Verse by Verse Devotional on Philippians by Pastor Jack #162

A Tale of Two Righteousnesses

3:9 that I ... may be found in Him not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith

(This verse helps us to understand the contrast between the Roman Catholic concept of justification and the Protestant concept. The issue of justification is the issue of how it is that God’s people are found to be righteous before God.)

In this verse, Paul contrasts two righteousnesses. Not that there are actually two different kinds of righteousness, but there are two things men think of as righteousness. Only one, however, is the real thing.

There is a false righteousness which is of man. This is what Paul calls "a righteousness of my own." Elsewhere he says this about the Jews pursuit of this false, human righteousness: "For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God." (Rom.10:3)

This false righteousness, Paul says, is "derived from the Law." That is, it is a righteousness that comes by conforming to the law of God (in particular here he is referring to the Judaizers conformity to the ceremonial laws of the OT). This is why it is called "a righteousness of my own," because it is a righteousness that is dependent on my own obedience to the Law.

True righteousness, however, is not of man but "comes from God." It is a righteousness based not on conformity to the law, but "is through faith in Christ." Listen to what Paul says in Rom.9:30-32a: "Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works." (Paul’s reference to Jews and Gentiles here is obviously not absolute, since Paul and the other apostles were Jews and many Gentiles did not believe in Christ.)

False righteousness is righteousness I have in myself, as a result of my obedience to the laws of God. True righteousness is righteousness that is given to me from God, as a result of my faith in the Savior. It is not MY righteousness but the righteousness of Christ counted for me.

To be continued...

Almighty God, it is solely by Your doing that I am in Christ Jesus. Forgive me for my desire to justify myself. Forgive me for wanting the glory for my salvation. There is only One who deserves all the glory for my salvation. It is Jesus Christ, my beloved Savior. He alone is my righteousness. There is nothing in me by which I might be justified in Your sight. But by His righteousness I come boldly before You, knowing that in Him I am holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Father in heaven, open my eyes to see the grandeur of what my Jesus has done for me!