Growing up in a church that was committed to God’s Word, I quickly learned certain behaviors were applauded – and certain ones were discouraged. For example, in Sunday School, my leaders would glow towards my parents for how I sat still and quiet, raised my hand, and gave the right answers. Since my leaders thought I was good, I assumed that God thought I was good. I was very mistaken.
Paul gives a list of his earthly credentials in Philippians 3:4-6. If anyone could have earned God’s favor through excellent behavior, it was Paul. He did everything right with intensity; he avoided everything wrong with great care. But none of that mattered for salvation. He was just as lost as any idol worshipper. Instead, Paul knew all of those behaviors were loss and all that mattered was knowing Jesus Christ. From the New English Translation, Paul writes this in Philippians 3:9, “and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.”
What mattered to Paul? Was it is his own righteous behavior based on following the Law? No, it was a righteousness that comes from Jesus. Not just Paul’s faith in Jesus, but the faithfulness, or the trustworthiness of Jesus. Jesus never sinned, never failed, never disobeyed. God was totally and completely pleased with the righteousness of Jesus. So, Paul wants the righteousness of this faithful Jesus to be the sole foundation for his relationship with God.
When we talk about justification, we are talking about a complete trust in Jesus Christ, and not in ourselves. If you begin your Christian life with a complete reliance on Jesus Christ – His righteousness and His faithfulness – then you must continue your Christian life with this complete reliance on Jesus Christ. Praise God that this depends on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Even on days when we are not faithful and trustworthy, He still is!