Not having my own righteousness
Phil.3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 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:
Most of the Christian world, and ALL other religions, strive to produce righteousness by their own works, by effort, or by mental discipline. Yet, the word of God goes forth, by clear instruction, that no flesh shall be justified in his sight. God, our Creator, says that we cannot earn our way into heaven, and we cannot be approved in his sight by our own righteousness. Isaiah says the following,
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
God is absolutely just, and he is the justifier of those who believe in Christ. God sets the standard. God is the one who makes the benchmark of what he will approve as righteousness. Rom.3:26 disqualifies every attempt of man to stand righteous before God. The only righteousness approved by God is the righteousness that comes by faith of Jesus Christ.
