Why is the concept of being 'righteous before God' important?

Righteousness before God is crucial in understanding salvation because it underscores that human efforts and moral conduct are insufficient for justification. Romans 1:17 states, 'The just shall live by faith,' which indicates that righteousness is credited to those who believe in God. Zacharias and Elizabeth were described as righteous before God, which reveals that they were granted this status not through their own merit but through God's grace. This highlights the Reformed understanding that it is through the imputed righteousness of Christ that believers stand justified.