Have you ever found yourself judgmentally approaching someone caught in their sin?
Typically, we carelessly approach a misguided family member we think should know better. We self-righteously share a verse from our favorite translation of the Bible, emphasizing what “true righteousness” should look like, giving little or no thought that our relative feels condemned. This is the unfortunate scene when we attempt to correct sinners through a holier-than-thou approach, one that keeps track of our own legalistic accomplishments.
Paul taught that legalistic accomplishments become embarrassments because we shoot at the wrong goal.
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:7-11).
Paul considered all his legalistic fervor as rubbish compared to experiencing Christ (Philippians 3:8). Only Christ provides the righteousness required by God. His holiness is applied to our eternal score card when we fully surrender our lives to Him (Philippians 3:9).
Surrender your legalistic score card to Christ, reciting Philippians 3:9: “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 and is by faith.” Experience freedom from the penalty and power of sin through faith in Him.