Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to the broadcast today. My text, I will give you in just a moment, but if you would, my text will be found in Philippians chapter three if you want to be turdied there, and I'll begin reading in another place, but then we'll come back to Philippians chapter three. But before I get into my text itself, let me give you this to start. In this day, the very day in which we live, men and women, boys and girls, old and young alike, they're being hoodwinked. They're being hoodwinked. They're being hoodwinked by religious preachers, preachers, men who preach from the Bible. They're being hoodwinked. They're being hoodwinked into professions of faith. You'll hear it. I came to Jesus. Or I walked the aisle and made a profession of faith. I was born and raised steeped in that kind of religion, making professions of faith. People, even politicians in Hollywood movies, movie stars, they talk about or can at times even be heard to refer to a come to Jesus moment. Now they really have no idea what that really means, a come to Jesus thing. I realize many use it as a mocking thing to mock others that they had a come to Jesus moment, but sometimes you'll even hear them refer to it in a religious light, a come to Jesus moment. Men and women highlight, they put out in the forefront their religious experiences, having some kind of religious experience, some kind of Bible experience even. I do not doubt people having their religious experiences. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying they do not have their religious experiences, but that's not what it's about. Listen to me. Now, listen to me. I will read you a passage. It's not my text, but I will read you a passage of what I'm saying. Remember, people have all these experiences, these come-to-Jesus moments, this owl walkings, catechizing, all of these things, baptisms and all of these things. And I don't doubt they have these experiences. But listen to me, unless my experience, unless your experience matches up to what Paul the apostle experienced when he was still just called Saul, was not yet called to be an actual apostle, unless my experience or your experience matches up to his experience, then we're deceived. You hear what I said? I said we are deceived. And I can say that because of Paul's words. Words that he wrote to the young preacher Timothy, and it's found in 1 Timothy 1, and Paul wrote these words. Listen to them. They stay right there in the text, Philippians 3, but listen to them. Listen to what Paul wrote. Verse 15 and 16. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief, or the prototype. Now look, how be it for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew or show forth all longsuffering for a pattern. Do you see that? For a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting life. Now I am not saying that as Saul of Tarsus he was on a trip to Damascus, I believe it was, and was on his beast, and God struck him off that beast and blinded him. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about what Paul began to believe, where God brought him by the power of his grace and through the preaching of the gospel. That's what I'm talking about. Paul said, I'm the pattern. I'm the pattern. Now, no matter what, remember, Paul said it. that Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting life. It's gonna be like Paul. It's gonna be like Paul. No matter what the Baptists say, no matter what the Presbyterians say, no matter what the Methodists say, and I'm not just picking on them, but you know I could go on and on, non-denominational, doesn't matter. No matter what all of these people say, just making a religious profession, just making a decision for Jesus, just making a profession and being baptized, being immersed into the water, just saying the sinner's prayer. People are called upon to walk an aisle and pray the sinner's prayer. That's not it. That's not it. There's nothing wrong with coming forward and telling people you believe Christ. and you rest in Christ, you trust in Christ. There's certainly nothing wrong with being baptized. God's people are commanded to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and they will after they believe. But no matter what all these other people say, these decisions, these prayings, these prayers offered up, these professions of faith, that's not it. Now here's my text. Remember I told you, Philippians chapter three. Here it is. Here's this summary. Here's this pattern. Just one verse here. Now there's much Paul says here, and it all applies. Yes, it all applies, but here's the crux of it. Here it is, when you boil off any other froth, here's what it all boils down to. Look at verse nine of Philippians three. And be found in him, that's Christ. That's the context, you can read it for yourself. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness. This is a part of believing Christ. It's part of coming to Christ. It's a part of a true profession. 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 faith of Christ. It's in the possessive sense of the Greek. The faith of Christ. His obedience. His believing God the Father. Through faith of Christ. The righteousness which is of God by faith. You hear that? 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. So again, no matter what everybody else says, that's where it's at. That's where it's at. Here's my subject for this morning. It'd be my title. My Righteousness Rejected, God's Righteousness Embraced. You hear that? My righteousness rejected. This is a true profession. This is a true experience that God gives to everyone that he calls by his grace to the gospel. My righteousness rejected. God's righteousness embraced. You see, confessing Christ, believing on Christ, and all these are true. We might say it's kind of a, Different way of saying the same thing and to some degree that's true, but there are different aspects of our it's all one believing It's all one faith, but has he confessing Christ because you call on him as Lord You'll confess him as Lord. You'll bow to him as Lord confessing Christ believing on Christ Believing in Christ all of these confessing Christ believing on Christ believing in Christ believing Christ you see the slight different believing taking him at his word and taking him at his word, looking to him and him alone, not having my own righteousness. I reject that. But that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that confessing Christ, that believing on Christ, that believing in Christ, that believing Christ, all these, always has a twofold experience if it is of God. When it's God's work, it'll have a twofold experience. And we'll look at that. If God's in it. And the gospel of Christ is there and it's power through the power, it's being preached