The concept of human righteousness and its relative insignificance before God is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. This notion underscores the vast chasm between God's holiness and human efforts to attain righteousness through personal deeds. The Scriptures emphasize that human righteousness, when compared to the divine standard, falls short and is insufficient for salvation or earning favor with God.

Old Testament Insights

The prophet Isaiah poignantly captures the inadequacy of human righteousness in Isaiah 64:6 : "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away." This verse illustrates that even the best of human efforts are tainted by sin and are unworthy in the sight of a holy God.

In the book of Job, a similar sentiment is expressed. Job, a man described as "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1), acknowledges the futility of claiming righteousness before God. In Job 9:20 , he states, "Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty." This reflects the understanding that human righteousness cannot stand before God's perfect judgment.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament further elaborates on this theme, particularly through the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Romans 3:10-12 , Paul quotes the Psalms to affirm the universal sinfulness of humanity: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." This passage underscores the total depravity of mankind and the inability to achieve righteousness through human effort.

Paul continues this argument in Philippians 3:8-9 , where he contrasts his former reliance on personal righteousness with the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ: "More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God on the basis of faith."

The Role of Faith and Grace

The Bible consistently teaches that righteousness before God is not achieved through human effort but is a gift of grace received through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage highlights that salvation and righteousness are acts of divine grace, not human merit.

In Galatians 2:16 , Paul reiterates this truth: "Know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." This underscores the futility of relying on human righteousness and the necessity of faith in Christ for justification.

Conclusion

The Bible's portrayal of human righteousness as insignificant before God serves to magnify the necessity of divine grace and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It calls believers to rely not on their own deeds but on the righteousness imputed through faith in Christ, emphasizing the transformative power of grace in the believer's life.