A Life Worthy of the Gospel (Part 2)
Text: Philippians 1:27-30
Core Idea: A life worthy of the gospel is a life that suffers for Christ as we stand firm in the gospel knowing that our ultimate home is found in heaven. May we endeavor to live this way as we immerse ourselves in the gospel for this alone gives us the power to live this way.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, Lighthouse. I hope that this retreat was a wonderful opportunity for you to retreat from the busyness of life and rest in the Lord – and that it was also a great opportunity to deepen your love for this community. I shared this in my welcome message, but I want us to remember that we retreat in order to advance. That’s what Christian retreats are all about – God works in us so that He can continue to work through us. We come together in order to be scattered. Then I pray that this weekend was an opportunity for us to be moved by the gospel truth, to be challenged to live out the gospel truth, and ultimately to be inspired to take the gospel truth to the world. Then with this in mind, let’s turn our Bibles to Philippians 1:27-30. Let me read this for us.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Yesterday, Paul shared that this is how he lived:
· A LIFE THAT AIMS TO ADVANCE THE GOSPEL
· A LIFE THAT TRUSTS IN GOD’S PROVIDENCE
· A LIFE THAT EXISTS FOR CHRIST
Now, Paul knew that the church in Philippi was suffering, persecuted. Then in light of his example, Paul was exhorting them, and in turn, is urging all of us to live this way:
· A LIFE THAT REMEMBERS OUR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP
· A LIFE THAT STRIVES TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL
· A LIFE THAT SUFFERS FOR CHRIST
1) A LIFE THAT REMEMBERS OUR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP
Verse 27, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” After taking some time to describe his circumstances and share his reflections on his imprisonment in verses 12-26, Paul now transitions to this emotion-filled exhortation to the Philippian church. Let’s study some Greek here. The Greek word that was used to translate “whatever happens” is mallon, which literally means “only.” And the Greek word that was used to translate “conduct yourselves” is politeuomai, which literally means “to behave as a citizen.” Now, this second word would’ve been commonly used by a civil leader in Philippi to grow people’s allegiance and love for Rome. Remember they were a Roman colony. So, they would say something like this: “Remember that you’re a citizen of Rome – so, act accordingly. As good Roman citizens, realize your privileges and your responsibilities.” Then Paul deliberately used this terminology to remind the Christians in Philippi that they were actually citizens of a greater empire than Rome. He wanted them to know that by the grace of God, they’re citizens of the Kingdom of God – so, they ought to live their lives accordingly. Then this is what Paul was telling them, “If you forget everything, just remember this. Nothing else must distract or excuse us from this calling. This is what matters the most. In fact, this is the only thing that matters. Remember that your citizenship is in heaven – and that ought to determine how you live in this city.”
Now, what does our heavenly citizenship look like? What does it mean to live as a citizen of heaven, the Kingdom of God? Paul shares that it’s defined by the gospel (live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ). You see, the centrality of the gospel has been obvious from the outset of this letter – we see this all over chapter 1 alone. Verse 5 – Paul referenced their partnership in the gospel. Verse 7 – Paul referenced the defense and confirmation of the gospel. Verse 12 – his imprisonment has really served to advance the gospel (the guards believed). Verse 18 – his imprisonment inspired and encouraged the church in Rome to proclaim the gospel. Paul was all about the gospel – he was most passionate about the gospel and the proclamation of the gospel. Then it’s not surprising to see Paul exhorting the Philippian church to live in a way that is consistent with the gospel – to live every single moment of their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. This was the life of citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Now, I want to point out one thing. Paul is not saying, “Live up to the gospel” (live to become worthy to receive the gospel) – it’s not an exhortation to become worthy for the gospel by our own obedience and good works. No, he’s saying, “Live in light of the gospel.” We must remember that this imperative is rooted in the indicatives of what God has done through Christ on our behalf. We don’t deserve this grace. But He has given it to us for free – as a gift. And when we receive it, it’s this grace that makes it possible for us to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. This is a critical distinction that we must make. We’re not working to receive the gospel but we work out of the gospel. Then in light of what God has done for us in Christ, in light of how Christ saved our lives, in light of what He had to do to save us on the cross, in light of what we’ve been given, everything about our lives should change because we are now a new creation in Jesus Christ – a child of God, a new citizen in His Kingdom. Starting with the mundane things of our lives and all the way up to the major things – the gospel should instruct us, inspire us, and transform us. It should change how we see God, how we see ourselves, and how we see others. It should change how we see our problems, how we see possessions, and how we see our money. Don’t live to live here well; live to live there well. Be uncomfortable for the sake of God and for the sake of others. Sacrifice, give, invest because our home is not here. I’ll give more practical examples in my next point but here’s the point: Paul is calling us to gospel lives – our lives are to befit the gospel. Brothers and sisters, remember that your name is Christian, and you are a citizen of a heavenly Kingdom. So, let us live accordingly.
