Who decides what is right and wrong? Unfortunately, in our culture today, right and wrong have mainly been reduced to whatever you think is right.
No matter what you think or what culture tells you, there is a standard for right and wrong.
God is that standard. Jehovah Tsidkenu: The Lord Our Righteousness
In the Old Testament, Israel got into the habit of worshiping other gods and disobeying the commands of the Lord. We see this in the book of Judges and the prophets. God had a standard. God is righteous.
“Righteousness- holy and upright living, in accordance with God’s standard. The word “righteousness” comes from a root word that means “straightness. It refers to a state that conforms to an authoritative standard. Righteousness is a moral concept. God’s character is the definition and source of all righteousness. Therefore righteousness of human beings is defined in terms of God’s” (Nelson, 2014)
It is God that sets the standard.
As humans, we are imperfect.
We cannot reach the standard of perfection that God requires of us.
“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 ESV.
“No human system will prove satisfactory. The only standard of righteousness is God who created the world with moral standards reflecting His own nature.” (Hemphill, 2014)
Thinking about perfection can be terrifying and depressing. Nevertheless, we will never reach the level we should on our own.
While God requires perfection from us, He knows we will never reach it on our own. Righteousness is given to us through another, by faith. Jesus Christ is our righteousness.
It is through His sacrifice that we are made right with God. Therefore, we have credited righteousness through Christ.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
Why does God’s view matter?
Because He is the standard for this life and eternity. Allow God to transform your life. Every part of your life. So that you can reflect the righteousness of God and that others might know our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Bibliography
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Youngblood,R, Bruce,F, Harrison,R, 2014
Hemphill, K (2014) The Names of God Revealing the Character of God
