CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
PHILIPPIANS 1:27-28
01/05/95
As we get back into our series of messages on the book of Philippians this morning I just want to briefly look at how we arrived to the point we are now at.
Three weeks ago we as you may or may not recall we discusses Paul’s perspective on life and death. Paul make mention the for him to "live is Christ and to die was gain". And when we have the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and we are living Christ, then we can certainly say that to die, and be present with the Lord, is certainly gain. Yet while we are here on earth out life needs to revolve around Christ and how to serve Him.
I think we can make the following comparisons;
HERE THERE
Tent Mansion, permanent abode
Suffering mixed with joy Joy Alone
Suffering for a time J Joy eternally
Absent from the Lord Forever with the Lord
The fight The feast
Realm of sin Realm of Holiness
So we can that for the believer death certainly is gain.
So after giving his perspective on life and death Paul turns his attention to admonishing the Philippians to have that same lifestyle or conduct. And it is that Christian lifestyle that we will deal with today.
Please turn with me to Philippians chapter 1 verse 27-28,
"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God."
In looking this verse I want you to notice the first word "ONLY". Paul states that whether he lives or dies, whether he remains captive or free, whether he is able to come see them or not, "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Jesus." Paul is saying that no matter what happens to him, they must have one desire, one aim, and that is to live like Christians. Their conduct should not be depend on circumstances. Regardless of what happened to Paul, of what happened to them, "ONLY" let their conduct be worthy of Christ.
Our conduct as well needs to reflect the faith we have in Jesus. People seem to judge Christianity by the people who adhere to it. While this certainly is a reasonable response, Christianity is not how Christians act, Christianity is Christ. But that does not excuse us from not acting in a way which reflect our faith.
Say you were pulled over by a police officer for speeding. I know that it would never happen to any of you because you all go the speed limit. But say this policemen pulled you over came up to your car and said, "Look, we can forget about this whole thing it you give me $25". Most of us would be pretty shocked. We would think to ourselves what kind of cop is this. His behavior would certainly not be worthy of the law which he represents but it does not take away from the law itself.
And that is how it needs to be with us. People may see us do certain things and thing, boy that’s not how Christian’s should act, that conduct is not worthy of Christ. While we may be wrong in our actions they do not take away from the worth of Christ. Just as a dishonest police officer does not take away for the worth of the law he is supposed to uphold. So I encourage you as Paul does, let your conduct be worthy of Christ.
The beginning of verse 27 literally reads in Greek, "Perform your duties as a citizen". Paul is stating that the Philippian people need to act like good citizens. And later on in the letter he
tells them where their and our citizenship is, Philippians 3:20 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,"
We are citizens of Heaven living on earth. For the Christian, the person who has put the faith in Christ, this world is not our home, we are just passing through. We are aliens her on earth, we are foreigners. Our citizenship Paul states is in heaven, that is the believers ultimate home.
And because we are citizens of heaven we are regulated by that laws of heaven. Being citizens of Heaven means we are to obey God’s laws, we are to be good citizen, citizens who conducts is worthy of heaven. Conduct which worthy of Him who rules in Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I remind you that many times people will judge heaven, by it’s citizen. I read a story of how this couple was on a trip to London. They were on a bus going to the zoo. There trip was made unpleasant by the loud, and obnoxious behavior of a certain group of people. They noticed different people looking at this group shaking their heads, as if to say, "Yep, there are some of those American tourist." This couple was very embarrassed because they knew that those people did not really represent the American people.
Sometime I think people look at Christians, or those who call themselves Christians and think that is what it is all about. Look at those citizens of heaven and how they act.
An example from this weeks paper is that man who entered three abortion clinics and shot and killed two people. This man and some who condone what he did call themselves Christians. You all know that a oppose abortion very strongly, but I killing doctors who perform abortion, or people who work at the clinics, This is just as wrong, as abortions themselves, and both need to stop.
I can here people now, what kind of citizens are those, look at how they act.
So again I call on you as Paul did to the Philippian people, "to perform your duties as a citizen of heaven, worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
May I also note a very important point, and that is that our conduct worthy of the gospel of Christ not because we want to become citizens of heaven, but because we are citizens of heaven.
So we can see Paul’s encouragement of the people, now we need to ask ourselves, and asks ourselves often, "Am I walking a walk worthy of the gospel, which I adhere to?" Now some may say, well I live a good live, I don’t steal, rob banks, or any thing like that. Well while that is all very commendable our conduct needs to go beyond that.
Listen to Paul’s word to another group of believers;
Colossians 1:10 "that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;"
We see three things in this verse that will make our conduct worthy of the Lord.
First our conduct must be fully pleasing to Him. In other words we need to bring glory to the Lord by our conduct. Ask yourself, Have I done anything this week that brought glory to the Lord? Did I please Him in some way this week? Was I loyal to the Lord, loyal to His commandments and teaching? If not you need to change your conduct.
We need to please God by being a worth and loyal citizen of heaven. It is funny how if there is one thing that really upsets people it a person who would betray their country. I think of that CIA agent, Aims I believe is name is. We think how could he betray his country like that. We think of these people as totally untrustworthy.
Yet in the Christian community we see disloyal citizens all the time. People who do not walk a walk worthy of the Lord.
The second thing in this verse that will shoe if we are walking a walk worthy of the Lord, is being "fruitful in good works". In other words being a Christian does not mean sitting on your hands waiting for something to happen. It means servicing the Lord. Doing good works, being fruitful for the Lord. If your are not doing good works and servicing the Lord as you should your conduct is not worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The third and final thing which show if our walk is worthy of the Lord, is that our knowledge of the Lord is increasing. Are we growing Spiritually? Am I learning more and more about God as I go through this live. Do want to know the best way to increase your knowledge of God? Is it Sunday School? A real good idea but it is not the best way. Go to church and listen to the sermon? Another good idea, and one the should not be neglected but it is not the best. The best way for you to gain knowledge of the Lord is by reading His word for yourself. You need to be reading the Bible every day, praying that God would speak to you through His word.
So for your conduct to be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must be loyal to Him, bring Him glory, we must do good works that will also glorify Him, and we must grow in the knowledge of God.
And we need to keep in mind that our means of witnessing is our conduct or Christian walk. Paul also points out in this verse that the Christian walk is not a walk in which we walk alone.
The second part of that verse Paul states "that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,"
Stand fast here means that we are to stand together, with no compromise. We are to remain loyal to the Lord together, helping one another, encouraging one another, built each other up in the faith.
Paul speaks here of that unity of the believer. You may recall a few weeks ago where we looked at the fellowship in Christ that all believers have in common. Here Paul reminds the Philippian people and us of that fact.
Paul notes here that we are to be united against a common foe, who is the enemy of God. Know that we has a body of believers must stand fast against the devil, against the enemies of God.
Paul also point out that we must stand fast in presenting the gospel. Stand fast together in seeing that the word of God goes out. Not only here in Milford, but to all corners of the world.
Paul states that we are to "one spirit and one mind". We need to have one purpose among us. When a church is pulled in different directions, with each person doing their own thing, not much can be accomplished. That is why Paul states we must be of one spirit and one mind. We must set goals and work together to see those goals reached for the glory of God.
Now one spirit and one mind does not mean that we are all going to agree on every issue that comes up. That didn’t happen in Paul’s day, and is isn’t going to happen here. One spirit and one mind means we are to be united purpose, and the that purpose needs to be the see Christ glorified.
Paul tells us that we are to "steadfast" in one spirit. Let us not let distractions turn us from the path which God has put before us. Let us not let things that happen in the church cause us to lose our direction. Let us not let things that happen at home, or at work cause us to deviate from the road God is leading this Church down, the road He’s leading each one of us down.
But let us remain steadfast and unturning, in one spirit and in one mind.
Paul also states here that there is to be a unity of labor among the believers. Here Paul writes that we need to be "striving together for (or as some translations read) with, the faith of the gospel.
The Greek word here which is translated "striving together" is the same word which we get the English word "athletics" from. What Paul is saying here is that we need teamwork in the accomplishing the work of the gospel. We cannot do it alone. Each Born Again Christian here as been given a gift that God wants that individual to use. We are given gifts and talents to use in accomplishing the work of the Gospel. Not to use the gifts and talents that Lord has given you is to have conduct which is not worthy of the gospel.
In verse 28 Paul tells use one of the advantages of this unity and the power which we have in the gospel. First Paul states that;
"and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, (per-di-tion) which means destruction. Paul states that we need not worry about our enemies, who are the enemies of God, whether they are spiritual or worldly. Buy our unity, by our courage, and by the power of the Gospel of Jesus, they know that destruction is coming. That God is in charge, and that he will bring all things which he has promised to pass.
Paul goes on to state that for us all these things are "but to you (proof) of salvation, and that from God." In others words these things prove that God is in control. Whether you are a child of God or whether you are an enemy of God. He is charge whether you are destine for destruction or destine to salvation.
So let us bring this sermon to the point where we can step back and look to see where we fit in. I think as we have looked at the different aspects of these two verses at every one we need to stop and ask "Is my conduct worthy of the Gospel". All the other things we spoke of today really rest on that question. "Is my conduct worthy of the Gospel". Am I a good citizen of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven." Am I loyal? Am I doing the works I should? Am I gaining in knowledge of God" Am I walking the walk or just talking the talk.
What to people see in me? To the see a good citizen of heaven? Does my conduct reflect my faith? These are question I really believe we need to ask ourselves not once a year, not once a week, but every single day.
I would just like to close with the following poem;
You are writing a gospel,
A chapter each day
By the deeds that you do,
and the thing that you say.
Men read what you write,
Be it faithful or true,
Just what is the Gospel,
According to you?
SHALL WE PRAY
