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:

Philippians 3:9 (KJV)

Context

The book of Philippians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church in Philippi. In this passage, Paul addresses the issue of righteousness and the proper foundation of one’s faith, warning against false teachers who promoted confidence in human religious achievement.

Meaning

“Be found in him” means to have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, to abide in Him, and to be identified with Him. It implies a deep union with Christ, so that believers are seen by God as being in Him, not in their own merit.

Paul contrasts two sources of righteousness. The first is “mine own righteousness, which is of the law”—a righteousness derived from obeying the law and its rituals. In his pre-Christian life, Paul was a Pharisee who strictly adhered to the Mosaic Law and was blameless regarding righteousness under the law. Yet he came to understand that personal righteousness achieved through legalistic observance was insufficient for salvation. Human righteousness is imperfect and cannot justify or save.

The second is “that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” This righteousness does not come from one’s own efforts or works but through faith in Christ. It is not based on what we do but on what Christ has done for us. Our faith in Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross grants us righteousness before God. This righteousness is a gift from God, received by faith alone; it cannot be earned, purchased, or worked for. Faith is not the cause or the matter of this righteousness; rather, it is the instrument by which the righteousness of God is received.

Biblical connections

This verse restates the gospel message that Paul proclaims throughout his letters: salvation is being in Christ, obtained by recognizing one cannot save oneself and asking Christ to save. The righteousness that Paul speaks of is not human righteousness but the righteousness that God imparts to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the imputed righteousness of Christ, which places the believer in Christ so that God accepts him because of what Christ has done.

Application

• Our own righteousness, based on our efforts to keep the law, is insufficient for salvation. We cannot earn our way into a right relationship with God.

• True righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a gift from God that we receive by believing in Him.

• This righteousness is not achieved through our own merit but is imputed to us by God. It is the righteousness of God Himself.

Reflection

Philippians 3:9 teaches us the importance of relying on the righteousness of Christ rather than our own efforts. It emphasizes the need for a personal relationship with Jesus and underscores that our faith in Him is what grants us true righteousness before God.