2) A LIFE THAT STRIVES TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL
Let’s turn to the second half of verse 27, “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” It’s important to notice that the two verbs used here are the verbs that require resolve, commitment, determination (stand firm and strive together). In fact, they’re actually drawn from military imagery. It’s a picture of soldiers fighting side by side. In the same way, we are to fight for the advance of the gospel side by side. Then Paul used this imagery to show them that this is how they should love and care for one another in order to advance the gospel – you see, even our love is not only for us but it’s for the greater purpose. Paul was appealing to the Philippian church to stand unified for the sake of the gospel – it’s a life of unity that fits the gospel.
Now, what does this look like in our community? Let me give you some examples. This means that the church is to be a place of great acceptance. A number of you have asked me, “How do we become more diverse? It would be amazing to see our community become more multi-ethnic, to have more college students, to have more people like this and that. How do we accomplish this?” That is a good question. And I would answer it this way: “One thing’s for sure: it can’t be just you or me working towards this. It’ll take the effort of the whole church – it starts with the hole church becoming loving, accepting, grace-filled. Everyone needs to buy into this.” As a pastor, I must preach Christ. I must remind you of the gospel. I need to pray for a heart of love, acceptance, and embrace. I need to pray that the Holy Spirit will powerfully break down the walls of our hearts. But at the same time, we all need to be intentional. We all need to preach and live out the gospel. We all need to pray. We shouldn’t let something other than Christ (other than this utter need for a Savior) become a qualification for being part of Lighthouse. We’re all needed to make this possible. In other words, when we treat one another with grace, when we choose to be patient, when we guard ourselves against gossiping or being judgmental, when we become accepting of one another in the Lord, we will not only become diverse, but it will unite us so that, without distraction, we can carry out the call that He has given us.
At the same time, standing firm in one Spirit also means that the church is to be a place of sanctification. Yes, we must accept one another with love – but we must also, in love, confront sin when it’s needed. This is not easy. No one wants to be corrected. No one wants to be exposed. No one wants to feel judged. But we must do the hard work of standing firm in one spirit as we fight our sins together. Of course, this is best done in the context of trust. So, if you’re the one being confronted, instead of justifying your actions, remain humble and allow this guilt and sorrow to lead you to repentance – trusting God and trusting that they have your best intention. If you’re the one confronting someone else, point out their sins not to shame them but to lift them – trusting God and trusting that they are willing to be on this journey to fight against their sins. This means that you must pray with them. This means that you must be ready to journey with them – don’t just leave them to deal with it on their own. No, you must be committed to seeing them break out of their sin and be freed from it. You must be patient with them. You need to make efforts to understand them so that you can help them better. Yes, this is not easy. This might be harder than standing beside those who are in need or grieving. But for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of unity, we must endeavor to see others grow in holiness.
