Living Your Life Worthy Of The Gospel Series

Living your Life Worthy of the Gospel of Christ

Philippians 1:27-30

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

How very sad it is that those who find the Treasure and Pearl in the field and become born again later choose envy, coveting, and self pleasure as their guiding lights!

From a prison in Rome Apostle Paul told the church of Philippi that one of their top priorities was to conduct themselves in “a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” When one first passes from death to life it is easy to meditate on God’s word, pray intensely, feed the poor, and belt out praise from the top of one’s lungs. Over the passage of time way too often the believer forgets the infinite distance between the depths of their depravity and the grace of their salvation and chooses to chase after the trinkets of temporary pleasure in this world instead of the Pearl and Treasure who found and sanctified them at the price of His very life! Paul warned the church of Philippi of the dangers of coveting citizenship of the “the self-consciously prideful, elitist little Roman colony” in which they lived. There were only “five cities in Macedonia granted the ius-Italicum status” in which its citizens were governed by Romans laws and were exempt from direct taxation. While Paul was willing to “exercise his rights of citizenship in appealing to Caesar” he did not do so to enjoy “the personal patronage and benefactions of lord Caesar” but to be imprisoned to advance the Gospel message by bowing his knee to the “one who alone is Kyrios” of all! While Paul believed “everyone to be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1) this did not extend to worshipping the emperor or Rome’s many gods. “Here Paul challenges his beloved Philippians with a “counter-citizenship whose capital and seat of power are not earthly but heavenly, whose guarantor is not Nero but Christ.” If they were to be intensely proud of any privileges this was not to be found in being citizens of Philippi but citizens of heaven (3:20)! To live a life worthy of the Gospel is to constantly surrender one’s thoughts, words, and deeds to Christ and strive to abound more in knowledge and depth of insight so that one might “discern what is best” and through the Spirit live a “pure and blameless life for the day of Christ” (1:9). It is precisely by being united in this goal to be holy that the Philippians will “shine like stars in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation (2:15).”

Reflection. As Christians we have every spiritual blessing in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Luke 12:48 Jesus states, “for everyone who has been given much, much more will be demanded; and from the one entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” When you examine your goals, words, deeds, and actions can you honestly say your underlying motive in life is to please the Lord? Do you find yourself imitating the world around you and is your heart’s desire to obtain the worldly pleases of money, fame, and power? Do you live considering the eternity God has placed in your heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11)?

Standing Firm in One Spirit

Whether Paul was freed from prison or remained afar and was eventually executed, to “move the mission forward” Paul gave the Philippians three ways in which they could live in a manner worthy of the Gospel. First, the Philippians are to “stand firm in the one Spirit.” Knowing that the Philippians lived in a preferred, retired military destination Paul rightly used the following metaphor: a soldier in battle standing their ground despite fierce opposition. Though the Philippians were vastly outnumbered and faced intense opposition both within and outside the walls of the church, they were not to “yield a single inch of ground no matter what their adversaries pressed against them!” Such an immovable stance can only be obtained by standing firm, unified in “one spirit, and of one mind.” As Paul told Euodia and Syntyche unified in fellowship inside the church is only attainable through the Holy Spirit “who has incorporated them into the church, regenerated them into new life, and indwells them in the fullness of divine power.” This does not mean that unity is attainable without human effort, for such a precious gift must be received to be effective! This brings us to the second way the Philippians were to live a life worthy of the Gospel and that was by “striving together with one accord for the faith of the Gospel.” Again, Paul uses a military image of “soldiers fighting side by side as one person.” Since the Christians refused to bow to the emperor or worship Rome’s many gods, they faced such intense hostility that it threatened to destroy their faith and cause sharp divisions amongst them. To keep this from happening Paul reminded of the truth that they were knit together by “the Holy Spirit who abided in them all” and empowered them to stand firm in their faith and boldly proclaim the Gospel message! As his faithful partner in proclaiming the Good News Paul implored the Philippians whether he was absent or present to make his joy complete by continuing to be a faithful partner by living as citizens of heaven while here on earth!