ESOCS Devotional 27 October 2025 – Righteous Through Faith in Christ
MEMORY VERSE: “And be found Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God through faith.” Philippians 3:9 NKJV
TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 3:1-12
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 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; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional Here
Philippians Chapter 3 speaks about Christ as the proper focus during times of suffering. Philippians 2 sets this passage up in the context of persecution and oppression for the sake of the gospel. First, Paul discusses the importance of righteousness through faith in Christ, rather than by works (Phil. 3:1–11). Second, Paul talks about straining toward the goal of following Christ (Phil. 3:12–21).
In Philippians 3:1–11, Paul begins with a reminder to “rejoice in the Lord” (Phil. 3:1). He also warns his readers to “look out” for certain specific types of false teachers (Phil. 3:2). Those who required Jewish circumcision, or other rituals, as part of salvation were not part of the true family of faith. The true “circumcision” are those who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:3).
Paul then adds his own spiritual resume, noting his reasons to boast “in the flesh” (Phil. 3:4). They included: circumcision on the eighth day; being from Israel, specifically the tribe of Benjamin; being a Pharisee; persecuting the Church; and living according to the law (Phil. 3:5–6). Paul’s point is that if any human being could be justified by the law, he would be—and yet, he considers all of that wasted in comparison to Christ (Phili. 3:7–8). Nothing was more important than knowing Jesus.
Paul’s focus is to be “found in [Christ]” – finding a righteousness not based on works of the law but on faith (Phil. 3:9). His goal is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. He wants to also share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death (Phil. 3:10).
What we really need is to be clothed in a perfect righteousness that doesn’t simply mask our sin and guilt, but that exchanges them for a real righteousness that is bulletproof from condemnation. With that kind of righteousness, you could stand with confidence before the omniscient Judge of all the Earth.
Paul’s credentials, according to Jewish tradition, were impeccable. And yet, for him, none of those accomplishments are worth anything next to fellowship with Christ. For this reason, Christ is to be the sole focus of the believer.
CHALLENGES
- What is your goal as a Christian?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord Jesus May I be found in you and your merits stand for mine. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 2 Kings 25:18-29; 1 Chronicles 1:1-31; Philippians 2:14-30
ESOCS Devotional 27 October 2025
