AGAIN I SAY REJOICE
LIVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE
PHILIPPIANS 1:27-30
INTRODUCTION
- A famous actor was an after dinner speaker at a big fund raising function; and apparently he was well known for his voice because when he stood up to speak, he invited his audience to choose a poem for him to recite. There was a long silence until a retired clergyman raised his hand and asked for Psalm 23.
- The actor was slightly taken back, but agreed to read the Psalm provided the old pastor recite it after him; which the old man reluctantly agreed to do. So the actor recited Psalm 23 and received a standing ovation.
- Then the clergyman recited the Psalm, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Upon seeing this reaction from the crowd, the actor went over to the retired pastor and said to the guests “Do you know the difference between his version and mine? I know the 23rd Psalm; but this man knows the Shepherd.
- The difference between the two men in that story is that one knew about the Lord and the other knew the Lord. The reason why the old pastor’s recitation of the psalm moved people more than the actor’s is that it was obvious to them that the pastor was not simply going through the motions but was actually familiar with the Shepherd of whom he spoke.
- Because there is a difference between people that know a little something about the Christian life and people who know the Someone who empowers the Christian life. That difference is a personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ. And that difference reveals itself in a person’s actions; not only in how they talk about Christ (as in the story of the old pastor) but how they live lives that honor Christ.
- Our text in Philippians 1 today is a call to the Philippians to live lives that honor Christ and his gospel. And the same encouragement Paul gave to them, I will give to us. Look at v.27:
Read Philippians 1:27-30
- Paul moves here from what has essentially been an autobiographical introduction to the letter to his concern for the Philippian church. To this point, Paul has given us a lot of information regarding his situation in Rome. In vv.25-26 Paul told the recipients of the letter that he expected to be released from house arrest [which many believe he was] and to return to see them again soon.
- Then he charges them with this: only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come or I don’t come I may hear that you are living like you ought to. And I want to challenge us with the same charge this morning: we must live our lives like we believe what we say we believe. We must make sure that our conduct is consistent with biblical Christian character, so that the gospel is not dishonored.
- As we endeavor to do that, let’s first address what it means to live in a manner worthy of the gospel.
LIVE IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL
- The phrase “let your manner of life be” is translated from a form of the verb πολιτεύομαι which you can hear if you listen closely is related to our words “polis” (city) and “politics”. It means to conduct oneself as a good citizen of something; or to conduct oneself according to the laws and customs of a state. So Paul’s saying “Behave as citizens worthy of the gospel.”
- We will see later on in our study that Paul tells his readers that their citizenship is in heaven. A noun form of the same word is used there. We know what it means to be citizens of something. We are all citizens of the United States of America. What does that mean? It means we live here. We have a special status here that others in the world do not. We belong to the United States.
- As U.S. citizens we know that certain things are expected of us. There are things that U.S. citizens do and don’t do. We have certain rights and privileges as citizens of this country. But we know that while we are citizens here now, we are ultimately citizens of heaven. That’s where we really belong. So our conduct is to be consistent with the heaven-sent gospel.
- Matthew Henry summed it up well when he wrote “Those who profess the gospel of Christ, should live as those who believe gospel truths, submit to gospel laws, and depend upon gospel promises.” And Scripture is full of passages that instruct us and encourage us to live authentic lives.
- Ephesians 4:1-2 says: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.
- Later on in that same letter Paul writes in Ephesians 5:8-10: for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
- And Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:11-12: Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God.
- I think we get the picture: we are to make sure our lifestyle is consistent with belief in the gospel of grace. Now, let’s look at our text and notice some specific things that Paul mentions that indicate we are living lives worthy of the gospel. What are some things we can do to make sure our lives are gospel-centered and Christ-honoring?
- We notice that: those who profess the gospel of Christ should seek to stand firm in unity, strive diligently for the faith, and suffer willingly for the sake of Christ. We could shorten that by saying that believers should stand, strive, and suffer.
- First of all, we:
LIVE IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL BY STANDING FIRM IN UNITY
- Those who profess belief in the gospel of Christ should seek to stand firm in unity. The text says: Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit.
- Paul was encouraging them; and we need to be encouraged to promote unity within the body of Christ. Unity in general is a concept that most people cherish or esteem highly. We pride ourselves in being the United States of America. Familial and even national unity was the focus when the psalmist wrote in Psalm 133: Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.
- But spiritual unity is what Paul has in mind here. He wrote the same thing to the Ephesians in chapter 4 verse 3 when he told them to be: eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit.
- And of course Jesus was not mum on this subject at all. Listen to what he told his disciples in John 13:34-35: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
- Jesus here is saying “The entire world will know that you follow me by how you treat one another.” If we love one another , people will know that we really believe what we say we believe; and if we are unified people will be drawn to the One who unifies us.
- But if we are hateful and divisive toward one another, God is not glorified, and we look like phonies. So Jesus instructs us to love one another as he has loved us; and the word of God encourages us to be people of unity.
- Now let’s face it: this is not always easy. We don’t always get along with everyone we know at church. But don’t miss this: we have to work at it. Paul says he hopes to find them standing firm in one spirit. Standing firm has the idea of persisting or persevering. So no matter what sort of opposition comes at the body, we are to persistently fight for unity. Unity is not a passive concept. It is something we have to work for.
