Phil. iii. 8, 9. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him; not having mine oivn righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
RESPECTING doctrines, as mere subjects of controversy, we need not be anxious ; it is as in- fluential principles that we are called to examine and maintain them: and, in this view, we cannot too " earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." That which is, above all other subjects, important to the soul, demands our attention at this time : and the Apostle's zeal, in relation to it, shews with what holy jealousy we should conduct our in- vestigation of it, and with what determination of heart we should hold fast that which shall approve itself as the truth of God. The two points to be noticed are,
I. The way of salvation, as stated by the Apostle —
He speaks of being " found in Christ," clothed in a righteousness not his own. Let us consider what he means.
The Lord Jesus Christ has wrought out a righteous- ness for sinful man —
[He has come from heaven for that purpose : he has assumed our nature, that he might suffer and obey for us : for us he has suffered the full penalty due to our sins ; and obeyed in all respects that law which we have violated. All this he has done as our Substitute and Surety ; so that if the law re- quire its penalties to be enforced, we can reply, that we have already sustained them in the person of our Lord : and if it require perfect obedience to its commands, we can reply, that we have already obeyed it in the person of our Lord : so that it has no ground whereon to condemn us : on the contrary, supposing us to be " found in Christ," and to be " one with Christ," which every true believer is, we may look up to God with confidence ; having a righteousness of his own appoint- ment ; a righteousness commensurate with all the demands of