What does God require?

Righteousness is defined as the quality of being morally right or justifiable.  For as long as man has walked the earth, he has taken it upon himself to define righteousness and live according to that standard.  All of us know someone who cares for their family and friends, who gives money to charities, who raises well behaved kids who become productive in society, who have a good marriage, and so on.  They do not murder, steal, or break the law in any way.  In the eyes of the world this is a good person.  So how does God define righteousness and who is a good person?  What does God require?  Here is how Jesus defines it in Matthew 5:

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.  - Matthew 5:17-20

The Pharisees were experts in the Law and worked very hard to keep the letter of the Law; the Jews of the time looked up to the Pharisees as an example of how to live.  When Jesus explains here that a persons righteousness would have to exceed that of the Pharisees, the common Jew would have been disheartened.  Jesus goes on to explain the intent of the Law and what is required to be righteous in God's eyes:

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment... 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart... 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.-Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, and 43-48

At this point a Jew who was thought to have been good and righteous based on their observance of the Law was crushed, for who has not given into anger or lust, and why should we be kind to those who hate us, our enemies?  Who has been perfect?  Jesus shares a parable in Luke 17 that I feel is helpful for understanding what is required of those who desire to serve God with a life that glorifies him:

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” - Luke 17:7-10

So should we boast in our own strength when we observe the law and obey Gods commands?  Never, Jesus teaches that we should not because we have not excelled in the law, we have merely done what we were commanded to do and what was required of us.  The requirement is perfection, not our best effort. This is further examined by Paul:

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. - Romans 8:6-8

This passage indicates that those who are not covered by the blood of Christ simply cannot please God "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)." Our human efforts, outside the blood of Christ, do not please God.  It is so fundamentally important that each individual comes to grips with this reality - we cannot be righteous by our own efforts because we are stained with sin and there must be justice for sin.    For if you do not understand your inability to save yourself in the face of a righteous and just God, you can never see your need for a savior.  The good news is that we are not without hope in our fallen condition:

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. -Romans 8:1-4

Turn your heart to Jesus today and have faith that his sacrifice has made you clean, repent and leave your burden of sin and guilt at the foot of the cross, and you can start living a life that brings glory to God.