by Larry Ferrell | March 16, 2018
Philippians 3:9 is a summary of the Book of Romans, for it deals with the heart of salvation in one verse. The principles involved are these: First, there are two kinds of righteousness – the righteousness that comes from man and the righteousness that comes from God. Second, God cannot be satisfied with any righteousness that comes from human beings. Third, God is satisfied with His own righteousness, which He offers freely to all who believe in Jesus Christ. For those who do believe, this is the objective basis of salvation.

It’s not easy to describe the righteousness of God because it is an aspect of His character, and sin limits our knowledge of Him. Yet we know that the righteousness of God is related to the holiness of God and both are seen in the law of the Old Testament and in the ethical teachings of Jesus Christ. The law is NOT God’s righteousness; but it is an expression of it, just as a coin is an expression of the die in the mint that produced it. It’s important to emphasize that the righteousness of God that is seen in the law and in Jesus Christ is different from human righteousness. Human beings would like to think that they can attain God’s standard of righteousness merely by adding to their own, but since the two kinds of righteousness are different in nature, this is impossible. God teaches that there are two kinds of righteousness – His righteousness and human righteousness – and that the accumulation of human righteousness, no matter how diligent, will never take a person to heaven. It’s like trying to buy groceries with Monopoly money; it’s a different kind of currency than what is used in the real world. It’s the same spiritually. There are people who think they are collecting assets before God when they are only collecting human righteousness. God tells them that they must leave the play currency to deal in His goodness. Our goodness has no value in heaven. Most people will not believe that. Therefore, much of the Bible is given over to showing why human goodness will never please God. The Book of Romans is the primary example. The opening chapters of this book probe to the depths of human sin, exposing our spiritual illness and indicating why human remedies will not heal the soul.

God is looking at you heart and mine. What does He see? Does He see deeds, even religious deeds that are not backed up by the divine life within? Or does He see His own righteousness, imputed to you and beginning to work its way out into your conduct? You cannot fool God with human righteousness. If you are trusting this, He must say to you as He says to all, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:10-12). You must turn from your goodness to God’s.

God’s verdict upon the human race includes all people – the hedonist, the moralist, the most religious person, and you, whatever you may be. It is one that declares all human righteousness unable to satisfy the righteous standards of God. You are included in that judgment, but you may not be able to feel that the things God is saying about you are true. Are you sensitive to God’s verdict? Do you feel the truth of His statements? If not, there is a spiritual disorder in your life and God must begin to operate on it before you will come to Him. Perhaps He is doing that now! You may be feeling the most acute spiritual pain because of it, but you must know that your new sensitivity is the first step in your spiritual recovery. Your recovery will take place completely as you come to God to receive a righteousness that comes from God Himself and is entirely untainted by sin. That righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ. You must come to God through Him.

Philippians 3:9 Reflection Questions:
Will you accept God’s verdict upon your goodness and turn to Him for the righteousness He gives you by grace?
How is God working on your spiritual illness?
In what way are trying to please God with human goodness?

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