that God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The question is—are we still clinging to our own filthy rags, trusting in our own goodness? Or will we surrender them and allow Christ to clothe us in His perfect righteousness? True righteousness is not found in what we do but in what Christ has done for us.

Today, if you realize you’ve been trusting in your own efforts, it’s time to let go.

It is time for you to step into the light of God’s truth, and accept the perfect righteousness of Jesus. Only He can make us truly clean.