In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely:
and this is his name whereby he shall be called,
The Lord Our Righteousness.
~Jeremiah 23:6
Righteousness is God's nature; none of the other attributes can reveal it, not even His love or His grace.
Sin deprived man of this Righteousness; obviously, sin is unrighteousness. Righteousness includes all that is right, lawful, and just. God is The Lord Our Righteousness.
The Psalms are full of praise for God's righteousness; amidst all iniquity is The Lord Our Righteousness.
The prophecies concerning the coming reign of Christ on earth are proclaiming this righteousness of God. David prays in his last prayer: "O, God, give the king Thy judgments and Thy righteousness unto the king's son (Psalm 72:1), for then he shall judge the people with righteousness and the poor with judgment."
(verse 2)
God tried to teach righteousness to mankind in many ways. He himself brings judgment on earth and punishes that the inhabitants may learn His righteousness (Isaiah 26:9). God demands absolute righteousness from His people. But how could it be possible, when there is not one good person?
Regarding this fact, it is true what Augustinus the Church father said when he prayed: "Oh, God! Demand of me whatever Thou likest and I shall give it Thee; but give me first what Thou asketh."
To this respect we have a striking example in the meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, when Abraham returned from the battle against the kings and was blessed by Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1). Melchizedek was a type of Jesus Christ. Christ is the true King of Righteousness. He has fulfilled for us the law of God and now whosoever believes in Jesus Christ will be made righteousness by his faith (Romans 4:5).
Abraham's righteousness was counted because of his faith. In the same way everyone, who by faith stretches out his hand to the Lamb of God (who fulfilled God's law, God's righteousness), will be counted as if he himself brought it forth.
God is faithful and righteous, so when we confess our sins, He shall forgive them and blot them out, cleansing us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).
From the preceding we know that God's grace does not contradict God's righteousness.
Jehovah Tsidkenu has first given to us what He demands from us, for God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). What was impossible for us, God accomplished, and now He asks of us righteousness, which He could not receive unless He first gave it to us.
The Lord does not ask us to fulfill our righteousness by works, but this is His commandment: that we shall believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ (I John 3:23), for Christ is The Lord Our Righteousness.
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