Our union in Christ and His suffering

Philippians 1:27–30 NASB95

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.

Introduction/Greeting

Illustration

What’s the significance of a title? Titles convey identity, responsibility, prestige, honor, they at times demand respect.

The titles king, judge, CEO, partner all carry with them a certain weight. A person with such a title has substantial power and responsibility which is followed by a certain respect.

“Your majesty”

“Your honor”

“sir or ma’am”

Accompanying that power and responsibility is a certain expectation of conduct that is consistent with their title. A king and queen conduct themselves in a particular manner that sets them apart from the populace: well-dressed, integrity, hospitable, wise, commanding. If those character qualities aren’t present genuinely at least they are portrayed because they are expected of that office.

This is generally true across the board. It’s true in politics, the military, business, academia. You can imagine in all of these contexts, people holding various titles being held to some standard of behavior given their title whether that be understanding, appearance, competency, integrity or whatever it may be.

Paul at the beginning of the book of the Philippians addresses the church according the their title, our title… saints. In a similar way to various other titles, there is particular conduct that is fitting and identifiable among saints, as Paul puts it a “manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”

The fruit of the gospel in the church is apparent in the church’s unity through opposition and suffering.

1. The unity of the church

Notes:

2. The opposition of the church

Notes:

3. The suffering of the church

Notes:

Context

For the past couple weeks we’ve been talking about Paul’s ministry and the circumstances of his ministry largely. Paul's circumstances are dire and yet he is content that the gospel is being preached. Furthermore, Paul is anticipating the the glory which he will receive in heaven, yet decides it is more necessary to stay for the good of the church. In verse 27 he switches from his personal resolve for the good of the church and actually begins to address the church and call them to that good which he desires for them.

1. The unity of the church

Philippians 1:27 NASB95

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;

Firstly, when we talk about appropriate conduct or worthy conduct we often refer to it with reference to some kind of standard or even some commitment.

I believe we ought to pause and recognize our natural disposition that’s been shaped by our culture.

We almost expect Paul to say conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the law of God.

Or perhaps conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your devotion to Christ.

These fit our western perspective of a clearly defined standard and measurable goals. We like definition to our jobs so we know when we’re doing well. We rewards corresponding to measurable achievement.

Given what we’re comfortable with it’s important we recognize Paul’s calling. The gospel is not a standard, a law, or even a personal standard we’ve committed to. It’s the good news of Jesus Christ freely proclaimed to all who would believe.

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 NASB95

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

The gospel is the good news of Christ’s atoning death on the cross for the sins of men; His burial, and His bodily resurrection for the salvation of those sinful men. Whoever receives this good news, repents, and believes can count their sins paid for at the cross in Christ’s sufficient sacrifice. They are truly forgiven never to be condemned. These believers have the hope of eternal life knowing that death is defeated in the resurrection of Christ. We as believers have the glorious hope of being in the presence of Christ after our death because of this magnificent gospel.

With that said the gospel does not function like the law as a standard by which we measure ourselves.

The gospel is not an oath or commitment we make to God.

The gospel is the good news of Christ received through repentance and faith.

So then what does Paul mean when he says,

“conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

Let’s ask this question, “What has the gospel accomplished?”

The answer to this question is profound and deserving of more than the time we have today, but I’d like us to consider three realities that correspond with our text.

creates a redeemed people (saints).

set apart from the world

in the image of Christ

The gospel of Christ has accomplished something very tangible that cannot be ignored. Laws, oaths, and commitments don’t actually accomplish anything if you think about it. They are ideals that hold people to account. The gospel: the redeeming work of Christ applied to men by the Spirit through faith is no mere ideal. It has fundamentally transformed us into a people with a new identity and given us eternal life. It has made us recognizably different from the rest of the world in that we are transformed by the Spirit’s sanctifying work into the character and image of Christ.

Knowing this to be true, Paul is calling the church to a conduct worthy of work which God has accomplished in the church.

Because we are now a fundamentally new people and saints, we ought to act like it. Fundamentally characterized by unity.

Because we have been set apart from the world in Christ, we ought not be surprised when he world opposes us.

Because we have being transformed into the image of Christ we should be ready to follow in his footsteps, the footsteps of suffering.