- Notice, however, that Paul ties this idea of unity in with something else. Look at the end of v.27: with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. Not only should we stand firm in unity, but we should:
LIVE IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL BY STRIVING DILIGENTLY FOR THE FAITH
- Strive diligently for the faith. See, as believers in Jesus Christ we are to be united. But our unity has an object. Unity always has an object. The object of our unity is the truth of the gospel and the person of the gospel, Jesus Christ.
- Unity for the sake of unity is not really unity at all. It is superficiality posing as unity. Unity without truth is just ignorant tolerance. Tolerance and unity are not the same thing. Neither should we think that union and unity are the same thing. We can be together physically without being unified.
- If you want to know the difference, try rounding up two cats and tying their tails together and hanging them over a clothes line. You will have union; they will be together. But you will not have unity!
- So for the Christian, unity is always connected to the gospel. Some people think that Christians are divisive people; that we can’t be unified with anyone. No, we simply realize that unity has to have a central truth; and we believe that central truth is Christ and his gospel.
- So don’t expect us to be spiritually unified with someone who claims that there is only one god; Allah is his name, and Muhammad is his prophet. Or don’t expect us to agree with someone who doesn’t believe there is a God; or if they do, doesn’t believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to him.
- There is no truer unity than unity around Jesus Christ and his gospel. That’s what Paul is talking about here. If you want a single unifying purpose to hold on to and pursue with all of you heart; there is none greater than the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.
- So if we seek to live lives worthy of the gospel, then we stand firm in unity around the gospel, and strive together to keep that unity in place. And as we do that, guess what: we will face opposition.
- We’ve already seen how some were opposing Paul and preaching with insincere motives in hopes that his suffering would increase. Now Paul mentions those who were opposing the Philippians in v.28: and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
- Paul tells them not to be afraid of any opposition that may receive, but to understand that they must suffer willingly for the sake of Christ. We must:
LIVE IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL BY SUFFERING WILLINGLY FOR CHRIST
- Hear again vv.29-30: For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
- He tells his readers that the fact that they are receiving opposition to the gospel is a dual sign. On one hand it is a sign that those who oppose them are headed for destruction – because they are not only opposing the Philippian believers but they gospel they proclaim.
- On the other hand, it is a sign to them that they have received salvation from God. When you are persecuted for your faith, it is one sign that you have received genuine salvation.
- Then he says that they have been granted the opportunity to suffer for the sake of Christ. Now if you’re like me you’re thinking: “Oh...thank you so much God. What a lovely gift of suffering you have given me.” But that’s the language of the text.
- It is a gift from God to suffer for Christ. Listen to the words of Romans 8:16-17: The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
- Our hope of being glorified with Jesus Christ when he returns is tied to our suffering for his name’s sake. I’m afraid we’ve lost some of, if not all, of that truth in America today. Don’t get me wrong, I love America. I am grateful for the freedom and safety we have here. But some of us have become so comfortable that we won’t life a finger for Jesus Christ.
- Being a disciple of Jesus is fine if it fits into our busy schedules. Giving of ourselves to the progress of the gospel is fine if we have the energy to help once our other priorities are met. Christianity is just another consumer product to some. It’s just another activity. Shame on us for thinking our lives are more important than Jesus. And I’m guilty.
- Listen to what Paul endured willingly as a faithful witness for Christ: We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
- You know what refuse is, right? It is something that is discarded as worthless or useless; rubbish; trash; garbage. That’s what he was to certain people. He’d become the scum of the earth for Christ. Yet he remained faithful to the gospel.
- Peter wrote this is 1 Peter 4:12-19: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
- Now wait just one minute here, Peter. It can actually be God’s will that we suffer; that we endure tests and trials? Yes. Sometimes a time of suffering is exactly where God wants you; because in those times he is softening you and preparing to use you.
- Oh that we would have men and women of God today that would say like Job “Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him.” God will do as he wills; and whatever he wills is just, so I will go through what he wants me to go through; I will endure what he wants me to endure; I will do where he wants me to go; and I will give glory to his name through it all!
CONCLUSION
- Some of you, even as I have been saying these things have been thinking of practicalities. It’s not hard. Particularly with regard to suffering. It wouldn’t surprise me if everyone here has suffered in some way because they are a Christian.
- Maybe if you’re a young person you’ve been made fun of for going to church and not doing some of the things that everyone else is doing. For that matter, you could be an adult and endured the same thing. Suffering comes in all shapes and sizes. And Paul told Timothy that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
- So to live lives worthy of the gospel we claim to believe, we must stand firm in unity, and work together for the gospel. We must be willing to sacrifice anything Jesus calls us to give. And we must be willing to suffer when the world reacts to such a life lived under such a high calling.
- But even the call to suffering is not a message of gloom but a message of hope. For Paul wrote in Romans 5: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
- And while certainly there are many more things that could be mentioned that involve living lives worthy of Christ and his gospel; if we take these three principles and do them, we will be off to a good start.
