Righteousness and Salvation

A Response to Greg

 This article responds to Greg’s comment on a Facebook post titled “Satan is Not Opposed to Good Morals,” which argued that Satan promotes morality as a substitute for faith in Jesus Christ. Greg’s response suggested that living righteously according to God’s principles is essential for salvation, citing scriptures to support his view. While I agree that faith and works are connected, I believe Greg’s perspective risks equating moral living with righteousness, which can obscure the true path to salvation. Let’s explore why faith in Jesus Christ, not our own righteousness, is the foundation of eternal life.

For reference, here's the text from Greg's response that I responded to.

The Misconception of Righteousness

Greg seems to equate “doing good” or “living morally” with righteousness, implying that such actions contribute to salvation. This view might suggest that Jesus should have:

• • Praised the Pharisees and Sadducees for their strict adherence to the Law and moral conduct.
  • Assured the rich young ruler that his righteous living guaranteed eternal life.
  • Commended the servant who returned the talent for his honesty, granting him entry to heaven.

However, Scripture teaches otherwise. Righteousness does not precede salvation; rather, faith is the precursor to salvation, which leads to righteousness. Consider Genesis 15:6 (NKJV):

“And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord, and He (the Lord) accounted it to him (Abraham) for righteousness.”

Romans 4:1-5 (ESV) reinforces this:

“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”

Our Righteousness: Filthy Rags

[Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)] starkly describes human righteousness:

“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Biblical scholars note that the “filthy rags” likely refer to menstrual cloths, emphasizing the impurity of our efforts compared to the perfect righteousness of Christ. It is Jesus’ blood that covers our sins and His righteousness that is imputed to us.

[Galatians 2:16, NKJV]:  “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Is Righteousness Irrelevant?

Greg asked, “Is living righteously irrelevant, even to the extreme ends, to eternal life?” The answer depends on the source of righteousness. If it stems from faith in Christ and His imputed righteousness, it is expected and flows naturally from salvation

[Ephesians 2:8-10, NKJV]:  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

However, without the forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ sacrifice, human righteousness is irrelevant to eternal life. Only the blood of Christ secures salvation. As the saying goes, “First things first.”

Addressing the Fallacy of Equivocation

Greg’s question about the Greek word for “grace” (charis) and its meaning introduces a fallacy of equivocation, misrepresenting its biblical significance. He suggested that charis primarily means “happiness” or “joy,” which risks distorting its theological weight.

The Twist

Greg’s framing of charis as merely “happiness” echoes the subtle distortion Satan used when questioning Eve: [Genesis 3:1] “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” God’s actual command was clear: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” [Genesis 2:16-17, NKJV]. Satan’s question twisted God’s words to sow doubt. Similarly, suggesting that charis means “happiness” rather than unmerited favor oversimplifies and misleads. While grace can inspire joy, its root meaning in Scripture is far deeper.

The Meaning of Grace

In the Greek New Testament, charis (χάρις) denotes God’s unmerited favor and divine influence, not merely happiness. Its theological dimensions include:

• • Divine favor: God’s freely given grace, not earned by human effort [Ephesians 2:8-9].
  • Empowering presence: God’s strength transforming believers [2 Corinthians 12:9].
  • Spiritual gifts: The source of abilities given by God [Romans 12:6].
  • Thanksgiving: Linked to eucharistia, expressing gratitude for God’s gifts [2 Corinthians 9:15].

This contrasts with the Jewish law, emphasizing salvation through God’s initiative, not legalistic works.

Grace vs. Mercy

To further clarify:

• Grace: Receiving undeserved blessings, like salvation through Christ.
• Mercy: Withholding deserved punishment, as seen in Christ taking our sins.

For example, in the Prodigal Son story, mercy is the father sparing his son punishment, while grace is the lavish celebration of his return.

Conclusion

Greg’s emphasis on righteous living is understandable, but Scripture is clear: salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not our moral efforts. Works are the fruit of faith, not its root. As Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not works. Let’s keep our focus on Jesus, whose blood alone justifies us before God.

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