Let’s address his first call in light of the gospel:

The unity of the church.

Philippians 1:27 NASB95

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;

Paul describes briefly the character of this unity he hopes to see and hear of in the church, but it is thorough. Paul has addressed the church already in this manner.

You may remember from my first sermon in Philippians, Paul is encouraging the church with his confidence that

Philippians 1:6 b (NASB95)

He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

And He prays for them in light of this anticipated perfection,

Philippians 1:9–10 NASB95

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

Paul's confidence from the onset was that the sanctifying work of Christ would not leave any part of the church, their heart, their mind, nor their behavior untouched.

In accord with this wholistic confidence, Paul calls the church to a wholistic oneness- a unity that leaves no part of them disengaged.

If you survey these two words throughout the New Testament they actually have overlapping, general uses.

Suppose someone does someone brings you a meal while your sick. You say, “That is such a kind, compassionate thing to do.”

Kind and compassionate have their nuances to them, but they’re also very similar in use and meaning. It would be silly to walk away from that conversation and try to understand kindness and compassion as distinct ideas.

I believe we need to approach Paul’s description of the church’s inner unity in the same way. In one sense, he saying that there ought to be a unity in the depths of your being, in soul and spirit.

1. standing firm in one spirit, with one mind (one soul)

So then what does this look like? What is Paul getting at? It’s one of those somewhat intangible, subtle realities in an organization. We might use the word ‘culture’.

Many of us here have worked in different organizations or companies in the past. Perhaps ask yourself that question, “What was the culture like?” Was there a common motivation, mission, ethos that provided a sense of drive and stability to the company or organization?

Perhaps we better know the alternative: A lack of ethos or culture. Everyone shows up, does their work, gets paid, goes home.

I believe this common spirit, soul, or culture of an organization or church can begin to be identified by a simple question.

“Why are you here?”

In those places lacking this unity and culture you might expect things like, “It’s a job.”

“It’s what I’ve always done.”

“The pay is really great.”

Now you can imagine the alternative. There’s a company or a church with an observable culture, ethos, or sense of mission. You ask any ordinary member or employee, “Why are you here?”

You might expect,

“I really believe in the mission of the company.”

“The community here really cares for one another and helping each other succeed.”

“This community is one of a kind. We all share the same passion and are willing to work hard toward that goal.”

Paul is telling the church to maintain the common affections, desires, and sense of mission that is ours as Christians.

The difference between a company’s culture and the culture of the church is the culture of the church works itself out of a fundamental identity and a regenerate heart. Our spirit’s have been made alive in Christ, our hearts of stone have been replaced by living hearts of flesh as Christians. This shared heart gives us a shared desire for the glory of Christ and the progress of the gospel in the hearts of our brothers and sisters and in the hearts of the unbelieving.

This common desire innate to our new lives in Christ does need to fostered, protected, and preserved that our unity might be maintained.

This common desire also needs to be exercised.

2. striving together for the faith of the gospel

Perhaps this is the most identifiable form of unity: a common striving together or physical pursuit of something in unison.

Let’s first address what the church is striving for.

Simply put, the church is pursuing the advance of what brought it together.

The church doesn’t become the church by means of the gospel and then leave it behind as if it’s not longer necessary. The faith of the gospel is absolutely that defining reality at conversion and the invitation in our evangelism, but it’s also the means of maturing as saints.

We might even summarize this with the great commission: Making disciples through the faith of the gospel and teaching them for the maturity of faith in the gospel.

The united striving of the church is uniquely focused on the advancement of the gospel in the hearts of unbelievers and believers through faith.

And notice Paul’s language, he says ‘striving’. There’s a sense of difficulty and resistance to striving that isn’t present in ‘walking together...’ or ‘living together...’

Perhaps this is intentional, after all isn’t unity best displayed under duress? Not that I would know, but it’s one thing to get all dressed up and march in the military parade. There’s a certain kind of unity there, but it’s a kind of uniformity perhaps more than a unity. One the battlefield is really where we find out whether there’s actually unity behind the uniformity.

