" . . . and [that I may] be found in Him [Christ], 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 . . . "
This is one of the sweetest verses in the whole Bible. Here, the for-
mer zealous works-oriented pharisee (Paul) celebrates his liberation in his justification in Christ. The Apostle no longer regards his old (and false) "righteousness" to be anything other than "rubbish," (v. 8).
What an irony that God would make the former champion of works-righteousness the greatest proclaimer of free grace (received by faith alone) that the church has ever known. If we have the "righteousness of Christ," we have everything we need. God the Father views the churchman clothed in Jesus' righteousness to be as perfectly holy as His Own Dear Son.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Morality shoots short of heaven. It is only nature refined. A moral man is but old Adam dressed in fine clothes." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]
