45 Bible Verses about Righteousness

The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

And the gift is not like the one who sinned. For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, led to condemnation, but the gracious gift from the many failures led to justification. For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!

For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.

He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.

Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears had better listen!

I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.

The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him.

The godly grow like a palm tree; they grow high like a cedar in Lebanon.

But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.

They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people.

The Israelites who remain will not act deceitfully. They will not lie, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. Indeed, they will graze peacefully like sheep and lie down; no one will terrify them."

She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

He did what the Lord approved, just as his ancestor David had done.

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves, for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers deliverance on you.

Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,

But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you."

Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged."

Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty.

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith.

Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people.

Dark clouds surround him; equity and justice are the foundation of his throne.

The Lord is just in all his actions, and exhibits love in all he does.

O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant this day. Indeed, we stand before you in our guilt. However, because of this guilt no one can really stand before you."

The praise you receive as far away as the ends of the earth is worthy of your reputation, O God. You execute justice!

You answer our prayers by performing awesome acts of deliverance, O God, our savior. All the ends of the earth trust in you, as well as those living across the wide seas.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; I will be overjoyed because of my God. For he clothes me in garments of deliverance; he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication. I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would; I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry.

I put on righteousness and it clothed me, my just dealing was like a robe and a turban;

I will protect her priests, and her godly people will shout exuberantly.

Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful clothes, O Jerusalem, holy city! For uncircumcised and unclean pagans will no longer invade you.

The angel spoke up to those standing all around, "Remove his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "I have freely forgiven your iniquity and will dress you in fine clothing."

You love justice and hate evil. For this reason God, your God has anointed you with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.

He sees there is no advocate; he is shocked that no one intervenes. So he takes matters into his own hands; his desire for justice drives him on.

"I, the Lord, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David. He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding and will do what is just and right in the land.

Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called "Faithful" and "True," and with justice he judges and goes to war.

Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips.

No one can be established through wickedness, but a righteous root cannot be moved.

Throw your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended.

Whoever lives a blameless life, does what is right, and speaks honestly.

The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering.

Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.

They will summon peoples to the mountain, there they will sacrifice proper sacrifices; for they will enjoy the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the shores.

Offer the prescribed sacrifices and trust in the Lord!

He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed.

because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead."

Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called "Faithful" and "True," and with justice he judges and goes to war.

Then he will judge your people fairly, and your oppressed ones equitably.

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord's face is against those who do evil.

The Lord pays attention to the godly and hears their cry for help.

He does not take his eyes off the righteous; but with kings on the throne he seats the righteous and exalts them forever.

The Lord satisfies the appetite of the righteous, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: "The one who does these things will live by them."

Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord's commands; he meditates on his commands day and night.

We will be innocent if we carefully keep all these commandments before the Lord our God, just as he demands."

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed; you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you. This is what the Lord will do for his servants -- I will vindicate them," says the Lord.

they will say about me, "Yes, the Lord is a powerful deliverer."'" All who are angry at him will cower before him.

Justice will settle down in the desert and fairness will live in the orchard.

O sky, rain down from above! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow, and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.

For just as the ground produces its crops and a garden yields its produce, so the sovereign Lord will cause deliverance to grow, and give his people reason to praise him in the sight of all the nations. "For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines brightly and her deliverance burns like a torch."

He generously gives to the needy; his integrity endures. He will be vindicated and honored.

Just as it is written, "He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever."

His house contains wealth and riches; his integrity endures.

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord's face is against those who do evil.

The godly cry out and the Lord hears; he saves them from all their troubles.

The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother's were righteous.

Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me -- and I in him -- bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.

Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.

But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life.

Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

but of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.

Your throne, O God, is permanent. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.

Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty.

Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say, "faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness."

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them.

He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.

What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

just as it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one,

Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness.

And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.

For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous.

By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again -- sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, read more.
where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth --

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? read more.
Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won't he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don't worry saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The righteous has enough food to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked lacks food.

But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

I do not set aside God's grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

True righteousness leads to life, but the one who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

In the path of righteousness there is life, but another path leads to death.

The plans of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

What the righteous desire leads only to good, but what the wicked hope for leads to wrath.

May lying lips be silenced -- lips that speak defiantly against the innocent with arrogance and contempt!

Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God's Son, come down from the cross!" In the same way even the chief priests -- together with the experts in the law and elders -- were mocking him: read more.
"He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him! He trusts in God -- let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, 'I am God's Son'!" The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.

Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.

remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

The righteousness of the blameless will make straight their way, but the wicked person will fall by his own wickedness.

