Sermon Tone Analysis

Select all the text in this box and paste your sermon here...

Citizens of the Kingdom of God:

A Life Worthy of the Gospel

Philippians 1:27-2:11

Introduction:

We have to understand who Paul is writing to so that we can understand the thrust of the text.

Brief history of Philippi:

-Founded by Phillip, the father of Alexander the Great.

-Preserved under Roman rule.

-Was populated with Roman soldiers and was nicknamed “Little Rome”.

-There was a sense of pride, of superiority, to being a citizen in Philippi.

-Citizens enjoyed all of the privileges of being Roman: free from scourging and arrests

-Paul, when he first went to Philippi and founded the church, A DECADE EARLIER, was beaten and arrested.

(Acts 16)

-When they found out the Paul himself was a Roman citizen they panicked, apologized and released him & Silas.

-Paul is now a prisoner of Rome again and writing to ‘Little Rome’ and his message is explosive:

CONDUCT YOUR LIVES IN A WAY THAT DEMONSTRATES YOUR TRUE CITIZENSHIP in the KINGDOM of GOD.

A MODEL CITIZEN LIVES A LIFE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL

VERSE 1:27

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, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

-Our English translations use a lot of words to try and convey the sense of what Paul is saying.

-In greek, this is one word: politeuomai (poly-too-uh-my)

-the simple meaning is to be a citizen.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Phil.

3:20)

-This is an indicative!

A COMMAND from the apostle Paul.

- standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side

-The image here is of Romans soldiers, aligned for combat, standing shield to shield.

THE MESSAGE: STANDING TOGETHER.

-for the faith of the gospel

-What are they defending?

The gospel.

Paul is saying be unified in defense of the message of salvation.

-The assaults on the gospel come from all sides: Evolution attacks Creation, Homosexuality undermines marriage as the image of Christ and the Church, the Prosperity teachers undermine the sufficiency of Christ as our ultimate treasure – the church must be united on all these fronts.

Any weakness threatens the whole unit.

VERSE 1:28

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.

-Being UNPENATRABLE: they can’t break your beliefs.

-their destruction/salvation. . . .

and that from God.

-The Gospel is THE line in the sand.

There are those that are saved by it and those that perish by it.

A MODEL CITIZEN WILL SUFFER FOR THE GOSPEL

VERSE 1:29

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.

-the gift of believing and suffering

Being a model citizen involves suffering.

IT IS A GIFT! Suffering is a ‘certificate’ of citizenship.

What Paul is saying is that your opponents are going to attack.

REJOICE!

This means they’ve identified you with Christ.

As you stand firm in your faith, you are only validating their belief.

YOU WILL NOT BE PERSECUTED IF THE ENEMY DOESN’T KNOW YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN.

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—

(2 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV)

The Beatitudes conclude with this same theme:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Matthew 5:10-12 ESV)

VERSE 1:30

engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

-Paul is reminding them of the persecution he suffered in Philippi when he planted the church as well as the fact of his imprisonment now.

-Keep this in mind – Paul is a Roman citizen in jail under the Romans.

AND HE’S USING THIS AS A POSITIVE EXAMPLE!

HE IS SUFFERING FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST.

VERSE 2:1-4

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

A MODEL CITIZEN IS A SERVANT OF OTHERS

-if there is any. . .

Are you enjoying the peace that comes through knowing Jesus Christ?

Can you state that God has given you a new heart and has showered you with grace and mercy?

-complete my joy. . .

This is another command from Paul that refers back to 1:27.

. . .

by being unified.

-Do nothing. . .

From personal interests.

-count others more significant

TRUE HUMILITY:

The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

(Proverbs 15:33 ESV)

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor.

(Proverbs 18:12 ESV)

The reward for humility and fear of the LORD

is riches and honor and life.

(Proverbs 22:4 ESV)

-eg: Nebuchadnezzar

A MODEL CITIZEN HAS THE MIND OF CHRIST

-Have this mind among yourselves – collectively, corporately.

-The accumulation so far: Standing together in faith, suffering for the gospel, loving each other more than yourselves, and being humble – HAVE THIS MIND.

- WHICH IS YOURS IN CHRIST JESUS.

-All Paul has said to this point is summed up in this imperative:

Have this mind – think – like Christ Jesus.

1:27 said be a citizen of the gospel of Christ, stand firm in the faith of the gospel.

1:28 this is a sign of your salvation and the destruction of your enemies – according to God’s plan.