The task of the preacher, therefore, is to take the Bible and to do two things in every sermon: destroy self-righteousness and point hearers toward the alien, external righteousness of Christ.Luther on the Christian Life: Cross and Freedom
It is only when the world
shall come to know the Lord and obey Him, that the peace of God
can settle down upon it. We may cry, "Peace, peace," and there be no
peace. But he who cries, "Righteousness, righteousness," will find
that he has brought peace to the earth in precisely the measure in
which he has brought righteousness.Faith and Life
Historically, Roman Catholics have defended the notion that the righteousness that saves us on the day of judgement is infused, while Protestants have maintained that the righteousness that delivers us from God's wrath is imputed.Sola Fide, 26
Imputed righteousness means that we are declared to be in the right before God on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is given to us when we believe. Infused righteousness means that we are righteous before God because of our righteous behavior, because of the righteousness that transforms and changes us.Sola Fide, 26
The older theologians made a number of distinctions within God's righteousness that can be presented in a Ramist outline: 1. Internal (God's moral excellence) 2. External (the rectitude of his conduct) a. rectoral or legislative (promulgating just laws for his creatures) b. distributive (administering rewards and punishments) i. remunerative (distribution of reward) ii. retributive (distribution of punishment)"Systematic Theology