Paul wants the Philippian church members to be filled with the fruit of righteousness. What did that mean for them? How does it impact believers today?
Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 17
Family Discussions for a New School Year
*This is DAY 17. Click here for 1-16.
DAY 17/TUESDAY
Philippians 1:9-11
The Fruit of Righteousness
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)
Ask Questions to Comprehend
Remember: We need to comprehend the Word of God.
Check out the difference between “comprehend” and “understand” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
“Did you know?
To comprehend is to mentally grasp something’s complete nature or meaning. Comprehend is thus often a bit stronger than understand: for example, you may understand the instructions in a handbook without completely comprehending their purpose.”
merriam-webster.com (emphasis mine)
Yes! As students of the Bible, this is what we want: to completely grasp God’s Word! With the Holy Spirit guiding us, let’s ask some good questions about Philippians 1:11.
What is the fruit of righteousness?
Fruit is produced; therefore, the fruit is the product of righteousness.
So, Paul is referring to being filled with the product of righteousness.
What is righteousness?
righteous:
| acting in accord with divine or moral law |
| free from guilt or sin |
Righteous-ness is the state of acting in accord with divine or moral law; it is freedom from guilt or sin.
What is the product of righteousness?
- In one sense, the fruit, or product, of righteousness (righteousness being freedom from guilt & sin) is eternal life.
- In another sense, the fruit of righteousness is the ability to act or live righteously, “in accord with divine or moral law.”
What righteousness comes through Jesus Christ?
Both righteous living and eternal life come through Jesus Christ, and Him alone, by faith in Him alone.
Paul wrote a great deal about righteousness, particularly in his epistle (letter) to the Roman Christians. Here are some of the highlights.
Righteous-ness in Romans
The Gospel Reveals Righteousness
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.'”
Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
Righteousness Is through Faith in Jesus
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Romans 3:19-26 (NIV)
One Righteous Act Led to Life for All
“For if, by the trespass of the one man (Adam), death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One Man, Jesus Christ!
18Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One Man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous.
20The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 5:17-21 (NIV)
Slaves to Righteousness
“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.”
Romans 6:18-20 (NIV)
Believe & Declare “Jesus Is Lord!”
“Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’ 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”‘ (that is, to bring Christ down) 7‘or “Who will descend into the deep?”‘ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.’ 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, 13for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
Romans 10:4-13 (NIV)
A Matter of Righteousness
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Romans 14:17-19 (NIV)
Righteous? Me?
When I read about “the righteous” in the Old Testament as a kid and a young adult, I always hesitated to apply that Scripture to myself because I was all too aware of how unrighteous I was in so many of my thoughts and actions, even though I became a Christian at age nine.
One day the Holy Spirit drew my attention to II Corinthians 5:21:
“God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
II Corinthians 5:21
In Christ, I, even I, was righteous!
I was not and am not perfect; I am being sanctified day by day, as we discussed on DAY 15: Pure & Blameless for Christ. Yet I have righteous standing before God because I am in Christ! As my favorite verse says,
“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:3 (NIV)
I am hidden with Christ in God. When God looks at me, He sees His righteousness. Whoa.
Sometime after the truth of II Corinthians 5:21 washed over me, I read Psalm 5:12:
“Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous;
Psalm 5:12 (NIV)
You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.”
Normally, I would have thought, “That’s nice, but it probably doesn’t apply to me.” This time, however, I realized: I am righteous in Christ. I am one of the ones God blesses & surrounds with His favor as with a shield!!!
I am forever thankful to be one to whom “righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:22).
If you aren’t sure if you have obtained righteousness in Christ, I encourage you to reread the Righteousness in Romans section above.
What was it Paul prayed again?
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)
Both righteous living and eternal life are fruits of righteousness that come through Jesus Christ.
DAY 17/TUESDAY Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that righteousness is possible for us through Jesus Christ our Lord & Savior!
We praise You for making “Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21).
May we remember that we are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), and to be thankful for that! When You look at us, You see righteousness & You see Christ. Hallelujah!
“Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12). Thank You that our family is blessed because of the righteousness of Christ. Surround us with Your favor as with a shield, Lord, as we live out and share Your Gospel with others.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
DAY 17: Paul prays the Philippian believers will be filled with the fruit of righteousness -- righteous living & eternal life -- that comes through Jesus Christ.