Found in Him Righteous Philippians 3:9

As Paul recounted to the Philippian church the heritage and accomplishments that he obtained in his flesh, he told them he counted them as “loss” and “dung” compared to the “excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus”. In chapter three and verse nine Paul tells the church members the ben. efit of being found righteous through Jesus Christ rather than in his own self-righteousness where we read:

And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

The verse begins, “And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law,” Rather than depending upon his heritage, training, and position in the flesh, Paul wrote that he was “found in him” which means “to find by inquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience”. No longer did Paul depend upon himself for salvation - “not having my own righteousness” - or “self-righteousness” which he believed at one time came “of the law” or “by observance of the law”, but there was something far greater than himself which he could depend upon.

The verse goes on to say, “but that which is through the faith of Christ,”. Paul once again employs the word “but“ and shows the superiority of “that which is through the faith of Christ” to attempting self-righteousness by the law. Rather than it being his own accomplishments that secure a place for Paul in a relationship with God, he relies upon, trusts in, and clings to the “faith of Christ”.

Finally the verse says, “the righteousness which is of God by faith:” The result of trusting in Christ rather than himself for righteousness is that Paul received “the righteousness which is of God”. The righteousness that comes from God is the necessary one, and all substitutes no matter how “self-righteous” Paul may have been were insufficient for a relationship with God. This God righteousness is obtained only by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross at Calvary.

This verse should have ever reader thinking about where he or she obtains their righteousness. Is our righteousness of ourselves or of Christ? Do we employ self-righteousness as our access to the Heavenly Father or do we depend upon the righteousness that is of Christ which comes through faith in Him? As we ponder these things, let us keep in mind that as Paul wrote to the Philippians there were those among them who were promoting self-righteous acts as the key to access to God. Paul corrected that idea, and should we find ourselves believing that somehow our righteousness will be enough to have a relationship with God, let us hear Paul declaring the importance of being “found in him, not having my own righteousness”.

Next time Paul desires the power and suffering of Christ, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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