Righteousness Through Faith

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Philippians 3:7

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

(CSB)

A brief scan of the news headlines demonstrates the rarity of righteousness in our world.  In fact, righteousness is the rarest commodity on earth with Jesus the only person to ever have it and maintain it for his entire life (Isaiah 64:6).  The fact that any thing we do that is righteous is like a filthy rag means humanity is in a helpless situation separated from any relationship with God.  Thankfully, the one who was righteous and walked on the earth became sin for us, allowing us to become righteous through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

In Philippians 3:1-11, the Apostle Paul contrasts confidence in the flesh with confidence in the Spirit of grace.  In one of the other prison epistles, Paul reminds us that our salvation is not through our good works but instead a product of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8).  However, we must not take advantage of God’s grace by using it as a ticket to continue living in our past life of sin.  Instead the Apostle Paul demonstrates the life of one transformed by God’s grace who went from the worst enemy of the Church to one tirelessly laboring to spread the message of the Gospel.  This tireless labor is why Paul is in jail and later martyred for his faith. 

The antithesis of the doctrine of grace is the doctrine of works.  As a Pharisee, the apostle Paul was fully aware of the doctrine of works.  However, after his encounter with Jesus, Paul experienced God’s grace but did not just bask in God’s grace but out of love for what God did for him, worked tirelessly to spread the doctrine of grace. 

Those believing in the doctrine of works often cite James 2:20, believing it says salvation comes through living faith by good works.  However, the many references to salvation through the finished work on the cross leads to a biblical theme of salvation by grace and not works.  James 2:20 instead represents a call to those saved by the grace of God to bring life to their faith through good works for Christ done from a heart of love. 

While righteousness does come through the finished work of the cross and the grace of God, it should motivate us to perform good works by telling others about God’s grace so they too can find salvation.  If you are reading this and have not received God’s gift of salvation through grace, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulations, if you just prayed you have righteousness through faith in Jesus as your savior.  However, this is not a free pass to heaven allowing you to continue your previous life of sin.  While we will still make mistakes, God is there to forgive (1 John 1:9) but also expects us to grow through the spiritual disciplines of study of the Bible, prayer, and connecting with other believers.  We must also share God’s grace with others by telling them they too can have righteous through faith in Jesus.