Philippians 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: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
The “righteousness, which is of the law” is a claim to “righteousness” based upon strict obedience to the Old Testament Law service. Those who strictly obeyed the Law could claim that they had made themselves “righteous” by their own obedience; thus, making themselves fit to be Children of God and to inherit Eternal Life in Heaven. This was and is a perilous trap for, not only the Jews, but for all who claim “righteous” fitness for Eternal Heaven based upon their obedience to Laws and Commandments and Ordinances. If that could be true, then why then was it necessary for Christ to Sacrificially pay our sin-debt?! Furthermore, we are plainly told that “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12); that is, When Adam disobeyed God (Genesis 3), he plunged all of mankind into such a dreadfully sinful state that it is impossible for us to secure our relief from it. Thus, “through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many” (Romans 5:15); that is, Christ and Christ alone hath saved His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21); for, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12); including our own “name” and that of any human ecclesiastical person or body. It is also true that, even at our best, we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23); thus, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (I John 1:8). But, the Good News is that we “know that” Christ “was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (I John 3:5). Paul strongly warns us against such self “righteousness”; telling us that “they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3). The peril of such ignorance is the wrath of God; thus, he reminded us of what God did to “Sodoma” and “Gomorrha” (Romans 9:29), which would be the destiny of us all, “Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed” (The “seed” refers to Jesus Christ and our Eternal Kinship with Him). So grave is the error of such self-“righteousness”, that Paul warns us to “confess” and “believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9) and that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13); that is, “saved” from the wrath of God against such self-“righteousness”, in this present life! To so “believe” is to also “believe” what He successfully died for! We are indeed Commanded to live as righteously as we possibly can; thus, showing our Love to our Lord and Savior (John 14:15)! But, to lay claim to such self-“righteous” fitness for Eternal Heaven is to deny the “finished” work (John 19:30) of our Blessed and Holy Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God!