and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness, which is from God by faith, Philippians 3:9 WEB

Paul had been a Pharisee. He was a legalistic Jew. Before his conversion in Christ, he thought he could be righteous through his own effort. Outwardly he had lived by the law of Moses, but inwardly he was still a sinner. He even persecuted and judged Christians resulting in many deaths but thought of himself as blameless. He did not know Jesus at that time. Paul did not know to love his enemies. All he knew was to try and fulfill the law all by himself. Paul did not yet know the will of God concerning love and mercy.

The Road to Transformation

On the road to Damascus, Paul had a life transforming encounter with Christ and it led to his conversion. After learning the gospel of Jesus, found in him, Paul knew that he had been self-righteous. He saw his prior legalistic perspective as hollow and powerless to save him.

We read in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. KJV” Because of our sin, we need forgiveness. Anyone who won’t acknowledge their sin is condemned to live and die in it. But for those found in him, Jesus gives salvation from transgressions.

Even today, many religious people judge themselves as righteous by their own standards or by law. The law is important, but we, as sinners, can only be righteous through the grace of God. Jesus paid the price for our salvation. We are not righteous because of anything we have done. But for the lost found in him, God imparts the righteousness of Christ through faith by his grace.

Yesterday’s Devotional: The Good Shepherd