1. What Is Righteousness

Righteousness is basically alignment with the heart/mind of God (which at its core, is to love God and love neighbor – Matt 22:34-40). Humanity’s rebellion against God has caused the breakdown of our relationship with God and others. Ephesians 2:15 says about Christ: “His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity”. In Eph 4:19 Paul instructs to “put off your old self” and “to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”. Romans 5:19 says that through Christ, “many will be made righteous”.

2. Many Will Be Made Righteous

This Christmas let us remember that the coming of Christ to the world is to make many righteous, to restore broken relationships, to create a new humanity, to have us put on the new self, to create a new family in Christ with oneness, where all hostilities and selfishness are to be broken down.

3. Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Calling

Therefore Paul exhorts in Ephesians 4: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling… with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all… you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”