Philippians 3:16 Living up to righteousness

Let us live up to what we have already attained.

(Philippians 3:16)

Why does Paul say let us live up to what we have already attained? What have we already attained?

Righteousness!

Paul has just spent the previous 5 verses explaining how his righteous acts obeying the law are ‘rubbish’compared to the righteousness that comes directly from God:

A righteousness that comes from God and is by faith!

(Philippians 1:9)

We are already righteous, says Paul, therefore, let us live up to it. Let’s make the right choices, choices that empower us and help others; choices that display our joy and the glory of the Lord.

“Let your lights shine before men,” says Jesus, “that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

It’s true God will never be angry with us ever again, as Isaiah says in his Song of Praise:

Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away.

We can live free and with confidence that God will never be angry with us ever again, thanks to Jesus taking the full force of His wrath for us.

Thank you Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, we are already righteous, as a free gift by the grace of God.

Therefore, let’s do good works and make the right choices, not because they will make us righteous, as, says Isaiah:

All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

(64:6)

But let’s do good deeds and live righteously out of love and thankfulness for Him, because He has made us righteous – as a free gift.

Let us live up to what we have already attained!