I had Joe lead us in that song. You notice, No More My God, Woodworth,
LM, that doesn't matter so much. Philippians chapter 3. It's got
7, 8, and 9 there. So turn to Philippians chapter
3. This song is pertinent to my message this morning. I didn't actually choose the
message because of the song once I got here and I turned to that
song and I said, that's the one I want to sing right there. Philippians
chapter 3. I will read the first nine verses.
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same
things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it
is safe. Beware of dogs. Beware of evil
workers. Beware of the concision. Beware. For we are the circumcision which
worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have
no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence
in the flesh, if any man If any other man thinketh that he hath
whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more." Paul was bragging
about his flesh here. He said, if you want to brag
about the flesh, I got more than you do. That's what he said. I more circumcised the eighth
day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin. Remember
that was one of the only two that when the kingdom split,
the steel held to the truth of God. The tribe of Benjamin and
Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law, he was of the highest
order, a Pharisee. Concerning zeal, I persecuted
the church. In other words, Paul said, I
put my money where my mouth was. Persecuting the church. touching
the righteousness which is of the law, blameless. I did everything
I was supposed to do. That's what he's saying. But,
now notice that. But, what things were gained
to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless. And I count all things. It's
not something just in the past. Well, I made this decision in
the past. I felt this way in the past and since I did that
in the past, everything's fine now and I'll do whatever I want
now. No. No. He ain't doubtless. And 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 dumb. That's strong language. You know? He's just now turned on everything
he just bragged about. I count them dumb. I count them dumb. Why? Why, you would ask. Why? That
I may win Christ. And this is my text here, verse
9. And be found in Him. Now notice that phrase. That's
the title of my message. 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. I want to try to concentrate
as much as I can this morning on this subject. And be found
in Him. Joe touched on that several times
this morning. David Wright mentioned something
to me several weeks ago, a few months ago, about a preacher
who preached from this passage, I suppose it was. He at least
made reference to this passage. And I'll give you what he said
that the preacher spoke, and it was good. I'm not talking
about it. I'm not going to preach on that. But he said, you know,
most people, they talk about when the Lord comes, I want to
be found in church. Or I don't want to be found here. I want to be found there. Well,
here's where you want to be found when Christ returns. In Him. In Him. That's the truth. There
are certain places I hope I'm not at. when Christ returns. If I'm alive, Joe, when Christ
comes back, there are certain places I don't want to be there.
Because there are some places we ought not be. But that's not
my message this morning either. This phrase, and be found in
Him, just rushed all over me and I haven't been able to get
away from it. I have four facts, and I'm calling them facts. They
are truth. Maybe a better way of stating it is four aspects
of the truth. There are not truths. There is
the truth. And the reason the Scripture
says it that way is because you don't pick and choose what parts
you want and what you don't want. You either take the truth as
it is, truth, or you don't take it at all. When you try to start
picking and choosing what parts you want and what you don't,
it ceases to be truth. Scripture never talks about the
truths of God. Christ didn't say, I am the way,
the truths, and the life. He said, I am the truth. But I will call them facts. But
there are four facts that introduce and be found in Him. Here's number
one. These are not the message. They're
leading up. They're introducing the message. We are to rejoice
in Christ's person and work, Only. Therein is our only confidence. And that leads up to, and be
found in Him. Secondly, there is no confidence
in our person or our work. That's a fact that Paul gives
here that leads up. These are not discombobulated
statements. This all is one glorious truth. There is no confidence in our
person or in our work. Not only no confidence, but we
should count our person and our work. He deals with both. Who
he was and what he did. Right? He bragged on it. He said,
if you want to brag about the flesh, here's what I've got.
