A warning against those Judaizers who teach salvation by works. Who put confidence in the flesh. Who believe they are saved by personal achievements or combination of works and faith. But we must always look to Christ by faith and His perfect finished work.
Paul counts all his works as loss. He lost all things to gain Christ.
To be Found in Him. V8 that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him
Who? Paul wants God to find / see him in Christ. V9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; – Salvation and righteousness go together. Isaiah 61:10, Psalm 51:14, 65:5 – Any relationship with God requires righteousness. Psalm 45:7,48:10,71:19
1 – Righteousness is not found in man. This righteousness Paul speaks about is not his own righteousness.
Psalm 130:3-4 (NKJV) 3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But [there is] forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.
Romans 10:3 (NKJV) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) But we are all like an unclean [thing,] And all our righteousnesses [are] like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
Gods law cannot save man it merely makes us conscience of our sin. The law is righteous but it is not the means of becoming righteous.
Romans 3:20 (NKJV) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
Yet in our proud heart we think we can keep the law. The great deception of mankind. We don’t want to be found in our own righteousness.
2 – Be found in Him (v9) righteousness is found in Christ.
Of all the difficult things Paul taught this point is very clear that we are justified by faith alone. Rom 3:21 – A true Christian boasts in Christ. He promises if we trust in Him we will be saved.
3 – This righteousness comes from God V9.
The law doesn’t give righteousness God does. The source is God. Grace is a gift of God . We can’t pay our sin debt with our rubbish (debt). But Christ pays our debt. Acts 3:14 He is the holy and righteous one. In Christ we stand accepted as if we never broke the law. In Christ every Christian is found in Him. It is the greatest of all gains.
4 – righteousness is by Faith (V9) – from God by faith.
Romans 4:4-5 (NKJV) 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Biblical faith is denying all the righteousness of man and only Christs righteousness can save us.
Philippians 3:1-21 (NKJV) 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you [is] not tedious, but for you [it is] safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.