Lastly, standing firm in one spirit means that the church is to be a place of great forgiveness. God is calling us to seek reconciliation because that’s what the gospel is all about. “But you don’t understand what they’ve done to me.” To that, Paul would say, “If God can have peace with you, you can have peace with each other.” “Well, if they asked for forgiveness, then I would offer forgiveness.” To that, Paul would say, “Think about the gospel for a minute. Did God wait until you asked for forgiveness before He reached out to reconcile with you? Is God sitting around right now waiting for us to ask for forgiveness before He changes His feelings toward us? No, He acted first in Jesus Christ to bring reconciliation so that when we come to Him, we’re simply receiving what He has already accomplished for us. God’s not up in heaven, bitter – no, He wants to reconcile with you.” So, don’t let somebody’s refusal to repent cause you to hold bitterness that ultimately destroys you and keeps you from experiencing the blessings of the gospel. Brothers and sisters, for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of the unity of the church, I pray that you would be able to forgive one another as Christ forgave you.
Now, why is this important in living a life worthy of the gospel? Because the fate of the gospel is largely dependent on the unity of the church. If we’re not united, the gospel message will suffer. Either the message will lose its power (because how can we give what we don’t have?) or it will never reach where it’s most needed (because how can we go when we’re bickering with each other in the church?). Paul was passionately pleading for unity because he knew that unity keeps our focus on Jesus. Isn’t this the kind of community you want to be part of – a community that is driven to know Jesus, driven to become one, driven to do the work of the gospel? Brothers and sisters, if this is your desire, then let’s strive together to make this happen. Don’t wait and expect others to initiate. Now, we can all agree that this is not easy – which is why what we have here is nothing short of a miracle. Our community is a product of the work of the Spirit. You see, by the Spirit who indwells us, we have this heavenly citizenship. And through the Spirit who empowers us, it’s made possible for us to live a life worthy of the gospel and strive together for the work of the gospel. I heard somewhere that unity is often gained slowly and lost quickly. Then let us be careful not to break the unity that cost the very blood of Jesus Christ. Trusting in Him, let’s do everything in our power to achieve this unity.
3) A LIFE THAT SUFFERS FOR CHRIST
Paul says in verse 28, “[Stand firm and strive together for the gospel] without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.” As I mentioned yesterday, the threat of violence against the Christians in Philippi was real – it was intimidating. The city of Philippi was not receptive to the proclamation of the gospel which was why Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned in Acts 16. Think about it: this church was birthed in the midst of violent opposition. Now, Paul shares that there is a way for them to be courageous in the midst of these threats – they don’t need to be discouraged. Here’s why: verse 28, “This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God.” Paul was saying that their courage would serve as a sign of the ultimate destruction of their enemies. How is this possible? The Romans seemed invincible. How would their courage be a sign that they will be destroyed? Because regardless of how powerful the Romans may seem, they will never be able to silence the Christians. Romans will fall – but the faith of Christians will carry on – it will never be snuffed out. God will continue to provide courage to remind them of this truth – “So, don’t give up! They will fall but you will live forever.” Your courage is a reminder that God hasn’t given up – justice will come. At the same time, it also served as a sign and confirmation of their salvation. The Philippians might have been discouraged by this opposition. They might have misunderstood and misinterpreted this opposition thinking that God had forgotten them – or that God didn’t see favorably toward them or that He was displeased with them. But Paul reminded them that this opposition and their courage in the midst of it will only confirm that they belong to Christ. Their boldness will affirm their faith in Christ. In the midst of their fierce opposition, Paul provided them with assurance about the genuineness of their salvation.
Then he ended this section with shocking words. Verse 29, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.” Paul shares that Christians have been graciously granted two things – they received two gifts. First, the grace to believe Him. If you’re a Christian, God has graciously given you the gift of faith. He has given you the faith to believe in Him. Your heart that was once dead in sin and unresponsive to God was awakened by God. You were made alive so that you can respond by turning from your sin and trusting in the Savior for the forgiveness of sin. For by grace, you’ve been saved – through faith. And this is not your own doing – it’s the gift of God so that no one may boast (Eph. 2). So, if you’re a Christian, God has graced you with this gift of faith. But that wasn’t the only gift.
