Citizens Living in the Midst of a Crooked and Perverse Generation
Philippians 1:27-2:18
In verse 27 the word “conduct” denotes the “conduct of a citizen”. This is very important to the understanding of this passage of the letter.
HISTORICAL CONTEX: Why would Paul be writing to these believers in Phillippi about conduct as citizens?
1. Phillippi was a Roman Colony, however Rome was some 800 miles away.
2. Rome had granted certain cities in strategic places to be their colonies. They were like a “little Rome” placed in different frontiers.
3. By living there in that city you became a Roman Citizen, with the entire privileges and power of Rome granted to you.
4. It was big deal to be a Roman citizen, not only to you but to Rome as well. They expected certain standards of behavior from its citizens.
5. The reason the Roman Gov. had these colonies there was to influence the culture around them with the Roman culture. These citizens were to promote the Roman agenda. It was their expected duty, to protect the territory from being invaded by the barbarians that surrounded them.
6. This colony had all the power and influence of Rome behind them to support them in this endeavor. It was no small thing to be a Roman citizen living in the midst of the barbarians.
Do you see now why Paul addresses these believers in such a way? It was something they understood, and they knew the importance of this issue of CITIZENSHIP.
Do we? Have you and I ever been instructed on how to live as a citizen of Heaven here in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation? They were told to live as a citizen of heaven in a certain way, IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF Christ. As we said last week to “HONOR CHRIST”. This is quite a challenge; they had the influence of a barbaric culture all around them, a culture that deified people, believed in many gods, and had no respect for human life. A society that basically was living out of control. Out of moral control, political control, and no spiritual values what ever. HAVE YOU MADE THE CONNECTION? MAYBE AS AN INDIVIDUAL YOU FIND YOURSELF JUST LIKE THESE PHILIPIANS, LIVING IN THE MIDST OF YOUR MACEDONIA. AND ALL THAT THAT MEANS.
The question before us this morning is: HOW DO I LIVE AS A CITIZEN IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PREVERSE GENERATION.
BY THE WAY THE WORD “ONLY” HERE, MEANS ESSENTIAL.
1. 1:27-30—Promote our citizenship. V27 we are to advance the gospel. There is a gospel for the lost and there is a gospel for the saved. It is essential that we be found promoting this good news.. Don’t we all here this morning want to see the culture around us receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord? Don’t we want to see the saved around us come to the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ? Jesus said “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”. We have the only message that can transform lives. Our king is an awesome king our kingdom is an awesome kingdom. I remember my dad when the John Deere Co came out with the four and six cylinder tractors; my dad was so excited he promoted this like you could not believe. He knew it would transform farming as he knew it. So how did Paul say they should promote this gospel?
1. To stand firm in one spirit. To persevere, not give up. Don’t back down or back up, don’t apologize for the Truth. Be resolute; know what you believe and why you believe it. Many cults are established and thrive on people who are not grounded in the Truth. It is hard to stand firm on something that you either don’t believe or don’t understand. But when you want to really know the Truth, God will reveal it to you. This message is a great example.
2. Strive together—help each other out, support one another. The imagery here is of a military formation. They looked like a block, wide and deep. The ones in front had a spear that was fourteen foot long, and the ones behind laid their spear on the shoulders of the ones in front. The enemy would see this formation striving together, and they knew they would not have a chance. When one fell in front there was anther to take his place immediately. They stepped in unison against the enemy. They had one common goal, defeat the enemy, keep the enemy away from their territory. It takes a unified effort in a body of believers and also in a family setting.
3. Don’t be scared—fear is a terrible thing when it comes to promoting our citizenship. Some fear the opponents of the faith, but we need to stand our ground. Stand and strive unafraid, don’t be ashamed or afraid to promote the faith.
4. Expect to suffer—when we promote the agenda of heaven, the world will not like that.
2. PRACTICE OUR CITIZENSHIP. HOW? Live in unity. 2:1-2 we talked briefly of this in chapter 1. How can we do this? We can’t even live in unity in our families. To live in unity does not mean we have to agree on every thing, or that we have to be like each other. It means we all move together intent on one purpose. What purpose? To advance the gospel. In our families in our jobs, in our churches. I don’t care what you look like, what you wear, or where you live; I do care what your purpose is as a believer. Is it to advance the gospel, or to advance your self or your agenda? We may differ on the methods of advancing, but we must not differ on the fact to advance the gospel. Again how do we do this?
a. V1 Let Jesus Christ affect me. From him will flow- encouragement, love fellowship, affection, and compassion. If I have been affected by Jesus Christ with these, then I allow these to flow from me. If Jesus Christ is AFFECTING me then he is AFFECTING my agenda. EXTENDING HIS LIFE, EXPRESSING HIS CHRACHTER, EXIBITING HIS POWER. I DON’T HAVE TO CREATE UNITY He is one, and he only promotes the unity He is.
b. V2-11 –act on the affect. DO NOT TRAFFIC IN UNLIVED TRUTH.
LOOK AT THESE WORDS: v3, “do nothing, but with humility of mind”, v4, “do not, but also”; v5, “have this attitude”. How many ways can he say it? Act on what you know to be truth. James says don’t be just a hearer but a doer of the word.
There are three areas that Paul points to that interfere with our obedience.
1. Factional motives—v3—doing things that we know will divide and disrupt unity.
2. Arrogance, conceit v3—doing something prompted by arrogance. Taking advantage because of your position. I see this all the time among pastors, as they seek to promote their own agenda. They will use the influence of their position to carry wgt.
3. Self-absorption—v4 when we think our interest is all that counts. That the world, the church, the family should revolve around us.
These flesh patterns keep us from acting on the truth and thereby disrupt unity. Again let me repeat, factional motives, arrogance, superitory—(I know of a marriage that ceased to be because of this), and self-absorption.
Practicing citizenship is walking in Unity.
3. PROVE YOUR CITIZENSHIP
Where is it proved? 2:15;
How is it proved? V12—Work out you salvation---
Salvation is a thing that is completed. As far as God is concerned, but as far as I am concerned, it is an ongoing thing. Salvation past-I have been freed from the penalty of sin. There is therefore no condemnation, I am no longer in Adam but in Christ. I am not a sinner saved by grace, but a saint in Christ. I am 100 percent righteous, because I have been given the righteousness of Christ. LIVE IT OUT. LIVE IN THE TRUTH.
SALVATION PRESENT—I have been given everything I need for life and godliness. I have been accepted in the beloved, I don’t need to perform to be accepted. God is for me, therefore who can be against me, nothing can separated me from the love of God. I am not a slave to sin; my members can be used for righteousness. Live in the Truth of the present.
SALVATION FUTURE—we have a living hope, why do I need to fear death. I can face the future with confidence no matter what it holds because I have confidence in the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. “I am the resurrection and life, he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live.” I can live without fear.
How can I do this? V13 God is at work, to will and to work for His good pleasure. Not for us but for him. Proving our citizenship is not for us but for Him.
How is salvation best worked out? This salvation past present and future? V14;
V15 we are blameless, and innocent children of God we appear as lights, and we hold fast the word of life.
How are we doing as citizens? Promoting, practicing, and proving. Paul wrote that this is essential.
