What! the heaven-inspired, ho]y, self-denying Paul, who had the richest experience of grace and manifold gifts of the Spirit, had been caught up to the third heaven, and labored more abundantly than all the apostles, has he got no farther than to have only the hope and desire of such a worthless sinner as I? What! had he no inherent righteousness, no graces of the Spirit, no holiness, no fruits of good works, no sincere obedience, nothing that he had done to look to, rely upon, and desire to be found in at the bar of God? No–-but he had precious faith in a precious Saviour. Therefore he looks out of himself, out of all that was wrought in and done by him, –he passes it all by; he looks through it all to Jesus; he renounces it all in point of justification before God, and puts the issue of his eternal life and salvation upon being found in Christ, and having on his infinitely perfect and glorious righteousness.
Beza, upon this place, brings in the justice of God pursuing Paul as a malefactor, and Christ as a city of refuge to which he desires to flee. Mr. Burkitt, though not the most consistent expositor, has here one of the many excellent things which he says,. "Christ's perfect obedience unto death entitles us to heaven."
From Paul's desire we learn what is the sole object of a convinced sinner's faith: not what he is in himself, not any thing wrought in him or done by him, but wholly and exclusively the person and righteousness of the Son of God. If you have the faith of God's elect, you will rest the hope of your soul only upon Christ, and desire to be found in him in life, in death, and at the judgment.
Let us also beware that we do not slight and decry the graces and fruits of the Spirit in us: though we are not to look to these for our justification, yet they are comfortable evidences of our being one with Christ and interested in the Father's everlasting love: they are not bestowed on us to rival Christ in our hope; but that we should glory in him, and exalt him in our hearts, lips and lives.
Though we desire to be found only in Christ, though our holy walk and good works cannot justify our persons, yet they justify our faith, our profession, yea, and the doctrines of grace, from the unjust charge of licentiousness. O may we be more and more concerned to obey Christ, to let our light of truth "shine before men, that, seeing our good works, they may glorify our Father who is in heaven." Matt. 5:16. Paul wishes for the experienced comfort and sensible blessing of being "found in Christ:" this precious enjoyment we also should covet earnestly.