VERTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
Philippians 3:9 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.
We need to be careful not to get confused about righteousness. Bible scholars call the righteousness we have in Christ “imputed” righteousness. This is because it has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God’s gracious gift. We can never add, gain, or increase our righteousness before God. We can only freely receive the gift of righteousness through Jesus. Paul says it this way in 2 Cor. 5:21 that “He who knew no sin because sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.” Paul uses Abraham as an example for imputed righteousness in Romans 4:3 saying, “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” Paul then quotes David who describes "the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.” If Jesus takes our place to provide righteousness for us before God, we cannot improve upon that state!
HORIZONTAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does. Good works will never get us closer to God. Good works can only come through our right relationship with God. Consider Paul’s words about trying to work our way to being righteous before God when he says, “to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Romans 4:4). If we quit trying to make our good works a way to please God, we can do them for the right reason - to love our neighbor as our self. Others need to see Christ-like love, forgiveness, and service; because others need Jesus Christ as much as we do! Don’t work to be accepted, work because you are accepted by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!
Philippians 3:9 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.
We need to be careful not to get confused about righteousness. Bible scholars call the righteousness we have in Christ “imputed” righteousness. This is because it has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God’s gracious gift. We can never add, gain, or increase our righteousness before God. We can only freely receive the gift of righteousness through Jesus. Paul says it this way in 2 Cor. 5:21 that “He who knew no sin because sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.” Paul uses Abraham as an example for imputed righteousness in Romans 4:3 saying, “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” Paul then quotes David who describes "the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.” If Jesus takes our place to provide righteousness for us before God, we cannot improve upon that state!
HORIZONTAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does. Good works will never get us closer to God. Good works can only come through our right relationship with God. Consider Paul’s words about trying to work our way to being righteous before God when he says, “to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Romans 4:4). If we quit trying to make our good works a way to please God, we can do them for the right reason - to love our neighbor as our self. Others need to see Christ-like love, forgiveness, and service; because others need Jesus Christ as much as we do! Don’t work to be accepted, work because you are accepted by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!
Wow... a very enlightening take on that passage!!!
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