Is Being Righteous and Being Saved the same thing?

Many people are too quick to make words synonyms that really don't mean the same thing. Does being righteous (or just) and being saved mean the same thing? Is there such a thing as being called righteous without being saved? What does the Bible have to say about this?

There is a man named Cornelius in the book of Acts. He is called a just man before Peter ever gets to him to preach the Gospel to him. (Acts 10.22) This is the definition Strong's Concordance gives:

1) righteous, observing divine laws

1a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God

1a1) of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined

Was Cornelius saved before he heard the Gospel? He was trying his best to keep the commands of God, but he surely wasn't saved before he heard the Gospel.

The scribes and Pharisees were ascribed righteousness by Jesus, but He warned those listening that except their righteousness exceeded that of the Pharisees, they would in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Pharisees prided themselves in their righteousness, but instead of counting in their favor, it counted against them.

Mat 5.20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Were the Scribes and Pharisees saved because they were called righteous by Jesus?

Then there is a fellow named Lot. His salvation is based entirely upon one place in Scripture where he is referred to as "just Lot" and having a "righteous soul." It is interesting that the same word is used here as was used to describe Cornelius - BEFORE HE WAS SAVED. It is the same word Jesus used to describe the righteousness of the Pharisees - whom He also called the children of Hell. Lot never did anything in his life to prove he knew God. Lot knew about righteousness and had a desire for it because of his uncle Abraham, but Lot chose Sodom. What a contrast between Lot and Ruth! Why didn't Lot say like Ruth: "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."?

Lot never uttered a prayer to God that is recorded in the Bible. Lot never once turned from the world and it's allurement, but always had his eye toward Sodom. Lot called the sodomites "brethren" and offered his two virgin daughters to them to use and abuse in the street all night. But comparing himself to the Sodomites, Lot must have imagined himself to be a pretty righteous person. God delivered Lot from the destruction of Sodom only because of Abraham (Gen 19:29). You have to admit, Lot was a pitiful example for a saved man to follow, whether he was saved or not. When the likes of him are defended with vigor from the pulpit as being as saved as anyone else, the most wicked sinner can sit in the pew and identify himself as a saved man just like Lot. That is just the opposite of what preaching is supposed to do. The devil must be really pleased with that. Why would a man of God, or anyone for that matter, be so anxious to defend a man like Lot? A man who is getting drunk and molesting his daughters can sit there and think he is saved under that kind of preaching. You may think you are mature in your knowledge of God and full of the grace of God by not condemning people like that with your preaching, but the Holy Ghost does no such preaching as that. He is in the business of CONVICTING sinners of their sinfulness, which is necessary for salvation. Jesus would never have left an understanding like that in the minds of the people He preached to. If you preach a Gospel that allows sex perverts, drunkards, and adulterers in heaven, you are not preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ that the Bible tells us about. The Bible says plainly that they will not be in Heaven. Under preaching like that don't be surprised when the church is filled with people like Lot and the preacher is trying, in vain, to beg them into living holy, separated lives.

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