Here's who I was, here's what I did. But not only are we to have no
confidence in it, that is our person and our work, we should
count it as what? Dumb. Dumb. Number three, here's the third
fact. The negation of our person and work goes right along with
gaining, or that is winning Christ. In other words, Christ It competes
with nothing. Nothing. It's not even going to be on
the stage with it. It's not there. It can't be there. The negation of our personal
work goes with gaining. That I may win. That's what that
means, to gain. That I may win Christ. Christ
competes with nothing. True grace, true saving grace
works in a person. The casting off of self and the
laying hold of Christ only. True salvation. I'll deal with that. Remember,
these things are leading up to this where He says, and be found
in Him. Here's number four. There are
those who oppose this truth. Beware them. Right? Watch out for them. They are
up to no good no matter how much they pat you on the back and
love you, L-U-V. and are compassionate toward
you. They'll be compassionate toward you until you refuse to
compromise the truth of God. And then they'll turn on you
in a heartbeat. And all the time they'll talk about love, love,
love. Look on Facebook and you will
find it everywhere. One of even our own, that is
one who professed to be a part of us, clicked on a like when
someone said that Christians, Christians are some of the biggest
hypocrites that ever walked. Really? And this same person
is talking about love and forgiveness and compassion. And yet point
the finger at God's people. When it comes to God's people
and the world says, what about that? Tell them it ain't none
of your business. That's what it means to be a
part of the family of God. It ain't none of your business
because not everybody is a part of the family of God. There are
evil workers. There is the concision. There
are dogs. Beware them. Don't try to win
them. Ephraim has joined himself to
his idols. Now did God promise to save Ephraim?
Yes, He did. But God says Ephraim has joined
himself to his idols. Therefore, what do you do with
Ephraim? Let him alone. Let him alone! These four facts
are the truth. You can't skirt them. You can't
take part of them. You can't say, I like those two
and I don't like the other two. Or I like that one, but I don't
like the other three. I like three of them, but I don't
like that fourth one real well. You either take them all or you
take them none. That's just the way it is. Because
Paul sums it up then, and be found in him. And that connects
this statement, this next statement, with everything he's just said.
And we can actually go back and stop because He says, finally,
here's something I want to put right to you. Finally. And be found in Him. May it be that God Almighty gives
everyone here this morning the ear to listen to what I'm saying.
Because I've had a renewed spirit in
the past several years of how important these things are. A little old group like ourselves
puts out a radio broadcast. We've heard nothing, you know,
so much from the radio broadcast, but as soon as you do that, you
know what happens? The enemy starts to attack. Does it not, Penny June? The
enemy will start to attack, and the enemy will, you know, he
usually won't flood in against us all. He'll start on one or
two people, just hammer, hammer, hammer. wanting you to compromise
just a little bit. Don't be so strict. Don't be
so hard. Don't be so judgmental. Look
at what Paul wrote right here. And he says, finally, this is
what you need to hear. Finally, all four of these things
go together. You can't pick and choose what
you want. They all go together. Now listen, first of all, to
be in Him, that is to be in Christ, is no mere technical term. It's not just some theological
term. It's not just something you banter
around in the seminary. That great, deep, technical,
be in Christ. Why do I say this? Because Paul
here in these verses expresses this longing, desire. Does he not? So I count everything but dumb,
but dumb that I may win Christ and be found in Him. Paul expresses this longing desire
that I may win Christ and that I may be not just in Him. You notice that? but to be found in Him. Now I wish I had both the intellect
and the ability to speak in a way that I know this ought to be
expressed. And you have to forgive me because
I don't have that the way I wish I had it. But I will put forth a best effort. I was going to
say my best effort, but that really means nothing. So again,
listen, Paul expresses, do you see this longing desire? This
is not the end of it. I just have to stop here because
I want to dwell with this and be found. Found in Him. That I may win Christ, be found
in Him. This expresses no mere technical term, does it? This is not just some lofty doctrine
Paul wants to understand. This is something he wants to
be. Be a part of, maybe is a better
way of putting it. To be found. Now, to found of
who? Found of God? Does God not know? To be found
of who? To be found of Himself. Paul.
I want to be found in Him. And others find me in Him. You
see that? That's what he's talking about.
God knows whether you're in Christ or not. He put you there. Joe
adequately preached about that. But he also mentioned the very
thing I'm talking about here. Joe is right on the line. The
blueprint itself doesn't save you. It's the implementation
of what God blueprinted that saves His people. This expresses no mere technical
term. It is personal. It's experiential. It's no mere collective term
that we may be found in Him. No, He's saying, I, me, me personally. It's personal. It's experiential. As I said, no mere collective
term. It's individual and experiential. In other words, it's more than
our election in Christ. Yes, sir. Turn to Ephesians 1. You know the passage. And like
I said, this is where I wish I had the intellect and the ability
of speech to say it like I know that it's there. But I don't
even know, Ellen, whether I grasp it in a way that I could even
express it. But let me try to. Ephesians
1. And just verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father,
our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places. How? In Christ. Not because we
were in Christ. But He blessed us in Christ.
