Paul's teaching on righteousness in Christ reveals an astonishing truth: the grace bestowed by God through redemption transforms a person, but it does not eliminate his natural propensity to sin.

Righteous Transformation: The Ongoing Journey of Faith

Paul's teaching on righteousness in Christ reveals an astonishing truth: the grace bestowed by God through redemption transforms a person, but it does not eliminate his natural propensity to sin. Even receiving this undeserved gift does not imply an immediate and complete change in one’s human essence—every believer remains imperfect, continually facing the challenges of their own nature.

The essence of the teaching is that salvation does not depend on our good deeds but is a manifestation of the Creator’s saving power, which works through faith in Christ. This gift embraces everyone who accepts grace, yet its practical application in one’s life requires constant inner effort and self-improvement. It is precisely through the daily pursuit of moral growth and renewal that we can truly experience the power of salvation, influencing every aspect of our lives.

Thus, although every believer is justified and endowed with righteousness, its true expression results from continual spiritual work, maintained and guided by the power of Christ. This teaching inspires us not to rest on our achievements but to continually strive for change—refining our soul and our life every day.

Why is there no universal righteousness observed among believers, despite Paul’s message that righteousness belongs to all who believe?

Although Paul proclaims that God’s righteousness is given through faith to all, it does not transform a person instantly and completely. According to Paul’s message, righteousness is a gift that comes through redemption in Christ—“justification and righteousness through faith in Christ” (source: link txt)—yet this gift does not eliminate the inherent human propensity to sin. All have sinned, and even having received this gift of grace, they remain imperfect in their actions. As noted: “All have sinned, and are lacking the glory of God” (source: link txt).

Furthermore, true righteousness does not stem from our own efforts but is a manifestation of the Creator’s saving power. And although salvation is granted as a gift, not everyone fully utilizes this gift; moral transformation requires the constant refinement of one’s inner state (“True righteousness is not accomplished by our efforts, but by the redeeming, saving power of the Creator” – source: link txt). Thus, even if every believer is generally justified and holds the right to righteousness, its practical manifestation varies as it depends on the acceptance and life transformed by the saving power of Christ.

Supporting citation(s):
"Both justification and righteousness through faith in Christ. Once the Law and the prophets testified of the righteousness of God; now it has been revealed to people apart from the Law; and this righteousness of God, founded on faith in Jesus Christ, is for all who believe, for there is no distinction. All have sinned, and are lacking the glory of God, and they are justified not by works but by His grace, through the redemption in Christ Jesus. God arranged that through Him the appeasement and reconciliation take place by faith in the shed Blood of His. By this God demonstrated that He was just even before, when in His forbearance He left sins unpunished; and now He manifests His righteousness: that He Himself is righteous and justifies those who believe in Jesus." (source: link txt)

"Salvation is not the payment for good deeds; it is the Gift of God. But not everyone fully capitalizes on this gift. And when the Apostle Paul speaks of those justified by faith, he cites the example of the Old Testament righteous. Scripture says: 'The righteous shall live by faith.' Righteousness by itself is not sufficient for our salvation, but it constitutes the moral condition of our salvation. Christ saves; salvation is given to the individual as a gift. No one, apart from Christ, by their own righteous deeds receives the right to salvation—just as the Old Testament righteous did not receive it until the Son of God brought the redeeming sacrifice." (source: link txt)