Philippians 3:9 - The righteousness that comes from God

3:9

Having dealt with the negatives, i.e. the things he no longer considers to be of any value, he now turns to the positive, i.e. what is he pursuing in place of righteousness by the Law. He has already given the arguably the most important answer at the end of 3:8, “that I may gain Christ”. Paul wants to be “found in Him”. He contrasts the righteousness that comes from the Law, with the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. And this righteousness comes from God, and Paul emphasises again that it “depends on faith”. The so-called new perspective tends to emphasise the righteousness of God as God proving His righteousness, rather than the more traditional view that Christ makes us righteous. This verse is clearly focused on our being made righteous, indeed Paul being made righteous. Now the gospel does prove that God is right, for without the gospel the promises made in the Old Testament cannot be fulfilled, because we are an unrighteous people, incapable of making ourselves righteous. But in order for God’s plans to come to fruition we have to be made righteous.