Can people be righteous without God?
There are people who consider themselves good or righteous. They base their actions on individual good works they have performed in their lives. Others compare themselves to people who, in their eyes, behave worse than themselves. Some conclude from this that they are good (enough) because, in their own opinion, their actions are sufficient to stand before God. And since they are at peace with themselves, they see no need to change anything in their lives. It is true that even people who do not believe in God do good deeds and engage in social activities, for example, by helping the poor and needy or protecting the environment. This is undoubtedly in God's will. At the same time, however, they often do things that are expressly contrary to God's will. These include violence, loose or illicit relationships, pornography, insults, lying, overeating and drinking, taking drugs, as well as false "gods" (idols), worshiping other people or things instead of the one true God (and much more...). God wants us humans to love Him and do His will. This means not only doing good, but also refraining from everything that, in God's view, is evil or sinful.
People often judge themselves based on their own moral standards, failing to recognize that God's standard is the only one that matters. The Bible makes it clear that all people are guilty before God and that no one can live up to God's holy standard. For who can claim to be free from pride, greed, jealousy, and envy, or that they have never lied, stolen, blasphemed, or acted against their conscience? Furthermore, the mere fact that a person consciously rejects God as their Lord and Creator is sin. Because all people are guilty, according to God's law we all deserve death, which is the punishment for sin. The only exception is Jesus, the Son of God. Because Jesus, unlike all other people, was without sin, he can redeem us from our guilt and thus from death.
Jesus showed us what a truly righteous life before God looks like. Jesus obeyed God's commandments at all times and with all his heart, and he commands all people to do the same. This requires the Holy Spirit, which God gives to those who believe in Jesus. God's Spirit enables us to live as righteously as God expects of us. Even if not all people are equally wicked, the claim to be righteous or without sin is a grave error. Rather, it is an expression of human self-righteousness. Only those who recognize that they are guilty and in need of salvation, who humbly turn to God and are willing to change their lives will be declared righteous and saved by God.
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.”
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— He did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.