It is one of the characteristics of God that, while he will punish the wicked, he will show favor to the righteous; while he brings deserved punishment upon the one, he will show his favor to the other.
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12).
The righteous are recipients of God's favor and protection.
The Psalmist David testifies:
"Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield."
-Psalm 5:12
Who are the righteous?
The righteous are those who live by faith.
In Galatians 3:11, we read, “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”
Here, St. Paul stresses that we are justified or made right before God by faith in Christ.
Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and we walk in faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Only by faith in Christ are we made righteous (Romans 5:19).
It is Christ’s righteousness that saves us, and the only way to receive that gift is to trust in Him. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36)
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