Our word for today has been a challenge throughout the history of the church because there are three basic dynamics of righteousness: absolute, relative, and credited. So, it can be confusing which of these three God is talking about at any given time. But thankfully we usually have enough context around the word to know which one God is talking about. And we certainly have enough other passages in the rest of the Bible that clarifies how they all work together. We have already looked at both absolute righteousness and the credited aspect with Abraham where God credits his faith as righteousness because God is the only one who is one hundred percent absolutely righteous. So, let's look at the last basic dynamic of righteousness. God also uses this word righteousness in a relative sense in that one person is considered more righteous than another person. This is how our word is used today in our chapter 18 of Genesis. Genesis 18:22-23 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the צַדִּיק righteous with the wicked? Our word for today is צַדִּיק just, innocent, in the right, upright, righteous, devout. It is used 204 times in the Old Testament. The dynamic we are looking at today of relative righteousness is displayed really well in Proverbs chapter 10 where we see the “righteous” contrasted with the wicked several times. Proverbs 10:3 The Lord does not let the צַדִּיק righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Proverbs 10:6-7 Blessings crown the head of the צַדִּיק righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. The name of the צַדִּיק righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot. Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of the צַדִּיק righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Proverbs 10:20-21 The tongue of the צַדִּיק righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the צַדִּיק righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. Proverbs 10:24-25 What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the צַדִּיק righteous desire will be granted. When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the צַדִּיק righteous stand firm forever. Proverbs 10:28 The prospect of the צַדִּיק righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. Proverbs 10:30-31 The צַדִּיק righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. From the mouth of the צַדִּיק righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
Again, we are talking about relative righteousness in that a person is considered more righteous than another person whereas absolute righteousness is how a person measures up to God’s standard. Remember from an absolute righteousness evaluation everyone falls short and is not righteous. That is all except one. Jesus is the only one who is righteous in an absolute sense because he is the only one without sin. So, Lot could only be called righteous because he was closer to God’s standard in how he lived his life compared to his neighbors in Sodom and Gomorrah. The righteous people that Abraham was referring to was his nephew Lot during this exchange with YHWH. I find it interesting that YHWH allows this conversation because clearly it would not happen unless God wanted it to happen. We see this in Genesis 18:33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. So, God is in control and allows Abraham to speak to him which shows God’s character that he wants to save and forgive not condemn and destroy. We see these very words later in the Bible. Ezekiel 33:11 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?
