“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness… but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” – Philippians 3:9
LIGHT FOR NOW: Union with Christ gives the believer a new standing before God.
Our acceptance is not built upon personal achievement but upon the righteousness we have received through Christ.
Paul speaks of something he deeply desired: “To be found in him”. Notice that phrase again: “in him”. This is the language of union. Paul understood that his greatest spiritual confidence could not come from his religious achievements. He had an impressive background, yet he counted those things as loss compared with knowing Christ. Why? This is because righteousness before God is not something we manufacture through human performance. It is received through Christ. Paul says, “Not having mine own righteousness”. He was not saying that righteous living is unnecessary. Rather, he was rejecting the idea that his personal record could become the basis of his acceptance before God. The righteousness he needed was “that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”. This is the beauty of being in Christ.
When God looks at the believer, He does not relate to him on the basis of his former identity or his ability to perfectly perform the law. He relates to him through Christ. 2Corinthians 5:21 says, “That we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. Notice again: “in him”. Righteousness is connected to union. The believer’s standing before God is therefore not something that rises and falls every day according to his performance. There will be moments of weakness. There will be mistakes that require repentance and correction. But the foundation of our relationship with God remains Christ. This produces confidence.
You do not pray because you have successfully performed enough to deserve God’s attention; you pray because Christ has brought you near. You do not worship because you have earned acceptance; you worship because you have been accepted in the Beloved. You do not approach God as someone trying to become worthy enough to enter His presence; you approach through Christ. This does not produce careless living. True revelation of righteousness produces gratitude, obedience, and love. When you understand that Christ is the foundation of your standing, you stop trying to impress God and begin learning to walk with Him.
The believer’s righteousness is therefore not a trophy of human achievement. It is a gift of grace received in Christ. And because our righteousness is rooted in Him, our confidence can remain steady even while we continue to grow. Your performance may need improvement. Your character may need development. Your faith may need strengthening. But your hope is not in yourself. Your confidence is Christ. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: When you feel unworthy today, do not run away from God. Remember that your standing is in Christ, repent where necessary, and approach God with confidence in His grace.
CONFESSION: I am found in Christ. My righteousness is from God through Christ, not from my own achievements. I walk in confidence, gratitude, obedience, and the assurance that my standing before God is established in Jesus, in Jesus Name. Amen!
FOR MORE LIGHT, get the message ‘Understanding Salvation’ by Prophet Dr John Linus.
QUOTE: The believer’s confidence before God is not built on the perfection of his performance, but on the perfection of Christ.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3; EVENING: 2CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 5
