The crucial point, however, is that God now "commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead".
Human righteousness (or the "outward man") was the domain of the magistrate or government.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
And we are told that the Wicked Priest, "in the sight of the Teacher of Righteousness and the men of his counsel," has been given by God "into the hands of his enemies to abuse with smiting that he might be consumed with bitterness of soul, because he has done evil against His elect".
It is for them that the founders of religions have "decreed that the soul is immortal, not caring for truth but only for righteousness, to lead men to virtue".
Government could secure human righteousness, but it could not make man righteous before God.
More often than not, especially with loved ones, friends and co-workers, we take up the cause of "my way is better" and try to force our righteousness onto our fellow man.
The book vilifies the close companions of the Prophet, calling them "bums from Persia" and "clowns", whereas the Qur'an treats them as men of righteousness.
More honorably, if not necessarily more accurately, we imagine our predecessors as nobler and braver than our small and anxious selves — as men and women who stuck up for principle and, by their righteousness, moved the world.
As Adam's sin led to the condemnation of all men, so the righteousness of Jesus leads to acquittal and life for all men' (Romans 5 18).
