Real Righteousness
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 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;
In this instance, Paul speaks of how he abandoned his passionate, devoted pursuit of righteousness as a Pharisee. A righteousness pursued through the Law is a work of the flesh and is not of faith.
Sometimes one’s sense of being good is often their worst enemy because it interferes with the specific kind of faith God desires.
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
God cares about how we approach Him. He is not moved by our own self-imposed righteousness that we feel is enough based on our own effort to be good enough for God to look our way and open His heart to us.
God desires the righteousness Jesus imputes to those who put their faith in Him and stand on His completed work. God will not accept any other version of righteousness.
The righteousness Jesus offers freely to those who have faith in Him is superior to any other brand of righteousness. It cannot be improved or superseded in any way. So to attempt to approach God with any brand of righteousness is offensive to God.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.
No matter what might be happening in your life right now, your invitation to the throne of grace is based on the obedience and sacrifice of Christ, and that means you can go before God on that basis and get the mercy you need to help you.
I encourage you to take advantage of the righteousness you did not earn and go boldly before the throne of grace as often as you wish or need. God will not turn away anyone who comes to Him in faith in Christ.
