New Covenant Righteousness
Many strive to achieve righteousness through works or adherence to the law, which is not aligned with the true understanding of righteousness as presented in the New Covenant. They have a zeal for God but it's not based on the right knowledge of the New Covenant.
And so they're attempting in futility to establish their own righteousness based on works, rule keeping, following their conscience or obedience to the law of Moses and its commandments.
None of this as you must know is true righteousness.
This teaching is going to be a two part teaching. This first part lays the groundwork for a deeper understanding, encouraging readers to engage with both parts of the teaching.
The New Testament reveals three kinds of righteousness, with only one being the true righteousness that God approves for our justification in Christ. The first kind consists of the righteousness individuals feel when they follow their conscience and do what they believe is right, independently of the law. Understanding these types helps identify the correct righteousness taught by the new covenant.
Three kinds of righteousness in the New Testament :
Conscience-based righteousness: moral sense from one’s conscience (typified by Gentiles).
•Law/works-based righteousness: attempting justification by observing the Law (works of the law, rule-keeping, legalism).
•(A third kind is promised to be explained in part two)
Conscience-Based Righteousness (what it is and limits)
The first type of righteousness discussed is that which comes from following one's conscience, as expressed in Romans 2:14-15. Paul indicates that even those without the written law, like Gentiles, have an innate sense of right and wrong that guides their actions. However, while following one's conscience can promote peace with oneself and others, it does not equate to true righteousness in God's eyes, which requires more than a humanistic understanding of right and wrong.
• Definition: A person follows conscience - their internal sense of right and wrong and so experiences a human sense of being “right.” Paul describes Gentiles whose hearts “show” the law written in them and whose conscience bears witness.
• Positive effects: Following conscience brings inner peace and smoother relations with others.
• Crucial limitation: Conscience-guided behavior does not justify before God and is not the new covenant righteousness taught in Scripture - it only produces a human or false sense of righteousness.
Non-technical takeaway (how it functions): conscience signals (like a bell) when we act rightly or wrongly; that signaling regulates behavior socially and personally but does not remove the legal/spiritual barrier sin creates between humans and God.
Law-Based Righteousness
The second type of righteousness discussed is that based on the works of the law, described by Paul as self-righteousness stemming from legalistic rule-keeping. Many, including the Jews, demonstrate zeal for God but lack knowledge of the righteousness that God offers, instead attempting to establish their own through adherence to the law. Paul emphasizes that true righteousness is distinct from the legalistic approach, which ultimately leads to a false sense of righteousness and disregards God's way of making people right.
• Definition: Trying to establish righteousness by obeying the Mosaic law, commandments, rituals, ascetic practices, or religious performance (fasting, strict moral keeping, self-discipline).
• Paul’s diagnosis: Israelites displayed zeal but lacked the correct knowledge. They pursued self-righteousness and thereby ignored God’s way of making people right.
Key proof texts cited:
• Romans 10:1–3: zeal without knowledge; seeking to establish one's own righteousness rather than submitting to God’s righteousness.
• Romans 2:14–15: conscience and the law written in hearts describes Gentiles, but that is distinct from God’s righteousness.
• Galatians 2:16: a person is declared righteous not by works of the law but by faith in (or the faithfulness of) Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 2:20–23: ascetic rules and human regulations are “elementary teachings” that have an appearance of wisdom but are mere human commands with no power to defeat sinful nature.
• Acts 13:39: the law could not free anyone from sins; through Jesus, however, everyone who believes is freed and declared righteous.
Moral consequences of relying on works:
• Produces false assurance and a performance-based faith (amending ways, observance, rituals presented as salvific).
• Encourages legalism and human-devised rules that perish with use and cannot change the sinful nature.
• Leads to distractions from Christ’s accomplished work and from the free gift of righteousness received by faith.
New Covenant Righteousness Explained
Righteousness according to the new covenant is rooted in faith in Christ Alone rather than adherence to the works of the law or moral behavior, which create a false sense of righteousness. Fasting and other religious practices do not contribute to one's standing before God; true righteousness is a free gift received by faith. The belief that one must amend their ways or prepare for rapture to be righteous is misleading, as genuine righteousness and readiness for Christ come from being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Righteousness Through Faith
A person is justified and declared righteous before God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by adhering to the law or its teachings. Paul emphasizes that the law cannot free anyone from sin and teaches that self-discipline and amending one's ways do not equate to true righteousness. True freedom and a new nature come from belief in Christ, which contrasts sharply with the false teachings that suggest otherwise.
Specific corrections made:
• Fasting and other ritual austerities are described as part of the old system (Jesus treated fasting as associated with the old wine/old wineskins teaching) and are not components of new covenant righteousness.
• Preparing or “getting ready” for rapture by self-effort (fasting, rules, special behavior) is rejected; the only requirement for being “rapturable” is new birth (being born again) and possession of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s message is that obedience, rituals, and self-discipline cannot justify or free one from sin - only faith in Christ effects true justification and freedom from sin.
• The distinction between law-righteousness and God’s righteousness is central to the “gospel of grace” teaching; believers should not mistake moral effort or religious performance for the means of justification.
• Practices that “appear wise” (asceticism, forced piety, severe bodily discipline) are characterized as human teachings that do not address the root problem (sinful nature) and therefore cannot justify.
• The correct way to be made right (justified, declared righteous) is trust/faith in Jesus Christ (belief in Christ), which recreates believers and gives them a new nature (the Christ nature) that is not defined by sin.
• Good moral behavior and following conscience are commendable for social and inner peace but are not substitutes for faith-based justification.
• Avoid basing assurance of salvation or hope of rapture on personal performance, ritual, or “preparation” measures; assurance rests on new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
• Reject teachings that elevate human rules, extreme asceticism, or ritual performance as salvific; such teachings are called mere human commands and are deemed ineffective against sinful desire.
Bulleted study tips:
• Compare Romans 2:14–15, Romans 10:1–5, Galatians 2:16, Colossians 2:20–23, and Acts 13:39 to trace Paul’s consistent argument that law/works and mere conscience cannot justify - faith in Christ does.
• When evaluating a religious practice, ask: does the practice claim to make one righteous before God, or is it an expression of discipleship that flows from already-established justification by faith? Only the latter is appropriate.
• Romans 2:14–15 as Paul’s description of conscience-based moral awareness (Gentiles).
• Romans 10:1–3 and verse 5 showing zeal without knowledge and the contrast between righteousness of law and righteousness of God.
• Galatians 2:16 on justification by faith in Christ, not by law works.
• Colossians 2:20–23 criticizing human rules and asceticism that appear wise but lack power.
• Acts 13:39 declaring believers freed from sins through faith in Christ, since the law could not free them.
In summary
• Many believers have zeal but lack correct knowledge of new covenant righteousness; they therefore attempt to establish righteousness by conscience or law-keeping.
• Conscience-based morality gives peace but not justification before God.
• Works of the law (rule keeping, fasting, moral striving) is the “parent” of self-righteousness and creates a false sense of salvation; it cannot free from sin.
• True justification under the new covenant is by believing in Jesus Christ; through belief people are freed from sin and receive a new (Christ) nature.
• Practices like ritual fasting, extreme asceticism, or performance-based preparation for rapture are not the gospel and are inadequate for salvation.
Part two will present the third kind of righteousness and further exposition of what true new covenant righteousness is; further details that will challenge some established views. Readers are urged to watch out for part two for full understanding.
(A Prize Chukwuka Teaching)
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