Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 1:27-30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2003

Introduction

 

For Paul, Jesus Christ */was/* his life.

He shared this conviction continually.

Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

*/Firstly,/* he */interceded/* for the Philippians */Fellowship in the Gospel/.*

*/Secondly,/* he */informed/* them about the */Furtherance of the Gospel/.*

Today we will see how Paul */instructed/* the Philippians concerning the /F*aith of the Gospel*/.

He commanded them to conduct themselves */worthy/* of the Gospel of Christ: The word */conduct/* politeuomai is related to our word politics.

It means */to behave or conduct yourself like a citizen.

/*/Heavenly citizens* Worthy Walkers, Willing Workers, & Wise Warriors.*/

His Most Cherished Accomplishment

 

Patriotism is seen in the following epitaph: Alexander Graham Bell, Inventor-Teacher, Born, Edinburgh, March 3, 1847, Died, A Citizen of the U. S. A. 1922.

He could have listed his numerous inventions and honors.

But that he was a */citizen of the U. S. A./* This was his most cherished accomplishment; and it was his wish that such be engraved on his tombstone.

*/Do you rejoice that you are a citizen of heaven?/*

 

1.

Worthy Walkers

 

*Philippians 1:27* /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,/

 

Paul commands believers to behave like heaven’s citizens.

He wants them to*/ walk worthy/* of the Gospel.

This would have caught the Philippians attention right away.

Philippi was a Roman colony and its citizens were actually Roman citizens.

Roman citizenship provided many privileges for the people.

But it also carried certain responsibilities.

*/Firstly,/* */Roman Citizens/* were registered on a */citizen’s role./*

They had papers to prove that they were in fact citizens of the empire.

This documentation enabled them to claim the privileges of their citizenship.

Paul had Roman citizenship and used it a number of times when requesting justice.

People became Roman citizens by being born to Roman parents, or by purchasing it with money, or by an edict of the emperor.

*Philippians 4:3 *tells about the roll for heaven’s citizens*: */And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the *Book of Life*./

Jesus Christ gives heavenly citizenship to all who believe in Him.

He has purchased this for us with His own blood.

In fact by the Kings royal edict we can be born again into His family.

Heavenly Citizenship is a precious gift.

*/Are you a citizen of heaven?

Is your name in the Book of Life?/*

*/ /*

*/Secondly,/* Citizens were expected */to obey/* the laws of the Roman Empire.

They were to set a good example for the rest of the community.

Their conduct was to be appropriate as Romans.

*Philippians 1:27a:* /Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

*Heavenly Citizens*/ have been saved from sin.

They are expected to live for Christ and keep His commandments.

As heavenly citizens we should live holy lives; lives set apart for Jesus Christ.

Paul speaks about this again in chapter 3 contrasting heavenly citizens and earthly citizens.

*Philippians 3:18-20:* /For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, *How should heavens citizens conduct themselves?*/

In chapters 1 and 3 Paul says to be holy, worthy of our calling.

/ /

He Admitted To The Governor

 

Governor Neff, of Texas, visited the penitentiary of that state and spoke to the assembled convicts.

When he had finished he said that he would remain behind, and that if any man wanted to speak with him, he would gladly listen.

He further announced that he would listen in confidence, and that nothing a man might say would be used against him.

When the meeting was over a large group of men remained, many of them life-termers.

One by one they passed by, each telling the governor that there had been a frame-up, an injustice, and judicial blunder, and asking to be freed.

Finally one man came up and said, /Mr.

Governor, I just want to say that I am guilty.

I did what they sent me here for.

But I believe I have paid for it, and if I were granted the right to go out, I would do everything I could to be a *good citizen* and prove myself worthy of your mercy./

This was the man whom the governor pardoned.

*/Shouldn’t this be the experience of every believer?/*

Because God has pardoned us from sin, we ought to conduct ourselves */worthy/* of the Gospel.

The word */worthy/** **ἀ**ξίως* means */of/* */equal value to,/* */after a godly sort, suitably/*.

If we are to be worthy of the Gospel, we must be holy.

The Gospel is God's good news of how /sinners/ become /saints/ through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel calls men to repentance and faith in Christ.

The word /repent/ means to turn from sin to God.

When people know that you are a Christian, they are watching you every day.

They are watching to see if you have a consistent witness, a life marked by purity.

Paul wanted to hear that the Philippians were living in a worthy manner.

*2 Corinthians 3:2 says:* /You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; /This poem summarizes it well.

/You are writing a Gospel, A chapter every day,/

/By the deeds that you do, and the words that you say.

/

/Men read what you write, Whether faithful or true:/

/Just what is the Gospel, According to you?  /

 

 

Application

 

/Is your name in the Citizen’s role for heaven; the Lamb’s Book of life?

You are a saint or holy one; are you living like one?

Are you living worthy of the Gospel of Christ?

Are you conducting yourself like a citizen of heaven or like a citizen of earth?

Does you lifestyle magnify Jesus Christ or Self? /God calls us to live like heavenly citizens./

Are you?/

/ /

2. Willing Workers

/ /

*Philippians 1:27b:*/ 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,/

 

/a.

Cooperation for the Gospel/

/ /

Secondly, Paul */commanded/* them to */work willingly/* for the Gospel.

* *The words */stand fast/* *στήκω* mean */to persevere, to persist, to stand/*.

The idea here is one of faithfulness to the Gospel.

*1 Corinthians 16:13 says: */Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

/Paul wanted the Philippians to work together regardless of whether he was present or absent.

They had an important task to do; to work together for the Gospel.

This vital ministry demands our combined efforts.

In the great commission Jesus commanded the disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature.

Christ commanded us to make disciples by sharing the Gospel and living it out.

/ /

Tribe Working Together

/ /

The story is told of a time when a little child in an African tribe wandered off into the tall jungle grass and could not be found, although the tribe searched all day.

The next day the tribal members all held hands and walked through the grass together.

This enabled them to find the child, but due to the cold night he had not survived.

In her anguish and through tears, the mother cried, */If only we would have held hands sooner/*.

It is not enough that we all share a common goal.