To Live is Christ P.2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good evening brothers. It’s so good to be back with you on this Lord’s day to open and share the word of God. I always cherish the opportunity to be with you to worship with you through singing together and then getting into the word. Let’s get right in.
I know you men were in this section last week considering Paul’s personal perspective that “To live is Christ”. Tonight is an extension of that, a continuation if you will on what life looks like when Christ is our life:
You probably heard about Paul’s passion and desire to be with Christ and the realization that it would be the Lord’s will for him to remain a little longer. He then turns from his personal desire to his desire for the Philippians and that’s where we pick it up so if you will...
Take your Bible and turn to Philippians 1:27–30
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Brothers let’s pray.
Alright, in Philippians 1:27-30, Paul gives you 3 marks of a man living worthy of the gospel. That kind of life is marked by a church...
I. Standing in unity
II. Striving in unity
III. Suffering in unity
First, we have this incredibly powerful statement by Paul in verse 27 where he says the word “only, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel”...
The word Only is crucial here. Paul has reduced his exhortation to one thing. This is the bottom line in Christian experience. This is the bottom line in church life. This is the essential of worthy behavior, “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” That is the sum and and substance of all that is required of you. Paul says, “I want your life, I want your behavior as a church, as a Christian community in a pagan culture, to be worthy of the gospel that you believe and the gospel that you proclaim.” In chapter 2 he reiterates similarly, in verse 15, “that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I didn't run in vain nor toil in vain. You are to be above reproach, to hold fast the word of life. You are to conduct yourselves in a worthy way.”
As we continue on this statement he says we are to conduct our lives in a certain manner: Conduct here means “to behave as a citizen of a polis,” from which we get the word political – “a city-state,” “a free state.” You're to conduct yourselves in a manner that would be proper behavior for a citizen. And he's not talking about a citizen of earth. He's talking about a citizen of heaven, a citizen of the kingdom of God.
Philippi… a city of Macedonia, yet one of the few who had the privileged and honor of being considered Roman Citizens in this empire that ruled the world
To be a citizen meant:
Rights, prestige and honor
Distinction, pride, and respect
It was held as one of the highest honors to have
According to the strict interpretation of the Roman law, the civitas superseded all other citizenship, (W.M. Ramsay)
You did not live or act like a slave
There was an expectation of CONDUCT in the community in which you were a part of:
We have lost this idea and mindset in many areas of our communities these days!
But what he means here is that we are citizens of heaven. Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”
A “Worthy” manner...
What worthiness is not
what worthiness really is
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
What are the marks of a life worthy of the gospel...
I. Standing in unity: V. 27a
a. One spirit
One Spirit… The Holy Spirit working in and through us TOGETHER
Jesus Himself prayed this for you and I… John 17:20-23
John 17:20–23 NASB95“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
It’s awesome in its truest sense to think that Jesus Christ prayed for you and me!!!
b. One mind
One mind… our mind set our minds on Christ and the things of Christ… on God’s Word following His direction for living, “think on these things” Paul will later write!
II. Striving in unity: V. 27b-28
a. side by side
b. unmoved by opposition
III. Suffering in Unity V.29-30
a. suffering joyfully
Acts 5:41 “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”
b. suffering produces courage
1 Thessalonians 2:2 “but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.”