Today’s Encouragement is, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” Philippians 3:9b NLT
Righteous Through Faith –
In the preceding verse, we read of abandoning everything else to know Jesus, considering everything else garbage compared to our relationship with Him, and that knowing Him has infinite value!
So this next thought is essentially, even my own righteousness – obeying God’s laws, doing good deeds, Bible study, sharing the gospel with others – absolutely nothing that I do can make me right with God (righteous).
God’s way depends on Faith! It is hopeless, futile to try to be good enough to earn a right relationship (righteousness) with God! This is a critical truth, my friend! “I become righteous through faith in Christ.”
Once we have this Faith in Jesus and are therefore perfectly, eternally right with God (consider that for a moment), we then live out our faith by how we live: loving others, doing good deeds, studying the Bible, and sharing our faith in Jesus with others.
These good deeds don’t save us; they don’t earn our place with God. Only faith in Him can do that. The ‘goodness’ of our lives results from our right-standing; they cannot secure it for us!
My friend, because you have faith in Jesus, you are perfectly and eternally right with God!
Thank You, Father, that You’ve chosen us, granted us faith in Jesus, and by that faith, You have made us righteous!
Because of Jesus
Charity Gayle
https://youtu.be/NfVEQJjbNXQ?si=dEUz3jYlfhq9zXMn