We didn't even exist then. Save in the mind and purpose
of God. But Christ did. And to be in Him then, Joe, could
not have been me personally being in Him. Because I didn't even
exist. But it was the realm of Christ,
in Christ, it's in His realm. He is the primary elect of God. He is called the elect of God.
And we were chosen where? Not in Him here, in Him there,
before the foundation of the world. And we were blessed us. Do you see the collectiveness
of it? Now, I don't mean to say that
God just chose a plan and it had a lot to do with individuals.
That's not what I'm talking about. But here is not individual election. That is, God did not say, OK,
there's a couple. I choose them. And God did a
few other things for a day or two. And then He said, oh, there's
a couple more. I think I'll choose them. And
then the next eon later, He says, well, there's one more. I think
I'll choose him or her. No, God chose His people where?
In Christ. In Christ. Look, according as
He has chosen me in Him. Is that what He says? No. according as He has chosen us
in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love. Do you see the collectiveness
of that? You see what I'm saying there?
It still was individuals who were chosen, but they were chosen
according to the very... It had to be Job, and that's
why, as a group. You understand what I'm saying?
There wasn't a few here and then later a few there. He chose. One election. There you go. In
Christ. And it was in Him. Not because
we were in Him. We're chosen in Him. We were
not even the consideration. He was. He was. But Paul's not talking about
that in Philippians 3. He says, how do I find myself
in that? You don't until you find yourself
here and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness
which is of the law. Do you see that? Turn to Romans
chapter 16. And you say, why is chapter 16?
That's kind of like the end, right? I mean, I remember, you
know, Martin Lloyd-Jones talking about, you know, Ephesians. He
preached the messages on Ephesians chapter 1, and he gets to, you
know, the first verse, and he says, we usually look at it as
just an introduction. We pass on over. Let's get to
the good stuff. He said, that's good stuff when you first start
off. And don't think, well, we'll get to the end. He's mentioning
all these names, salute so-and-so, salute so-and-so, and it's kind
of mundane. But look in the midst of this.
Verse 7 of Romans 16. Salute Andronicus and Juna, my
kinsmen. They were evidently Jews. And
maybe even closer than that. We don't know for sure. And my
fellow prisoners. So they'd been locked up because
of the gospel as well. Who are of note among the apostles.
Look, who also were, what? In Christ before me. Now can it be referring to Ephesians
chapter 1 and that in Christ? That election in Him? No. As a matter of fact, the word
before here is the same word he used in Ephesians 1 where
he said we were chosen in Him before, that is prior to, the
foundation of the world. Paul says these two people, they
were in Christ before I was in Christ. Right? I'm not gonna say it was
a guy came into our assembly one time was trying to talk about
this and He was belittled Sad for us Sad for us Because God's
Word is what it is. We don't have to make it to be
what we think it ought to be They were in Christ before I
was Do you see that? Just think about that for a moment.
Now listen, being chosen in Christ, that is collective and representative. Before the foundation of the
world, that's collective and representative. Being chosen
in Christ, ushers forth in time by gospel calling. First Corinthians
chapter one, and especially verse 26, it says, for you see your
calling. You see it. And look at the context. He's
talking about the preaching of the Gospel. You can't take that
to the side. And then he says these words.
Let me read it. For you see your calling, brethren,
and he sums it up this way. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus. He's not talking about the election
back yonder. He's talking about when God Almighty,
through the preaching of His Gospel, calls out a people, summons
them, and they are brought into Christ. I'm putting it that way,
but that's what he's talking about. But of him are you in
Christ Jesus, who of God is made in his wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption. So, being chosen in Christ, that
is, the collective and representative, the election, the election, ushers
forth in time by gospel calling, that's personal and positional. When God, when the Gospel is
preached and God Almighty calls someone out by the Gospel, that's
individual. That is when God calls you, you
can't take two or three more with you. You're called by yourself
and you will experience that individual personal call. You
don't go forward just because others went forward and you don't
want to be left out. You're already left out and you don't know it. God has to personally, individually,
He said, I call my sheep, how? By name. By name. That ain't talking about the
election. They're already sheep. But I'm calling them out, how?
