Christian Conduct

Christian Conduct

Philippians 1:27-2:4

Good morning.

The Greek word which is translated as “conduct” means “to live as a citizen.”

According to the US Army Human Resources Command webpage, the Army Good Conduct Medal was established in June 1941.

It is awarded for excellent behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service.

It is awarded on a selective basis to Soldiers who distinguish themselves by their excellent conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous, active, service.

There is no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander has approved the award.

Please open your Bibles to Philippians 1, as we continue in our verse-by-verse study of Paul’s Epistle to the Church at Philippi.

Last time, we studied how the Apostle Paul discussed motives while preaching.

We learned that most commentators think Paul was specifically referring to the Judaizers.

The Judaizers believed that a Gentile had to become a Jewish proselyte to Judaism first, to be circumcised, follow the other Mosaic Laws, and then they could come to Christ for salvation.

Paul had a single-minded goal to get the message of Christ preached so, he saw his enemies preaching with wrong motives, as another opportunity for the Gospel to be proclaimed.

Paul wanted to magnify Christ with his whole being, even with his body, which he demonstrated in his walk with Christ.

Paul enjoyed the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ and the supply from the Church so, he was not put to shame. Christ was magnified through Paul, as he lived for Christ.

Paul was confident that no matter what happened, whether he lived or died, either way, was gain for him. Paul believed the Christian life is a win-win situation.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

As Jim Elliott famously said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

And now this morning, the portion of Philippians we find ourselves in, communicates how Christians should conduct themselves as citizens of heaven, while here on Earth.

I. Ambassadors for Christ.

Read Philippians 1:27

This sounds similar to what Paul said in another Prison Epistle.

Ephesians 4:1, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Warren Wiersbe said, “The Christian life is not a playground, it is a battleground.” (Warren Wiersbe)

We are sons in the family, enjoying the fellowship of the gospel, we are servants sharing in the furtherance of the gospel, but we are also soldiers defending the faith of the gospel.”

(Again) The word conduct (politeuomai/poly-too-o-my) means to be a citizen, to administer civil affairs, or to manage the state.

Paul told the Church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. NKJV

Paul taught the saints at Philippi that they were serving in a foreign land, representing the King and the Kingdom of heaven.

The King of Heaven has a message that needs to be delivered, and Paul said believers in Christ are to deliver that message as though God were pleading through them. 2 Corinthians 5:20

Ambassadors speak for the King who sent them into the foreign land where they temporarily reside.

Ambassadors do not speak with their own authority, or with their own opinions. Ambassadors are sent with a message and a mission to represent their home while visiting another land.

Ambassadors are representatives who remember the honor and reputation of their homeland with their conduct.

Paul says let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel.

What is the Gospel?

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, NKJV

Jesus died a criminal’s death, and the Greek philosophers could not reconcile this as being the truth, for the life of a Messiah.

But there was no doubt Jesus was dead because there were many witnesses to the crucifixion, including family members, disciples, Romans, and even some of His hostile accusers!

Why did the Savior have to die?

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. NKJV