Second, the grace to suffer for the sake of Christ. Grace to believe – grace to suffer. Both are clearly identified as gifts. God’s grace gives one the ability to believe then the same grace gives one the ability to suffer on His behalf. You see, Paul wanted them to know this so that they may be prepared for suffering, so that they’re not confused, so that they’re not surprised by their suffering as if something strange is going on. Listen to what Peter says in 1 Peter 4:12-16, 19, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name… So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” Now, this isn’t a reference to suffering in general. He’s referencing suffering that comes specifically because of their allegiance to Christ, because of the proclamation of the gospel, and because they’re living in a manner of life worthy of the gospel. All of this will be opposed by a world that is hostile to the gospel. And yet, we’re called to commit ourselves to God and be faithful in doing good to others.
Today, the gospel is still offensive to the proud human heart. Not only is the gospel offensive to the proud human heart, but our biblical worldview is also offensive to the proud human heart as well. And increasingly so in our culture. So, if you have a biblical worldview of male and female, a biblical worldview of marriage, a biblical worldview of sexuality, a biblical worldview of homosexuality, we live in a culture that is increasingly hostile to these biblical worldviews. This hostility is real. It’s a direct attack on the authority of the Scripture. It’s ultimately an attack on the gospel. And it’s ultimately an attack on God Himself. Maybe you’ve felt this at your school or workplace, during your lunchtime. Maybe you’ve felt this at home from your family or relatives who may be hostile against Christianity. Whenever these opportunities arise, my prayer simply is that you would engage in these conversations courageously, but also humbly, not self-righteously. Remember that we have this privilege to share the greatest message that the world will ever hear. And I’m sure that they’re watching your attitude, your tone, your demeanor to see if you’re engaging with them simply to win the argument or because you truly care for them. So, please do this with care, compassion, and love. Be patient with them a thousand times and more. But no matter how humble you are, genuine humility will not exempt you from experiencing opposition to the gospel. So, when that happens, simply see that God is granting you the grace to suffer for His name. Though our opponents can be intimidating and certainly their rejection can be painful, may His grace that granted you this suffering minister to you, heal you, strengthen you so that you can continue to live a life worthy of the gospel. Maybe, just maybe, the same grace that gifted you with faith will be granted to the people you’re speaking with. For that, all will be worth it.
Then why did He gift us with suffering? Simply put, I don’t know. It could be many reasons – to sanctify you, to humble you, to bless others, to open doors for the gospel to reach the unreached, to build you up, etc. I’m not sure – but one thing I hold onto is this belief that this too is His grace. Then instead of asking why, let’s ask for faith – the faith to believe that he is sovereign and good, to believe that He loves us, to believe that His will is being done in all circumstances. And ask others to pray for you, with you. It’s too hard to bear this on our own. It’s okay to be not okay. Let’s rely on God and on the community that God has gifted us with.
Brothers and sisters, we can suffer for Christ because that’s what Christ did for us. The God of the universe Himself refused to remain safe, locked up, and wrapped carefully in the luxuries of heaven but in Jesus Christ, God Himself made Himself vulnerable, sufferable, killable. And the reason He did that, the reason He was willing to walk into that suffering was because of His love for you. He was on a rescue mission – coming for us. It’s a deep and profound love. You will never find anything like it. The God you worship at the very centre of your faith is a God that is willing to become vulnerable and suffer for the good of others. What that means is this: He will give you the strength and courage to suffer for Him knowing that this is one of the ways our love is expressed. Do you realize the lengths that God has gone to come for you? Then place your faith in this Jesus – and allow Him to change you. And if we all do that, we’ll become a community that can say, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, a life worthy of the gospel is a life that suffers for Christ as we stand firm in the gospel knowing that our ultimate home is found in heaven. Brothers and sisters, may we endeavor to live this way as we immerse ourselves in the gospel for this alone gives us the power to live this way.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) How will remembering our heavenly citizenship help us live a life worthy of the gospel in our lives today?
2) Why is the unity of the church important to living a life worthy of the gospel? How can we grow in our unity at Lighthouse? How can we protect our unity here at Lighthouse? How can we strive together for the advance of the gospel at Lighthouse?
3) How can suffering for Christ be a gift of grace from God? Have you suffered for Christ because you were advancing the gospel? Pray for courage for one another.