By name. Now sadly, I believe there are
some who come in with others, so to speak. But they're not
being called by God. But this is what Paul's talking
about. And this, that is being chosen in Christ, that collective
representative election, ushers forth in time by gospel calling.
And this gospel calling energizes this longing desire of self-denial
and confidence only in Christ Jesus. You are not saved by having
some dream or some vision about how you ought to be saved. because
you had some dream or some vision. You will be saved by the preaching
of the gospel or you will never be saved at all. Well, who are you? I know I'm
hammering on this because it's one of our own group, said I
am this. I'm too judgmental. I'm talking
about God's purpose, God's way, not my own personal opinion.
If you don't like it, tough. That's tough. Because this is
just the way it is. And I don't say that out of anger.
I say that out of pity. I feel for people like that.
They show their rebellion against God's authority. It ain't me
you're rebelling against. It's God Almighty's authority
you're rebelling against. I'm nothing. But if I preach
to you God Almighty's Word, that's everything. Yes or no? Yes. But I say that work, that
election before the world began, and then that calling by the
gospel, it energizes this longing desire, and it is this, self-denial
and confidence only in Christ. And be found in Him. and that I may win Christ and
I, you can put that there, that's what it's saying, that I may
win Christ and that I may be found in Him, not having mine
own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through
the faith of Christ, righteousness which is of God by faith. If your hope, and I say this
not because I'm angry at people, You see, the deception in this
world is so strong. The blindness is so deep. The deadness is real. But you
say we preach these things, we keep saying them. Peradventure,
God will grant to someone repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
If your hope is only that there was an election in Christ, your
hope has no personal or individual reality. Now that is profound. Not because I didn't come up
with it. I'm sure somebody else has said that over and over again.
Again, listen to it. If your hope is only that there
was an election in Christ, your hope has no personal or individual
reality. You're whistling in the dark.
You know the old phrase? Just like when a person goes
through the cemetery at night and you go to whistle to run
all the boogers away. Get them all out. Let them know I'm here.
That's the one thing you don't want them to know is you're here.
Be quiet. That's tongue in cheek. A little
levity there. But you understand what I'm saying?
You can brag about election. You can believe in the election
all day long. But God Almighty chose the people unto salvation. The election didn't save us. The election didn't save us.
It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching. to save them that
believe. So again, if your hope is only
that there was an election in Christ, then your hope has no
personal or individual reality. Number two, to be found in Christ
is further defined by Paul negatively and positively. The negative
side, Paul expresses this way, not having mine own righteousness. That's the negative side. The
positive side, Paul expresses this way, but that which is through
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Do
you see how he expresses it both negatively and positively? Both
exist at the same time. That's what it means to be found
in Him. Not having your own righteousness,
but having the righteousness God Almighty accepts. Do you
see it? Both must Be there if you are
to be found in Christ. Paul didn't say that. Yes, he
does. You're just so blind you don't see it. He says it right
out. And be found in Him. What do
you mean, Paul? Not having my own righteousness.
That's one part of it. That's the negative side. Not
having my own righteousness was of the law, but here's the positive
side. To be found in Him and His righteousness by faith. Let's not move forward to the
positive until we seriously consider the negative. We're prone to
do that, right? Well, let's get to the positive
part. But the negative is actually a good thing. I don't mean negative
in a bad way. It's a good thing. We're prone
to do that. Why is both so important? I've
already alluded to it. I've already alluded to it. But
I want to get to the very heart of the matter. Both are important. For no individual has the positive
who does not have the negative as well. I believe in Jesus, but I want
to hold on to all this other stuff too. Then you won't be
found in Christ. But I believe in election. You won't be found in Christ.
But I want to hold on to this just a little bit. Paul said
count it like done. Do you want to hold on to that?
How many of you don't even want to pick up a little piece of
that? Do you? You cover it up. Get it out of
my sight. It's to no avail. It's no good. Both are important for no individual
can have the positive who does not have the negative. In other
words, two things here. No one is found in Christ that
is found in that righteousness, which is of God by faith, who
continues to be found having their own righteousness. Clinging
to it, relying on it, finding confidence in it. They don't
go together. They don't go together. Those who look to Christ in Christ
only, look to Christ in Christ only. They quit looking to everything
of their person and their work. You see that? When they even
begin to, Joe, it frightens them. The conscience begins to scream,
why are you holding on to this dog? And yet I see people on social media who profess to believe
in free, sovereign grace, bragging about how loving they are, and
compassionate they are, and forgiving they are. But he knows they evidently
think they're God because they pick and choose who they want
to love, who they want to be compassionate to, and who they
want to forgive. And then they point the finger
at you! Because you're doing the same thing they are. But you're not picking and choosing,
you're just realizing there's some people out there you can't
love. That's right. Now, listen. That's the whole negative side
stated. Not having, not having mine own
righteousness. Paul said mine was of the law.
