◄ What Does Philippians 3:9 Mean? ►

Before he met Jesus, Paul was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. In other words, he was exemplary in outwardly keeping the Law of Moses, as required by the self-righteous religious mind-set. But his righteousness was a works-based self-righteousness, a righteousness that he thought would please God, but that fell far short of the standard that God required, for only the righteousness of Christ reached the perfection, goodness, and grace that was required of a thrice-holy God.

Paul had to come to the shocking truth that within his very being was an inherited sin nature that was far removed from the holiness that God required of everyman, and only the precious blood of the perfect God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, could cleanse his heart and wash away the blackness of his sins.

Paul discovered that Christ paid the full price for all his sin and by believing on Him. God clothed Paul in the righteousness of Christ so that he would never again be enslaved by sin.

Paul, like every man, had to come to an understanding that he did not have any righteousness of his own through keeping the Law, but he was imputed with the pure and holy righteousness of Christ simply by believing on Him as his Saviour.

Many religious people today will not admit to their sinfulness, for they measure their righteousness against their own standards or those of other people or by the ten commandments. But sadly, they fail to see that as a member of a fallen race, they are inheritors of sin and death and fall short of the glory of God.

It is only through the grace of God that He sent His only begotten Son to pay the full price of our sins so that simply by believing in Him we would be clothed in righteousness of God, based on faith in Christ.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour.

Heavenly Father, thank You that although I have no righteousness of my own, You sent Christ to pay the price for my sins so that by believing on Him, I might be clothed in His righteousness forever. Praise His holy name, AMEN.