My Answer

on Oct 16, 2026

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: My grandmother is always talking about living a righteous life. I try to explain to her that it sounds very arrogant, because no one can do this, and I don’t think God expects that at all. What does the Bible really teach about people that claim to be righteous? – R.L.

A: Some people confuse the righteousness of God with being self-righteous – seeing ourselves as better than other people and being proud of it. The proud Pharisee in Jesus’ story “stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector’” (Luke 18:11, NIV). But Jesus condemned the man’s self-righteous attitude, commending instead the tax collector for his humble prayer for mercy.

True righteousness – the kind of righteousness the Bible urges us to have – comes only from God. By nature, we are unrighteous and sinful, but when we come to Christ, our sins – like filthy garments – are cast aside, and we become clothed with the perfect righteousness of Christ. Now God counts us as righteous in His sight, because He has imparted to us “the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:9, NIV).

Once we have committed our lives to Christ, however, God calls us to live righteous lives – lives of purity and goodness and love. In ourselves this is impossible, but as we submit to the control of His Holy Spirit, we find strength to live the way we should, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and giving thanks to the Lord. This is righteous living.

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)