Verse 9
Paul’s vision turned again to the future and the judgment seat of Christ. He had made his choices in life since his conversion because of the essential value of getting to know Christ better and because God would evaluate his life one day. On that day Paul wanted to be found "in Him," namely, standing in the merit of Christ rather than in his own merit. His own merit rested on his own righteousness as the Mosaic Law defined it. The merit of Christ is His righteousness that God credits to the believer’s account when we place our trust in Him (cf. Romans 3:20-23). This righteousness comes to us "through faith" in Christ, and it comes to us "on the basis of" (or "by," NIV) "faith" from God.
"’Faith’ is the very opposite of human works; it is the reception of God’s work by those who acknowledge the futility of their own efforts to attain righteousness." [Note: Kent, p. 141.]
We could say that we reach heaven not by walking up a set of stairs but by riding an elevator.
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