Righteousness Through Faith in Christ - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.
Philippians 3:9

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ
Righteousness is defined as "the quality or character of being right or just." Paul describes two kinds of righteousness in the above verse: firstly, my own righteousness, which is from the law; and secondly, the righteousness which is from God through faith.

Paul, expressing his heart's desire for the salvation of Israel, said that . He had already concluded that human righteousness cannot justify one before God, for "by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20). Israel was a case in point. Since they, to whom the Law was given, could not be justified before God by the deeds of the Law, it is vain for anyone else to attempt to do so.

There is another righteousness, however, which is marvelous to contemplate: the righteousness which is from God through faith. This righteousness is a gift from God, and is founded on the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was introduced after the Law had proven the whole world guilty before God: "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe" (Rom. 3:21-22). When the prodigal returned to his father, he discovered that "the best robe" was waiting for him. This righteousness has now been revealed in the gospel. Paul wrote, "for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith" (Rom. 1:16-17).

Richard A. Barnett