What does it truly mean to be righteous before God? Scripture shows us that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, and that our own righteousness can never make us right with Him. Yet God, in His mercy, has provided a righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
From the sinner who turns from his ways, to the humble tax-gatherer who cries, “O God, have compassion on me, the sinner,” we see that God is not seeking our self-righteousness, but a heart that turns to Him.
And as the river in Ezekiel’s vision flows deeper and deeper, bringing life wherever it goes, so the righteousness and grace of God bring forgiveness, transformation, and new life.
God’s righteousness is not something we can earn — it is something God freely gives through Christ.
Bible Scriptures: Darby Translation
Ezekiel 18:4 “4 Behold, all the souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Ezekiel 18:21-23 “21 And the wicked, if he turn from all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do judgment and justice, he shall certainly live, he shall not die.22 None of his transgressions which he hath committed shall be remembered against him; in his righteousness which he hath done shall he live.
23 Have I any pleasure at all in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; is it not in his turning from his way, that he may live?”
Luke 18:9-14 “9 And he spoke also to some, who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and made nothing of all the rest [of men], this parable:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.11 The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus to himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer.
12 I fast twice in the week, I tithe everything I gain.
13 And the tax-gatherer, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, O God, have compassion on me, the sinner.14 I say unto you, This [man] went down to his house justified rather than that [other]. For every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Romans 3:21-24 “21 But now without law righteousness of God is manifested, borne witness to by the law and the prophets;22 righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ towards all, and upon all those who believe: for there is no difference;23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which [is] in Christ Jesus;”
Ezekiel 47:1-5 “47 And he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the front of the house was eastward. And the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, south of the altar.2 And he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round outside unto the outer gate towards [the gate] that looketh eastward; and behold, waters ran out on the right side.
3 When the man went forth eastward, a line was in his hand; and he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters: the waters were to the ankles.4 And he measured a thousand [cubits], and caused me to pass through the waters: the waters were to the knees. And he measured a thousand and caused me to pass through: the waters were to the loins.
5 And he measured a thousand: it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.”
Ezekiel 47:9 “9 And it shall come to pass that every living thing which moveth, whithersoever the double river shall come, shall live. “