I’m afraid that because of the abundance we have here in the U.S( an abundance we ought to be grateful for certainly) there’s been little difficulty or trial to test whether the uniformity of Sunday morning is undergirded by a unity. A unity that strives together through difficulty, trial, and loss.

encouragement

I hope you all would be encouraged by the evident unity that I’ve witnessed in just the past three weeks in this room. The love and care you have for one another evidenced in your service, your prayer for each other through difficult moments, your generosity is abundantly evident. Furthermore your devotion to the Word and the teaching of the Word is noteworthy (No watered down sermons). Rachel and I are blessed to be part of a church with the culture and true love and unity that this church has.

By means of application, keep up the good work.

Paul goes on to elaborate on this conduct worthy of the gospel which has gathered this united church that is set apart from the world.

Therein we ought not be surprised when we face opposition.

2. The opposition of the church

Philippians 1:28 NASB95

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.

It’s important for us to remember who Paul is talking to. The church at Philippi would have been one of the first churches in all of Europe. We read from Acts a couple weeks ago regarding Paul’s imprisonment in Philippi. There is no shortage of opposition in their context, Paul has been imprisoned in their home town, and yet he says, “There’s no need to be alarmed.”

How is it that Paul can say this?

His reasoning comes back to a deeper reality, they’re eternal security. Both the opposition and the perseverance of the opposed make declarations about the spiritual condition of both parties.

Jesus addresses the disciples before he goes to the cross seeking to comfort them but also prepare them for what lies ahead.

John 15:18–21 NASB95

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.

Jesus says to his disciples, and by extension to the church, “I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

The fundamental heart of rebellion against God that resides in the heart of the world can’t help but oppose the church of God.

Jesus and Paul are both saying, that your identity in Christ makes you enemies of the world. A world that needs approval for all their idols and despises the worship of any God other than themselves.

Paul actually says, this is a sign of salvation for you.

I believe there’s a subtle warning here. Should the church and the world become friendly and this opposition isn’t present, there’s no sign of salvation because there’s no distinction form the world.

Application

For us here, I hope we would find a sense of comfort in opposition. When our worldview is mocked in the headlines, and our values are opposed, Paul says to us, “no need to be alarmed”. This is a sign of your salvation for those who are united with Christ, stand with Christ even in the face of the world’s mockery and opposition.

As Christ did with his disciples, Paul continues to lay out the plain, difficult reality of living in the world as disciples of Christ. We walk in his footsteps and share in his sufferings.

3. The suffering of the church

Philippians 1:29–30 NASB95

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.

Now I believe we must recognize the audience Paul is speaking to. The Philippian church is likely in a present, fiery ordeal, and Paul may be talking about very real suffering that they are presently experiencing. He’s likely talking about a future suffering that will continue, but there is a present suffering that the church is enduring and Paul is saying, this is not without purpose.

I want to be careful and recognize the potential idealism that may come from an insensitive interpretation of this text. There’s an idealistic kind of perseverance and endurance of suffering that just isn’t grounded in reality. We have a very real faith. We have a very real sovereign God who ordains even the hardship in our lives for his glory. That doesn’t mean suffering isn’t still suffering.

I hesitate to speak much further knowing full well I haven’t even begun to experience the hardship some of the people in this very room have experienced.

With that being said, i hope that Peter’s words may be of some consolation.

1 Peter 4:12–16 NASB95

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Both Paul and Peter want the church to recognize that there is something worthy and honorable about sharing in the suffering of Christ. In the same way that Christ glorified the Father in going to the cross, we glorify God by being willing to pick up ours cross in suffering and service. There are few things that image and glorify Christ more than a humble, loving, faith willing to endure suffering for the glory of God.

I hope we would recognize this enduring and suffering as prime opportunity to strive together as the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:26 NASB95

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

May each of us in our darkest moments of suffering be able to say, “My suffering is for the cause of Christ, and I am not alone.”

I pray we would make that our ambition. No one left behind. No one suffers alone. And when we do suffer together, may our eyes be fixed on Jesus who suffered for us, knowing we endure together for His glory.

That’s what it is to be a united church. Week in and week out in a common ambition for the furtherance of the gospel and glory of Christ, we bear each other’s burdens.

Let’s Pray