A recent article in the Weekly Spectator, a Ghanaian publication, explores the concept of righteousness from a biblical perspective. The article, titled "A righteousness revolution (Part 1)," was published on September 19, 2026. It examines the definition of righteousness and its significance in the Christian faith. According to the Bible, righteousness is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness. The article notes that God's laws, as given in the Bible, describe His own character and constitute the plumb line by which He measures human righteousness.
The article highlights the bad news that true and perfect righteousness is not possible for humans to attain on their own. The standard of righteousness is simply too high for humans to achieve. However, the good news is that true righteousness is possible for mankind through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The article cites 2 Corinthians 5:21, which states that Jesus exchanged our sin for His perfect righteousness so that we can one day stand before God and He will see not our sin, but the holy righteousness of the Lord Jesus.
The article emphasizes the importance of guarding one's heart, citing Proverbs 4:23, which states that our heart is the source of our life. The Holy Spirit resides in the spirit of the born-again Christian, but our heart is also comprised of our soul. As Christians, we can choose to focus our soul on the Lord or on evil things. If we focus on corrupt, immoral, and evil things, our heart will be affected detrimentally. The article advises readers to protect their heart by being mindful of what they allow to dominate their thoughts and actions.
The article notes that everything we do, every thought we entertain, everything we watch, read, or listen to, shapes our heart. Therefore, the future prosperity of our life will flow from how well we care for our heart. The article encourages readers to think of everything they do as a seed that is planted in their heart. We have been given responsibility for choosing which seeds to plant in our heart. The article asks readers to consider what they want to grow in the garden of their heart and what seeds they will choose to plant.
The article cites Isaiah 54:14, which states that in righteousness, we shall be established. Righteousness is the key foundational truth we need to first establish in our heart. Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." The article notes that Jesus referred to God's righteousness, not our own righteousness. We have to seek and understand God's righteousness, which comes from God, not from within us.
The article explains that humans cannot make themselves God's righteousness, as all humans have sinned and are therefore inferior to God. God's righteousness is a gift from God, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Righteousness, or right standing with God, has been attained for us through the exchange Jesus made on our behalf. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. God's righteousness is imparted to us when we are made a new creature in Christ.
The article concludes that God's righteousness is imparted to us when we have faith in Jesus' blood, shed to remit our sins. Through our faith, God imparts righteousness to us by His grace. The article cites Romans 5:17, which states that those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. The article encourages readers to seek God's righteousness and to understand that it is a gift from God.
Key points
- The article emphasizes that true righteousness is only possible through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
- God's righteousness is a gift from God, and it is imparted to us when we have faith in Jesus' blood.
- The article encourages readers to guard their heart and to seek God's righteousness.
