Righteousness Only in Christ

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 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: - Philippians 3:7-9

    When we review the fall of man in the garden we discover just how great that fall was and how infinite was our loss. We became corrupt, dying creatures—Once strong, now weak; once healthy; now sick; once always living, now always dying. Pain, sorrow, sickness and death is our lot.

    We lost happiness and peace and became creatures of fear, shame, hate, and greed. We can't live alone and we can't live together. We lost fellowship with God, our sins having separated us from his presence and his favor. We are not dying men spiritually; we are dead men!

    Underlying the whole matter is the sobering truth that, in the fall, man lost his righteous nature. "God made man upright,” but man became a sinner, a transgressor, a rebel, and an ungodly creature.

    We have changed, oh! how we've changed! But God has not changed. The Lord is the same in holiness, justice, and truth. What he has required, he still requires. He demands of the creature what he must demand. He commands what man cannot produce—a perfect righteousness. "Who shall stand in his presence? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart."

    What doth the Lord require of us? What he has always required; to fear God, to walk in all his ways, to love God, and to serve him in perfection with all our heart and soul!

    But this is impossible! Of course it is, with you and me—but not with Christ. The Lord Jesus, in the flesh, fulfilled all that the Father required and satisfied his holy justice perfectly for all who believe.  Jeremiah called him, "The Lord our Righteousness.”

    Righteousness cannot be found in us, our works, nor in the law. But righteousness is found in Christ. "I find no fault in him," declares heaven, earth, and hell. Oh! that I may win Christ and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is but filthy rags, but with his spotless garment on. If I am in Christ, covered with his righteousness, I am as holy as he is.