Righteousness as faith

Human righteousness compared with God’s righteousness

Human beings cannot by themselves achieve righteousness in the sight of God

Ec 7:20; Is 64:6; Mt 5:20

See also Pr 21:2; Da 9:18; Mt 23:28; Lk 16:15; Lk 18:9; Ro 3:10; Ro 3:20; Php 3:6–7

True righteousness is the result of the action of God

Ro 8:3–4; Eph 4:24; 1 Jn 2:29

See also Ro 6:13; Ro 6:16–20; Ro 8:10; Ro 14:17; Ga 5:5; Eph 5:9; Php 1:11; Heb 12:11; Jas 3:18; 1 Pe 2:24; 1 Jn 3:10

Faith pleases God

Ge 15:6; Heb 11:6

See also 1 Sa 26:23; Ps 32:10; Ps 40:4; Ps 84:12; Ps 106:30–31; Je 17:7; Hab 2:4; Heb 10:38; Heb 11:4; Heb 11:7

Righteousness and faith in Jesus Christ

It is God-given and not the result of human effort

Ro 1:17; Php 3:8–9 Paul is contrasting this righteousness with his own previous efforts.

See also Ac 13:39; Ro 3:21; Ro 3:27–28 It is apparent that faith is not regarded as another kind of “work” which earns salvation; Ro 4:1–8; Ro 5:17; Ro 9:30–31; Ga 3:11–12

Faith is centred on Jesus Christ and what he has accomplished

Ro 5:1–2 “justified” means “declared righteous” in a legal sense.

See also Ro 3:21–26; Ro 4:18–25; Ro 10:6–10; Ga 3:6–9

Saving faith is not mere belief, but acting on the basis of that belief

James 2:21–24 ESV

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.