Not having mine own righteousness. That's the whole. But it's the
whole thing, negative and positive. Not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but having what? His righteousness by faith. You see it? Those found in that
righteousness, which is of God by faith, they reject any and
all righteousness that has themselves as the source or the sustainer. Romans 9.16 makes it quite clear. It's not just about law. Somebody
says, well, I'm not trying to keep the Ten Commandments. It's
more than that. Romans 9.16 says, it is not. So then, it is not what? God's
purpose is not. God's calling is not. His mercy,
look at it. His salvation is not. His compassion
is not. His calling is not. None of it.
It is not. So then it is not of him that
willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that showeth mercy.
And yet there are those who are telling me that I have to accept
as my brother or sister in Christ people who do think it is of
him that wills or him that runs. No. Not having mine own righteousness. I want to be found in Him. And
you compromise that truth with this world, you compromise your
very soul. Because you have both when you're
found in Him. I'm not having my own righteousness,
which is a false, mine's of the law. There are a lot of people,
and I don't keep the Ten Commandments, but I sure made my choice. I
made my decision. We had somebody tell Emily that
very thing. The day when she professed that God had done a
work of grace for her, and she wanted to be baptized, he come
up here and tell her, you made a good choice. I made the same
one several years ago. His testimony is praying hands
tattooed on his arm with faith, hope, and love. That ain't salvation. You brag on yourself. You brag
on your will. You cannot find confidence only
in Christ. When God says, it is not of him
that willeth. Now who do you believe? God or
them? It ain't just about, I don't
keep the Ten Commandments. I'm not a law keeper. No. We
find no confidence in the flesh. Everything that one time I held
dear, I now count it as what? Done. That I may win Christ and
be found in Him. Both are important. That's the
negative and the positive side. Because without one, you negate
the other. You know how grace and works
don't mix? That's the positive way of stating what Paul states
here. And be found in him. How is that
so? Not having my own righteousness.
I reject it. Remember, to him that worketh
not. Every one of us has worked at one time or another to somehow
think that we could please God. Now haven't we? He's not talking
about absolute lack of works. We all have evil works. Self-righteous
works. But he's saying to the man who
is brought by God Almighty and the preaching of His truth to
finally say, I refute all my works. I count all my works and
even my person as dumb that I may win Christ and be found even
my will, Joe, I count it as dumb. I mean, and I say this, this
is profound. If the Lord of Glory, who never
opposed the will of God ever, if even He would cry out, Lord,
Father, not my will, but Thine be done, who am I to brag about
my will? Get off of it! May God Almighty
bring you off of it. May He save your soul and you
quit bragging about yourself. To where you are brought to that
place where you find no confidence in the flesh, and you count it
but done, that you may win Christ and be found in Him. Both are
important because you try to take one or the other, you negate
the whole thing. The righteousness which is of
God and the righteousness which is of man cannot exist together. God says no flesh will glory
in my presence. None. From human will to legalism. It's all condemned of God. Is
that as clear as I can say it? Yeah, and everything in between. Or as Paul puts it here, anyone
who is found in Christ's righteousness will not be found clinging to
their own. They're going to let go of it and count it for what
it really is. That's bad stuff. Our righteousnesses are as what?
Filthy rags in God's sight. I know we look at some things
and say that's so great. Not in God's sight. Not in God's
sight. Anyone who is found in Christ's
righteousness will not be found clinging to his or her own righteousness. Even in their own sight, their
righteousness is counted as done. Right? Now it's amazing, they
want God to know this about themselves, but they don't want to do that
themselves. You see what I'm saying? You understand what I'm
getting at? I will cling on to this, but God knows it really
don't matter, so it's alright anyway. Oh really? You talk about
the height of spiritual blindness? Listen to me. Do not suppose,
and I'm talking to myself and to everyone in this small little
group, and to anyone who hears my words through whatever medium
it might be, Do not suppose that the election of God the Father
in eternity frees you to cling to whatever error you want since
that election was not based upon any good or evil in you to start
with. Was that election based upon
any good or evil in you? No. None whatsoever. But does that mean that I can
cling to whatever error I want and everything will be alright
because I'm one of the elect. You have a distorted, no, you are
distorting God Almighty's truth. That election, which was not
based upon any good or evil in the elected. It wasn't. It wasn't. That election bursts forth unto
a salvation that believes the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse
