Philippians 3:9

“And be found in him, etc.] This is another end the apostle had in view, in counting all things loss and dung, and suffering the loss of all for Christ. Calvin, different from other interpreters, reads the words actively, “and may find in him”; and thinks the sense is, that the apostle renounced all things for Christ, that he might recover all in him: and true it is, that for the loss of carnal privileges, he found in Christ spiritual blessings; and for the loss of his own righteousness, another, and a better, even the righteousness of God; and in lieu of external goods, or worldly substance he was stripped of, true and lasting riches; and in the room of outward credit, peace and plenty, true…”

“be found in him--"be found" at His coming again, living spiritually "in Him" as the element of my life. Once lost, I have been "found," and I hope to be perfectly "found" by Him (Luk 15:8). own righteousness . . . of the law-- (Phi 3:6; Rom 10:3, Rom 10:5). "Of," that is, from. righteousness . . . of God by faith--Greek, "which is from God (resting) upon faith." Paul was transported from legal bondage into Christian freedom at once, and without any gradual transition. Hence, the bands of Pharisaism were loosed instantaneously; and opposition to Pharisaic Judaism took the place of opposition to the Gospel. Thus God's providence fitly prepared him for the work of overthrowing all idea of legal…”

“And be found in him - That is, united to him by a living faith. The idea is, that when the investigations of the great day should take place in regard to the ground of salvation, it might be found that he was united to the Redeemer and depended solely on his merits for salvation; compare the notes at John 6:56. Not having mine own righteousness - That is, not relying on that for salvation. This was now the great aim of Paul, that it might be found at last that he was not trusting to his own merits, but to those of the Lord Jesus. Which is of the law - see the notes at Romans 10:3. The “righteousness which is of the law” is that which could be obtained by conformity to the precepts of the…”

“And be found by God ingrafted in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law - That merely outward righteousness prescribed by the law, and performed by my own strength. But that inward righteousness which is through faith - Which can flow from no other fountain. The righteousness which is from God - From his almighty Spirit, not by my own strength, but by faith alone. Here also the apostle is far from speaking of justification only. Philippians 3:10”

“3:9 Paul here summarizes the contrast between his understanding of salvation and that of his opponents (3:2). • Believers become one with Christ by trusting him for salvation and sharing his life (cp. John 15:1-5). • We become righteous, not by observing the law of Moses, but through faith in Christ. This is God’s way of making us right with himself: Salvation cannot be earned, but only received as a free gift (see Rom 1:17; 3:21-26; 4:5-8; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9).”

“be: Gen 7:23; Deu 19:3, Deu 19:4; Heb 6:18; Pe1 3:19, Pe1 3:20 in: Rom 8:1, Rom 16:7; Co1 1:30; Co2 5:17 not: Phi 3:6; Kg1 8:46; Ch2 32:25, Ch2 32:31; Job 9:28-31, Job 10:14, Job 10:15, Job 15:14-16, Job 42:5, Job 42:6; Psa 14:3, Psa 19:12, Psa 130:3, Psa 130:4, Psa 143:2; Ecc 7:20; Isa 6:5, Isa 53:6, Isa 64:5, Isa 64:6; Mat 9:13; Rom 9:31, Rom 9:32, Rom 10:1-3, Rom 10:5; Ti2 1:9; Tit 3:5; Jam 3:2; Jo1 1:8-10 which is of the: Deu 27:26; Luk 10:25-29; Rom 3:19, Rom 3:20, Rom 4:13-15, Rom 7:5-13, Rom 8:3, Rom 10:4, Rom 10:5; Gal 3:10-13, Gal 3:21, Gal 3:22; Jam 2:9-11; Jo1 3:4 the righteousness: Psa 71:15, Psa 71:16; Isa 45:24, Isa 45:25, Isa 46:13, Isa 53:11; Jer 23:6, Jer 33:16; Dan 9:24;…”