Philippians 3 is nice because it clearly lays out one of the distinctive and oft-overlooked characteristics of Christianity, that our righteousness, our redemption comes not from our own doing, but through faith. Of course the common objection to this is that we would then have no motive to do good things, if all we have to do to get to heaven is to believe there is one. But it doesn’t quite work that way – Paul describes the basis of faith:
…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead -Philippians 3:10-11
Thus the response to knowing Him and the power of His resurrection cannot be to absolve oneself of all responsibility, the need to seek out righteousness. We do good things because we are saved, rather than doing good things in order to be saved. In a sense it almost makes motives more pure – Christians are supposed do good things for the sake of being good.
Of course (speaks the cynic/realist in me) there are plenty of people (Christians and non-Christians alike) that go through the right motions with the wrong motives… even the best of us can get distracted and and "set [our] minds on earthly things" rather than the "upward call of God."
Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. -Philippians 3:15-16
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