June 20 2026

Saturday June 20

The Greatest Exchange in History

Philippians 3:9

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. We've been looking at Philippians chapter 3, verse 8, where first we talked about the greatest treasure in life, and then yesterday we talked about the greatest knowledge in the world. Today, we're going to be looking at verse 9, where we learn about the greatest exchange in history. Philippians 3:9 is one of the clearest and most important verses in all the Bible concerning how a person is made right with God.

After Paul shares what he did in verse 8, he continues in verse 9: "And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." Oh, what a wonderful verse! Paul has just told us that knowing Christ is the greatest treasure in all the world. Now he explains one of the greatest blessings that comes from knowing Christ. When we trust Jesus, we are not only brought into a relationship with Him, but we are given a righteousness that we could never produce ourselves.

Notice first Paul's negative statement: "Not having my own righteousness, which is from the law." Paul knew all about self-righteousness because if anyone could have boasted in religious achievements, it was Paul. Verses 4–6 already list his impressive credentials. He was circumcised on the eighth day. He was of the nation of Israel. He was of the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. He was a Pharisee. He was zealous. Outwardly, he was blameless according to the law. Yet after meeting Jesus Christ, Paul realized that all these accomplishments could never make him righteous before a holy God.

The prophet Isaiah said it this way in Isaiah 64:6: "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." What a humbling truth. The best that we can produce in our own strength falls far short of God's perfect standard. You see, religion always says, "Try harder." But the gospel tells us that Christ has already done what we could never do. The problem is not that we need a little improvement. The problem is that we need a completely new standing before a holy God.

Notice what Paul desired instead: "But that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." This is what theologians often call imputed righteousness. That simply means that when we place our faith in Christ, God credits Christ's righteousness to our account. Think of it this way. On the cross, Jesus took our sin upon Himself. In salvation, God places Christ's righteousness upon us. Oh, my friend, what a glorious exchange! In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we read: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Jesus lived the perfect life that we could never live. He died the death that we deserved to die. Then, when we trust Him, God declares us righteous in His sight. Another word for that is justification. We are justified in the sight of God. This is not because of what we have done. It is because of what Christ has done. That is why Ephesians 2:8–9 says: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Notice how many times faith appears in Philippians 3:9: "through faith in Christ" and "from God by faith." Faith is simply the empty hand that receives God's gift. We do not earn righteousness; we receive it. We do not work for it; we trust Christ for it. We do not achieve it; God gives it. Martin Luther called this "the great exchange." You know his struggle with self-righteousness until the day he discovered the truth of justification by faith. This truth ignited the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of human history.

Perhaps one of the most important phrases in this verse is found right at the beginning: "And be found in Him." Everything Paul desired was found in Christ. His acceptance was in Christ. His righteousness was in Christ. His salvation was in Christ. His future hope was in Christ. That is still true today, my friend. The question is not whether you are religious enough. The real question is whether you are in Christ. Have you stopped trusting in your own goodness, your own efforts, your own religious performance, and placed your faith completely and entirely in Jesus Christ? When you do that, at that very moment, God places you in Christ through the baptism of His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Then you stand clothed in Christ's righteousness before a holy God.

Let's pray. Father, thank You that our salvation does not depend upon our own righteousness. Thank You that through faith in Jesus Christ, You have provided the righteousness that we desperately need. Help us never to trust in our own works or accomplishments, but to rest completely in the finished work of Jesus Christ. May we rejoice today that we are accepted in Him and clothed in His righteousness. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!