Malachi 3:16-18
16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. 18 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous (just) and the wicked (sinner), between him that serves God and him that does not serve Him.
Today, no practical distinction is made between the righteous and the wicked in most Christian literature and teaching. "We are all sinners" is the mantra, before and after what can be called coming to Jesus or salvation, from the minister on down. Yet sinners cannot be called "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14) because they are not. They are walking in darkness (John 8:12) because they are sinners and falling short of the glory of God, not followers of Jesus. They are called to repent and be converted (Acts 3:19). That's the basis to get God's forgiveness and a new slate to start a relationship with God as a transformed (converted) person.
Jesus says this about those who are formerly sinners and presently righteous because they have repented and have become obedient to God:
John 17:22-23
22 And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.
Romans 3:23 "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" is no longer speaking for them, because Romans 3:24 is their experience indeed by faith, upon answering the call of the Gospel: they have been "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
They are called the "just" or "righteous." In the parable of the sheep and the goats, they are simply called "the righteous" (verse 37):
Matthew 25:31-40
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ 40 “The King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
They have left their life of sin as they have answered the Gospel's call to repent to be saved:
Luke 5:31-32
31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 15:7
I say to you, that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.
Alert: There is a false teaching that ignores the reality of being righteous altogether and gives the understanding that repentance is a daily endeavor like sin is an unavoidable thing that goes on daily, even deliberate commission of the same sin. These words of Jesus are not understood:
John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 A slave does not live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Matthew 5:29-30
29 And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.
In the end, Jesus will usher into his eternal kingdom the righteous and holy, those He has freed from sin/justified (made righteous) and sanctified (made holy so as to be called saints) through their faith in Him, which they have maintained to the end:
Revelation 22:11-12
11 The one being unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still; and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he who is righteous, let him do righteousness still; and he who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to each as is his work.
An alternate translation of Revelation 22, verse 12, says:
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to each one according to what he has done."
So, under false teachings, the preaching to get saved isn't about opening people's eyes, turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so they can be sanctified by their faith in (trust in and obedience to) Jesus (Acts 26:18)! Let's call it what it is: a satanic "gospel" that twists the truth and saves no one. So, people keep on struggling in their sins and get to think that's the normal Christian experience. That's sad, because countless are calling themselves Christians and don't understand what Jesus is supposed to have done for them on the cross.
Matthew 1:21
And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Acts 3:26
God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent Him to you first, to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from your wickedness.
wickedness = sin = iniquity = unrighteousness
So, when the false teacher again says, "there is no one righteous, no, not one" out of Romans 3:10, ask him/her to read it in context (Romans 3:11-18) and see if what is said (it's quoting from Psalm 14) can possibly be talking about a "born again" new creature in Christ — a saint. If that is what the person believes, then it means there is no power of the cross to save in what that person believes and preaches. We need to be alert and aware of these things. This is not a time to blindly trust a preacher and not study the scriptures. That time never was. Wake up to righteousness and do not sin!
1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
See also:
Are we All Sinners? Is There No One Righteous (Romans 3:10)?
Who is the man struggling in Romans 7?
Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?
The Bible speaks about the wicked (sinners) and the righteous (saints)
Who is Hebrews 10:26 speaking to?
Freedom From Sin
The Great Tribulation
The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath. - Proverbs 11:23
Jesus vs False Teachers
The Goal of Repentance
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