Righteousness guards the one who lives with integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

Listen to me, you stubborn people, you who distance yourself from doing what is right.

Those who are eager to do wrong draw near; they are far from your law.

For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

The wicked person earns deceitful wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a genuine reward.

Tell the innocent it will go well with them, for they will be rewarded for what they have done.

The godly face many dangers, but the Lord saves them from each one of them.

The righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked turns up in his stead.

As for God's chosen people who are in the land, and the leading officials I admired so much --

The righteous person is cautious in his friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

The Lord's loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.

for one who goes astray is an abomination to the Lord, but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright.

The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord lifts up all who are bent over. The Lord loves the godly.

The Lord abhors the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

In the house of the righteous is abundant wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

His house contains wealth and riches; his integrity endures.

If the wicked are shown mercy, they do not learn about justice. Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly; they do not see the Lord's majesty revealed.

Many times he delivered them, but they had a rebellious attitude, and degraded themselves by their sin.

Far be it from you to do such a thing -- to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?"

For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly. Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety and Israel will live in security. This is the name he will go by: 'The Lord has provided us with justice.'

The king is strong; he loves justice. You ensure that legal decisions will be made fairly; you promote justice and equity in Jacob.

to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement. They will be called oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor.

All of your people will be godly; they will possess the land permanently. I will plant them like a shoot; they will be the product of my labor, through whom I reveal my splendor.

Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness?

and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.

It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them.

So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.

You love justice and hate evil. For this reason God, your God has anointed you with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.

You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing."

Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.

If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.

Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.

Offer the prescribed sacrifices and trust in the Lord!

I put on righteousness and it clothed me, my just dealing was like a robe and a turban;

But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But he had nothing to say. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!' read more.
For many are called, but few are chosen."

Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else.

For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.

Won't God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them?

The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right.

The Israelites turn justice into bitterness; they throw what is fair and right to the ground.

Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God -- I say this to your shame!

Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God -- I say this to your shame!

He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

We will be innocent if we carefully keep all these commandments before the Lord our God, just as he demands."

He entreats God, and God delights in him, he sees God's face with rejoicing, and God restores to him his righteousness.

On both sides of the river's banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

flowing down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations.

Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless. But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ. More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things -- indeed, I regard them as dung! -- that I may gain Christ,

The one who lives uprightly and speaks honestly; the one who refuses to profit from oppressive measures and rejects a bribe; the one who does not plot violent crimes and does not seek to harm others -- This is the person who will live in a secure place; he will find safety in the rocky, mountain strongholds; he will have food and a constant supply of water.

It is not because of your righteousness, or even your inner uprightness, that you have come here to possess their land. Instead, because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out ahead of you in order to confirm the promise he made on oath to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

"'You must not deal unjustly in judgment: you must neither show partiality to the poor nor honor the rich. You must judge your fellow citizen fairly.

The one who pursues righteousness and love finds life, bounty, and honor.

What the wicked fears will come on him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

Planted in the Lord's house, they grow in the courts of our God. They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves.

Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,

and to put on the new man who has been created in God's image -- in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.

Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.

Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

On both sides of the river's banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown."

The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.

My integrity will testify for me later on. When you come to verify that I've taken only the wages we agreed on, if I have in my possession any goat that is not speckled or spotted or any sheep that is not dark-colored, it will be considered stolen."

Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let the end of my life be like theirs."

Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day -- and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.

For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,

Seek the Lord's favor, all you humble people of the land who have obeyed his commands! Strive to do what is right! Strive to be humble! Maybe you will be protected on the day of the Lord's angry judgment.

for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth --

Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.

By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.

But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; I will be overjoyed because of my God. For he clothes me in garments of deliverance; he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication. I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would; I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry.

He wears his desire for justice like body armor, and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. He puts on the garments of vengeance and wears zeal like a robe.

He sees there is no advocate; he is shocked that no one intervenes. So he takes matters into his own hands; his desire for justice drives him on.

So Jesus replied to him, "Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John yielded to him.

Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security.

Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security.

For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.

For he will never be upended; others will always remember one who is just.

and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world,

May your priests be clothed with integrity! May your loyal followers shout for joy!

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.

How blessed are those who promote justice, and do what is right all the time!

Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged."

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves, for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers deliverance on you.

Listen to this, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name 'Israel,' and are descended from Judah, who take oaths in the name of the Lord, and invoke the God of Israel -- but not in an honest and just manner.

Evil people self-destruct; those who hate the godly are punished.

What shall we say then? -- that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith,

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.

By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness -- the one who does not love his fellow Christian -- is not of God.

(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind.