There are only two men in the Bible who have been specifically referred to as being righteous. They are Noah (Genesis 7:1) and Abel (Matthew 23:25; Hebrews 11:4; James 5:16; and 1 John 3: 12). Naturally, many times the word appears in Scripture referring to groups or even to a nation, but only these two men God called by name as being righteous.
Combining the Old Testament and the New Testament use of the word righteousness, there are a number of words that are relevant. We can observe that a person who has righteousness is morally good, just, legal, proper, fitting, honest, ethically good, correct, obedient, virtuous in his relationship to God, and with a right belief. We must remember that any righteousness of the human being is imputed from Christ. I like the thought that a believer who is righteous has God’s righteousness imputed within him.
It is important for us to clarify what we mean to say that a person is in possession of righteousness. Because our text in Genesis 18 discusses Abraham’s bargaining with God for the preservation of the city of Sodom. The Lord visited Abraham to tell him because of the city’s wickedness he would destroy it. Abraham interceded with his Visitor by attempting a negotiation. He asked if God would destroy Sodom if there were 50 righteous men in the city. God agreed that he would not destroy the city for the sake of 50. This is where the bargaining began. He continued to intercede for the city with God by reducing the number until he came to the number 10. God agreed that he would not destroy the city for the sake of 10 righteous men. That number 10 is very significant in this bargaining.
Lot was a nephew of Abraham living in the city of Sodom. Count up the family of Lot. There is Lot and his wife, his three married daughters and their husbands, and two unmarried daughters. That is 10 people that if they were in possession of righteousness, God would not destroy the city! However, the sons-in-law of Lot laughed at him thinking he was telling a joke. Therefore, the number dropped by six.
Abraham expected Lot, even though he was living in a city of sin, to have successfully witnessed with his family so that they could all be called people who had righteousness. He was a failure to his family resulting in the destruction of the city, including those who mocked him. This demonstrates the importance of being an effective witness to our family members. It also shows how far-reaching the failure of that witness can become. No one on this side of glory will ever realize the value of witnessing. This is not just a matter of being responsible to get people into church. We are talking about the eternal souls of people that we say we love. Of course, this example can include friends and neighbors. We have a responsibility to do our part for the sake of salvation for those in our private world. Without making an effort, disaster awaits the individual and perhaps many people.
Christian Writer 