"Righteous through Faith"

 

“Righteousness through Faith”

 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, 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 is through faith in Christ---the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.      Philippians 3:7-9

 

The Apostle Paul CONSIDERED his RELATIONSHIP with the LORD JESUS CHRIST, PRICELESS, and WORTH MORE than he POSSESSED or had EVER POSSESSED.  He tells us that he considers EVERYTHING a LOSS compared to KNOWING Christ Jesus, PERSONALLY.  He NO LONGER had CONFIDENCE in the FLESH, but NOW he had CONFIDENCE in JESUS CHRIST alone. 

 

Paul, CONSIDERED those things that he had GAINED in life to be nothing more than RUBBISH, in order to GAIN a RELATIONSHIP with Christ Jesus.  NOTHING else really MATTERED to him, in light of him possessing a RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST, as his SAVIOR and LORD, this SURPASSED everything he had ever gained in his JEWISH RELIGION.   

 

For those who are FOUND IN CHRIST, they are the ones who have GAINED a RELATIONSHIP with Him, because He, JESUS CHRIST, is in the TRUE BELIEVER and the TRUE BELIEVER is in HIM. It is a CRUCIAL MATTER, that the one who comes to Christ, is responding to the WORK of the HOLY SPIRIT, who draws them to CHRIST. And when they come to Him, it is not because of their SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, but it is through the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  The Prophet Isaiah, writes that; …. ALL our RIGHTEOUSNESSES are like FILTHY RAGS.” (Isa. 64:6)

 

However, the RIGHTEOUSNESS that is found in CHRIST is the RIGHTEOUSNESS that we MUST POSSESS to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD, the ONE who holds the DESTINY of EVERYONE, in His HANDS.  If you POSSESS the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST JESUS, then you will have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him and will be able to stand COMPLETE IN CHRIST JESUS, through HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and because of your FAITH in CHRIST JESUS.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT in CHRIST JESUS, and HE is NOT in YOU.  You do NOT POSSESS His RIGHTEOUSNESS, and CANNOT have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God, until you are WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION, and receive the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST, through FAITH in Him, and BE READY to ACCEPT an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and COMING SOON!!!