through the power of the Holy Spirit and a new eyes and new ears and a new heart is given to hear this message and believe on this Christ. When that is there, this two-fold experience will always be there. The gospel of Christ is the means that brought me, that brings me and you to it. And we actually read that when Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. He wrote these words in 2 Thessalonians 2. Now listen to it. 2 Thessalonians 2, 13 and 14. But we are bound. He said bound. We're constrained in this. There is nothing else. This is it. This is the truth. But we are bound to give thanks all way to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. through sanctification of the spirit, that it must be first. That has to happen first. God must do the work first. God must act first. Through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. You see it? Belief of the truth. But it's not just any Bible information. It's not enough. Let me put it this way. It's not enough just to believe that God created the world and it's not by evolution. That's not enough. That's not it. Look at it. Look at it through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth, whereunto he called you by our gospel. According to Paul in Romans chapter one, first few verses, the gospel is the message, the preaching of the personal work of Jesus Christ, of Jesus Christ. Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you see it? Isn't that glorious? In our text, Paul declares this twofold work of God. You remember what I told you? Confessing Christ, believing on Christ, believing in Christ, and believing Christ. All of these four things always has this twofold experience when it is that work of God. If it's absent, it wasn't a work of God. It may have been a religious experience. It may have been a religious phasm, whatever you want to call it. And it may be real to them, but it wasn't of God. It wasn't of God. Because when it's of God, this takes place. Two things. Here's this twofold aspect. Number one, Holy Spirit, God wrought faith. Do you hear what I said? Holy Spirit, God wrought faith rejects personal righteousness. We read that in our text. and be found in Him, that's in Christ. Not having mine own righteousness. Faith in Christ, faith on Christ, believing Christ, confessing Christ, means you reject your own righteousness. and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness. And specific with Paul is this, which is of the law. He was steeped in Mosaic legal righteousness, Sinai righteousness, steeped in it, steeped in it. See it? 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. That's it. But look at what else he goes on to say in verse 17, the same chapter, Philippians 3. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk, so as ye have us for an example. Now, Paul said a lot of people out there walking, they're doing a walk, they have a walk. But listen to what he says. Brethren, be followers together of me. Why? Because he's the pattern. He's the pattern, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example. Us, not them, not just because a man walks, not just because he's religious, not just because he's made a profession of faith, not just because he's joined the church, not just because he's been catechized or baptized or whatever else. For many walk, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping. He said about this. Listen, that they are the enemies, and here it is, the gospel. They are the enemies of the cross of Christ. That's where it's all at. It's in Christ's person and work, and specifically in his substitutionary penal satisfaction of God's holiness and God's law when he suffered on the tree of Calvary. They're enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is what? Destruction. You don't want to follow them. You'll follow them if you will, but you'll perish. If the blind lead the blind, they'll both fall in the ditch, our Lord said. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. What is their shame? All of their righteousness, all of their doing, all of their religious doings. My brother Isaiah said years and hundreds of years ago that our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. That's menses cloths in God's sight. That's what our righteousnesses are like to God. They might look fine to us, but to God, they are filthy rags, menses clothes. Holy Spirit, I say Holy Spirit, gospel-wrought faith rejects personal righteousness. It clings to Christ and Christ alone. It rejects law righteousness. It rejects moral righteousness. It rejects ethical righteousness as a standing before God. No believer is ever taught to try to break the law, but he knows he can't keep the law. He knows it, she knows it, but it causes us to reject personal, my own, not having my own righteousness. Paul specifically was of the law. But it doesn't matter what righteousness, whether it's law righteousness, moral righteousness, ethical righteousness, religious righteousness, ecclesiastical or church righteousness. A lot of people just, they find their hope and they're doing what their church tells them to do. They think it brings them favor or rightness or perfection before God, and it does not. We When we're called of God, we reject our own righteousness. All, listen to me. We reject all man-centered righteousness. True gospel-wrought faith has no confidence in man. And right here, even in our own chapter text, we read Paul saying this. Look at what he says. Chapter three, verse one. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed, is not grievous, but for you it's safe. Beware of dogs. He's talking about men now. They're unclean men. They may be very moral amongst men, but they're dogs. They deal slyly. Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of the concision, that is, circumcisors. For we are, now look at it, remember what I told you. True gospel-wrought faith has no confidence in men, in men and their righteousness. For we are the circumcision, which, what kind of circumcision? Not a circumcision of the flesh, a circumcision of the heart, Romans chapter two. A circumcision of the heart, a work done by God. For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit, that is, it's inner, That's not to say that some of our worship does not show up out here, but our worship basically, fundamentally, in its true foundation is inner, it's in the spirit, the unseen realm, it's inside. For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus. Now look at it, and have no confidence. How much confidence? No confidence in the flesh. And he goes on to talk about his flesh. He said, though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any man thinketh that he hath whereof, he might trust in the flesh I more. And he's talking here not about evil, immoral flesh, Certainly that does us no good before God. That will only condemn us apart from Jesus Christ. But look at it, here's his flesh, circumcised the eighth day. He said, that's flesh. That's flesh, got no confidence in the flesh. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew of Hebrews as touching the law of Pharisee concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. He said blameless. But what things were gained 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. You see how he's caught up with Jesus Christ and his righteousness. Who he is, what he did, and I can even say what he's still doing today as our intercessor in heaven. Book, yea, doubtless that I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I've suffered the loss of all things and do count them but what? Dung. That's strong language. Dung. That I might win Christ. You see it? And then we read our 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 righteousness which is of God by faith. Listen to what Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia. Galatians chapter two, verse 16. And he's actually recounting something that he said to the church at Antioch when Peter was around. And look at what, verse 16 of Galatians 2. Knowing, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Is it not faith in Jesus Christ? Though that's certainly a part of it, but this is the faith of Jesus Christ. It's in the possessive sense in the Greek. the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified, not by our believing, you see, but that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. You see it? No flesh be justified. Paul wrote, again, to that young preacher Timothy, and he wrote these words to Timothy. A young man, listen to what he wrote, and here's Paul's second letter to Timothy, second Timothy chapter one, and he wrote these words, look at verse eight. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor be his prisoner. but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel. That's why Paul's in jail, not for doing wrong, but for preaching Christ. It upset people. They had him jailed for it. Be not thou for ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and of me, his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. Now listen, who hath saved us and called us with the holy calling. He saved us before he even called us. Saved us and called us with a holy calling look not according to our works But according to his own purpose in grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began God purposed to do all the work. Salvation is not about doing. Salvation is about what Christ has already done. It's not do, it's done. Therefore, we can reject all this other righteousness. Titus chapter three, listen to what Paul wrote to Titus. And he wrote these words to this preacher, they named Titus, in chapter three of Titus, he says, put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready unto every good work, to do what's right, do what's right, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, don't be, fouling out with people and fighting with people, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers' lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after that, the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared. not by works of righteousness, which we have done. Paul keeps hammering and hammering and hammering on that. But according to his mercy, he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. That's a God work. It's not about a man work. It's about a God work. washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Do you see it? Again, I say, Holy Spirit, gospel-wrought faith rejects personal righteousness. But here's the second aspect. Here's that second thing that is always there, that two-fold work of God. Holy Spirit, gospel-wrought faith embraces Christ alone and Christ alone as the righteousness God accepts. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, that which is of Jesus Christ's own faith, the righteousness which is of God by faith. And remember, we believe in his faith, but we believe him in his faith. It's his faith that we rest in, not our faith. It's not our act of believing, even continually believing, which all of God's people do, because he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But it's not the believing, our believing, our act of believing, it's his believing God, his obeying God. That's what we rest in. You see, Christ alone. Christ alone is the only truly righteous man. He's the only truly righteous man. And he indeed is the righteous man. He was the righteous man before the law of God and before God himself. He was the only righteous man in true bona fide morality. He's the only truly righteous man in true ethics. He's the only truly righteous man in perfect religion. His religion was perfect, mine is flawed. The religion here at Sovereign Grace Chapel is flawed, is flawed. But our desire is to be found in Him, found in Him. Despite our flaws, despite our sins, despite our failures, our desire is to be found in Him and we reject our righteousness and we embrace God's righteousness, the person of Jesus of Nazareth. So he is the only righteous man. Again, I say, before the law and before God, in true morality, in true ethics, in perfect religion. He's the only righteous man in ecclesiastical things, but he's the head of the church. He never stares us wrong, never. And the head is the head of the church. Christ alone was, and he is the only God-man righteousness. That's what makes us so glorious, the God-man righteousness. No wonder Paul says it be found in him. 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. Salvation, salvation as something we experience, and God's people do experience it. It is experienced. Salvation as something we experience starts with these two parts. Me, nothing. Christ, everything. It's that simple. And yet that impossible to really believe and love and rest in and practice as your life before God, as your life before God and before others, it's impossible apart from the work of God himself. It has those two parts, always me, nothing. Christ, everything. And when God starts it, it never stops. It never stops, look at it again. 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, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I'd already attained, either were already perfect. He said, I've not really got it all the way there yet. But I follow after, if that I may what? Apprehend, lay hold of, that for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do for getting those things which are brought behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ. Christ Jesus. I ask you, is that your experience? Me? Can you say this about me? Nothing. I've seen this. Me? Nothing. Christ everything.