The world’s definition of righteousness is subjective. For example, a lie that is considered helpful may be termed a white lie, thus justifying the lie. For believers, righteousness is defined in God’s Word as the righteousness of Christ. Every aspect of Jesus’ life is righteous because it is according to the will of God, His Father. The righteousness of Christ is absolute and objective.

1.  A common experience for all believers (Phil 3:9)

The righteousness of Christ must be in the believer, otherwise he is not born again. Apostle Paul recognised that his righteousness was not based on his obedience to the Law. Instead, by faith, the righteousness of Christ is imputed onto the believer based on what Jesus had done on the cross (Phil 3:9). After salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must never cast Him aside and go back to building our own righteousness, thinking that we can approach God directly by ourselves. This would be marginalising Jesus. Jesus is our Great High Priest, only in Him and through Him can we approach God and have eternal life in heaven. We have no righteousness in ourselves. There is only the righteousness of Christ.

2.  An earthly experience (i.e. it begins on earth and continues into heaven) (Phil 3:10a)

(a) Once we have the righteousness of Christ, we will “know” (Phil 3:10) Him through experiential knowledge, i.e. we know Him in our own heart and life. And He can only be known through God’s Word. As we study God’s Word, we will be able to draw out the right principles for every aspect of our life.

(b) Our life is elevated to a new level by “the power of his resurrection” (Phil 3:10). And we draw much strength from God. We need not worry about the things of this world as these things become tasteless to us. Our focus will not be on carnal and earthly things, but on holiness. When we are holy within, we will be holy without, i.e. our inner man is reflected in what we do externally.

(c) To know “the fellowship of his sufferings” (Phil 3:10) means that we must be prepared to suffer for Christ and be persecuted for holding onto Christ.

3.  A death experience (Phil 3:10b)

To be “made conformable unto his death” (Phil 3:10) means that, like Christ, we are to die to self. Christ’s name will be our only concern, not our own name, pride or reputation, because our sinful nature has died with Christ on the cross, and we rose from the dead with Christ. Thus, we now live for Him (Gal 2:20).

Have you died to self? Do others see your righteousness or Christ’s?