"Not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith."Phil. 3;9     

We do not need a private investigator to learn our true identity. God tells us that we do not have a righteousness of our own. We are not good by a good family ancestry. We are not right by trying to keep the Law of God. We have sinned and fallen short of God. We are sinners without status before God. We are homeless people, cut off from the Father's house by our sins. Sadness fills us as we see our own failure.     

God does not end the story of our life in failure. He gives us the righteousness of Christ. God became man in Christ Jesus. He became sin for us, taking our evil upon Himself. He poured out His life to gain righteousness for us. God gives us the goodness and life of Christ through the Gospel. Paul could joyfully say, "I do not have a righteousness of my own, but that which is through faith in Christ."     

Christian friends, Our joy is not in our goodness, for we are evil. Our joy is in Christ, who gives His righteousness to us. In Christ we can stand before God as children of His household.  

Salvation is a gift of God,                                                                                                     Not something earned or won;                                                                                          He freely gives eternal life                                                                                                      To all who trust His Son.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - True freedom is found in captivity to Christ.