Fifth Sunday in Lent: Epistle, Philippians 3:4b-14                     

Philippians 3:4b-14

What sheer beauty the Christian comes upon in this third chapter of Philippians. It is all about the exaltation of Jesus for his gift of righteousness to us. But that is founded first on the gift of himself. The righteousness of Christ has been won by his self-donation, his self-giving, his sacrifice on the cross. It is the centerpiece of the gospel setting the stage for the triumph of the resurrection. 

But I find many Christians who are still worried that somehow righteousness must be my accomplishment and attached to the law. Paul writes otherwise and he could not be more clear: “ … that I may gain Christ and be found in him; not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (3: 8b-9). He sets those two types of righteousness in opposition in a way that cannot be missed. Unless, and this may sound harsh, but unless one doesn’t want the righteousness provided by Christ alone. We are so good at wanting to stand on our own two feet. Even before God. That thought terrifies me. It makes me run to Jesus. It makes me want others to run to him, too.

He desires to give us his righteousness. And he has, God be praised. None other will suffice.