Righteous, Not Perfect: What the Bible Actually Says truthsum.org

Many Christians believe that being “righteous” means being sinless or morally perfect. As a result, they assume that no one can truly be righteous, except by having Christ’s righteousness imputed to them. But is that what Scripture actually teaches?
The Bible paints a different picture—one of real people declared righteous not because they were flawless, but because they lived by faith. Noah, Abraham, Job, David, and others are all called righteous, even though they made serious mistakes. What set them apart wasn’t perfection—it was their trust in God, their willingness to repent, and their obedience to His instruction.
Righteousness in the Bible is relational. It grows out of walking with God, responding to His Word, and letting His Spirit transform the heart. Jesus deepened this understanding by showing that righteousness goes beyond rule-keeping to matters of the heart. His teaching didn’t abolish the law but fulfilled it—showing us how to live it more fully through love and faith.
True righteousness is not about earning salvation or checking boxes. It’s about being teachable, faithful, and living in response to God’s grace. As Scripture says, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17), and “He who practices righteousness is righteous” (1 John 3:7).
Not perfect. But righteous.

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