“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
My Notes
What Does Philippians 3:9 Mean?
Paul describes his deepest desire: to be found in Christ — not having his own righteousness from law-keeping, but the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
"Not having mine own righteousness" — Paul actively rejects self-produced righteousness. The righteousness he earned through law-keeping — he does not want it. It is not sufficient.
"Which is of the law" — the righteousness produced by religious performance. Paul had it (3:6 — blameless under the law). And he considers it rubbish compared to what replaces it.
"But that which is through the faith of Christ" — the replacement righteousness comes through faith in Christ. Not through your effort. Through trust in a person.
"The righteousness which is of God by faith" — the source is God, not self. The mechanism is faith, not works. The righteousness Paul wants is alien righteousness — it comes from outside him, from God, received by faith.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Why does Paul reject his own righteousness even though it was impressive by any standard?
- 2.What is the difference between righteousness 'of the law' and righteousness 'of God by faith'?
- 3.How does wanting to be 'found in him' describe the ultimate desire of the Christian life?
- 4.Where are you still relying on self-produced righteousness rather than receiving God's?
Devotional
Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law. Paul had impressive religious credentials. Blameless under the law. And he says: I do not want that righteousness. It is not what I am looking for.
But that which is through the faith of Christ. The righteousness Paul wants comes through trusting Jesus — not through performing for God. The mechanism is faith. The source is Christ. The effort is zero. The receiving is everything.
The righteousness which is of God by faith. From God. Not from Paul. Not from any human effort. The righteousness is alien — it comes from outside, from above, from God himself. And it arrives by faith — trust, reliance, putting your weight on something other than your own performance.
Paul — the most accomplished religious performer in the first century — wants to be found in Christ wearing someone else's righteousness. Not his own. He tried his own. It was rubbish (v.8). The replacement is infinitely better.
What are you wearing? Your own righteousness — the moral performance you have assembled through effort? Or Christ's righteousness — the alien garment given by God and received by faith?
Paul had the best self-produced righteousness available. And he rejected it — not because it was bad, but because something better was offered. The righteousness of God by faith. That is what he wanted to be found wearing.
What will you be found in?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And be found in him,.... This is another end the apostle had in view, in counting all things loss and dung, and…
And be found in him - That is, united to him by a living faith. The idea is, that when the investigations of the great…
And be found in him - Be found a believer in Christ, not having mine own righteousness - not trusting in any thing I…
We now heard what the apostle renounced; let us now see what he laid hold on, and resolved to cleave to, namely, Christ…
be found in him at any moment of scrutiny or test; alike in life, in death, and before the judgment-seat. The truth of…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture