The biblical word “righteousness” can best, be understood by the term “Christlikeness.” If you do a word study in the original language of the New Testament, the word, righteousness simply means “rightness.“ It speaks of “right“ nature/character, as well as “right“ behavior.
The calling of every Christian this to be conformed to the image of Christ, according to Romans 8:29. Christians have different assignments, and different ministry gifts to carry out those assignments, but everyone of us have the same calling or purpose, and that is Christlikeness from the inside out. Nothing is more “right” or “sound/whole” than Jesus, and we have been grafted into His “wholeness.“ For the new creation in Christ, Jesus is your new normal.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that as new creations we have become the righteousness of God “in Christ.” That means, our new nature is the nature of Christ. in other words, our new nature, our new identity is Christlikeness. Through our union with Him Jesus has given to us His righteousness. It’s a free gift. We are not growing toward righteousness. We grow from the righteousness of Christ. We grow because of the righteousness of Christ that is now joined to us.
Just like Christlikeness identifies our new character/nature, we step-by-step, by faith manifest the righteousness of Christ (Christlikeness) in our attitudes and behavior. Just imagine Jesus Christ Himself, clothed in your humanity, living the kind of life He lives being lived through you daily. The word righteousness in the New Testament in someways reflects the idea of shalom in the old testament. A life filled with and manifesting “well-being.“
Jesus is the TRUTH and righteousness is simply truth walking. Every day is “just another day in the life of Jesus“ lived out through your humanity and mine. That is righteousness. That is personal wholeness experienced and expressed from the inside out.