In Philippians 3:9 the Apostle Paul says; “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

As I read this verse this morning, a question came to my mind. What does Paul mean by being found in him and not having his own righteousness, which is of the law? Have you ever wondered what it would be like not to be found in him? When the Apostle Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus, do you suppose that he was not found in him, but was found in his own righteousness? Do you suppose this led Paul to write in Romans 10:1 through 4; “Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”

Here the Apostle is bringing forth a message to the children of God that is already born again, but is still in darkness as far as where their righteousness is. These people have a zeal of God, in other words, this was a Godly zeal, it was not a zeal to God, but it was a zeal of God. This zeal came from God, but this zeal was not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness. It seems that the biggest problem that we have for confessing Christians today is that they are ignorant of God's righteousness and going about trying to establishing their own righteousness by the law. It seems that most people want to glory in what they have accomplished through following the letter of the law to establish their own righteousness.

Do you suppose it ever occurred to them that they have no righteousness of their own, that their righteousness is as filthy rags as we find in Isaiah chapter 64, verses 5 through 7 we read; “Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities."

It seems that it is one thing to be in Christ and another thing to be found in Christ according to this text. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ. The truth that Paul is bringing forth is that our only righteousness is in Christ Jesus, it is through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, that is, Christ has charged his righteousness to our account and through the knowledge of that righteousness that we have in Christ we are able to understand that the confidence of flesh, the things that we have accomplished by self-justification of the law and the exaltation of the flesh is worthless. In verse three he says; “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

He then says; “If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

I wonder if we really realize how that we have been blessed in Jesus Christ, that our righteousness is through the faithfulness, the truthfulness, the trustworthiness, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ being imputed to us. That we may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. To share in his likeness. How wonderful it is to know Christ through the revelation of the scriptures, but not only know Christ, but also to know and to understand the power of his resurrection. Do you realize that this text is teaching us not only where our righteousness is, but also the power of his resurrection? That he became sin for us that the righteousness of God might be in us. He is our Righteousness, he is our Redeemer, he is our Justifier, he is our Resurrection, he is our all and all.