Paul desired to be found in Christ, manifesting the righteousness of God.
“And be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” Philippians 3:9.
I’ve heard people describe righteousness as that which is “acceptable” to God. I think it means more than that, for if I am cooking something and I ask someone to taste it and they say that it is “acceptable,” that is not a compliment. To be “acceptable” means “it will do” or “it will get by.” On the other hand, if I’m cooking something and I get someone to taste it, and they say it is “just right,” they are saying it is exactly the way it should be. That’s what the word “righteousness” means. It means “just right” from God’s perspective. Thoughts, attitudes, and behavior that is “just right” to God are righteous thoughts, attitudes, and behavior. You could use the word “godly,” and that would be a good description of righteousness as with the word “Christlike.”
The Bible says that when we are bent towards ourselves to try to produce righteousness, it comes out as “filthy rags”. When Paul said that he did not want to be found having a righteousness of his own derived from the law, he was saying that he did not want to be found in any situation trying his best to be godly because he knew from his own experience that when you take the burden on yourself to try to reproduce the image of God, it’s never “just right.”
We are in union with the righteous life of Christ, and therefore righteousness, “just rightness,” is the free gift of a person, and that person is Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness….” Righteousness is a “who,” not a “what,” and Jesus is that “who.” Paul longed to be always found in every situation, “in Christ,” manifesting the righteousness of God.
When someone hurts your feelings, offends, or rejects you are you found in Christ manifesting the “just right” emotions, attitude, and behavior of God in response? In stressful and challenging circumstances, are you found in Christ manifesting the righteousness of God, or being bent toward your own performance, are you manifesting filthy rags? The question is how to walk in that. Philippians 3:9 says it is by faith. I love what Romans 1:17 says, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” In other words, in absolute and utter dependence, we simply trust one step at a time in Christ (who is our life), to reveal His righteousness. “As you, therefore, have received (by simple faith) Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in (union) Him.” Colossians 2:6. Jesus gets it “just right” every time.