13 God chose you to salvation. Unto salvation through what?
Sanctification of the Spirit. And what? Belief of the what? The truth. Where unto He called
you by what? By our gospel. Now if you ain't
come by the gospel, I don't care how much you claim to know the
truth. You don't know the truth. Because that's the way God designed
the ark, Joe. That's the way it's carried out.
No other way. And everybody likes 1 Corinthians
13, don't they? Love. But they like L-U-V. Well, turn back to 1 Corinthians
chapter 13. And look at what Paul says about
love. Just one part of it. Look at verse 6. This is love. Charity. True,
bona fide charity. True love. What does it do? It
rejoiceth not in iniquity. But rejoiceth what? In the truth. And they talk about love, and
yet they'll call someone who eats up free will, and eats up
legalism, and eats up self-worth, and say, well, that's my brother
in Christ. That's my sister in Christ. Love don't do that. Love says to that person, you're
blind, and I hope God Almighty opened your eyes. You're dead,
I hope God Almighty breathes life on you. You're wrong, and
I hope God Almighty grants you repentance to the acknowledging
of the truth. Because one of the means God
uses in showing us how we're wrong so that we turn from it
is by somebody telling us about it. You don't just wake up one
morning and all of a sudden realize it. God Almighty will send someone
to you to rebuke you. and you will get angry, and you
will get teed off, but God Almighty will conquer your anger and your
being teed off. You know that? That's right,
He'll conquer it. He'll conquer it by His truth.
That's love. Love rejoices not in iniquity,
but love rejoices in the truth. I don't want to end up with just
the side of error. Read that song, No More My God,
I Boast No More. When you sing that, do you mean
that? When you look at what you do,
even yet today, does it not still reek? Don't you see yourself in it?
When you see yourself in anything, I'm supposed to present that
to God according to some people? No, I want to let go of it. No, let me give it to you positively.
I want to end with the side of truth. All whose confidence is
in Christ's person and work, to such a degree that they count
their person and work as dumb, they are the ones being found
in Christ. You hear what I said? They and they alone. You can
brag about that election back yonder. That election breaks
forth into this. And be found in Him. Not having
my own righteousness of whatever source it is. The only source
of my righteousness is Christ. What does it say? The best obedience
of My hands dares not appear before Thy throne, but faith
can answer Thy demand by what? By pleading itself? Not even
itself. But by pleading what My Lord has done. That's what
it means to be found in Christ. all whose confidence is in Christ's
person and work to such a degree that they count as done all efforts
of their own. They don't even find confidence
in their confidence in Him alone. They find confidence in Him.
Their confidence is constrained by His person and work. It's
drawn out of them and they can't help it. Did you know that? It's
drawn out of you and you can't help but count what you do as
done, and what He done is everything. You can't help it. All of these. But especially these two things.
Not having mine own righteousness. But being found wherein His righteousness
alone. That's what it means to be found
in Christ. It is so profound. And yet, it is that simple. Do you see it? Let me read it
one more time. All these things. Then you get to verse 9. And
be found in Him. What do you mean, Paul? Not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which
is through the faith of Christ. Christ's faith. Not even your
own. But that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That's where you'll find peace.
That's where you'll experience the very peace that Christ accomplished
2,000 years ago on that cross. When God gives you that kind
of grace, that's when you can read Paul when he says, Grace
and peace be unto you. You can say, I understand what
he's talking about now. God gave me that kind of grace, therefore
I have this kind of peace. It's one that causes me to let
go of everything but Jesus Christ. and burden our hearts and minds
with this longing desire. Burden it, Lord. And yet relieve
it. Relieve it through a God-given
confidence in Christ. Bring us peace while we struggle. Joy while we bemoan ourselves. Cause us, Lord. Make us, Lord.
Bow us down to the personal work Our Lord Jesus Christ, it's in
His name I ask these things. Amen.