Sermon Tone Analysis
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These verses are part of a whole passage that ends in chapter 2 verse 18 that is all about the Philippians’ affairs and a call to steadfastness and unity.
We will spend some time going through them.
Up to now we have found that Christ is everything for Paul and that death is great gain but whilst we are here on earth we have a great hope that should cause us to live out our lives effectively for Jesus.
His confidence then exudes through this passage for the following instructions come as if he already knows the outcome of his trial; that he will live.
Then he speaks as if to be on the wrong side of Paul is also to be on the wrong side of God for he acts and speaks with apostolic authority.
Then as now Paul’s authority remains under attack from within and without the Church.
Paul had true apostolic authority given by God.
There are others who make this claim.
There is the head of a Church who thinks that he also has such authority, that is, the Pope, but this is a grand assumption on his part.
He takes the title of Christ and King yet, if anything he is an antichrist.
The word ‘antichrist’ means one who takes the place of Christ.
It does not mean He is against Christ though the outcome of trying to take His place is just that.
I am not saying he is The Antichrist but he behaves in that way taking the place of Jesus making people saints, forgiving sins, etc etc.
We also know.
according to Revelation 17, that Rome will become the seat of the Antichrist and the false prophet.
Many understand that this can mean none other that the Roman Catholic Church.
The fact is, whatever the future we can never have fellowship with the Roman Catholic Church.
This despite all the overtures that so-called evangelicals are making towards them and the Catholic Church towards us.
It is true the Church has changed somewhat but all its false doctrines have remained in place and they have added a whole bundle more in recent time in relation to Mary and making her co-redemptive.
Jesus is the only way – not through Roman Catholic Sacraments or other works or through May; all these are the false gospel that Paul warns us about.
This does not mean that there are no Christians there but it would be better it they were not.
Paul used his true apostolic authority not so that he could condemn them or to be upset with them in an authoritarian way.
No! His concern was simply that they reflect Christ.
He only wanted Christ to be glorified in them.
Let’s have a closer look at verses 27-30.
Verses 27-30 is one sentence in the Greek – so put another way it says:
Only
(1)
worthy of the gospel of Christ,
live out your “citizenship”
so that
(2)
whether coming and seeing you
or being absent,
I hear about “your affairs,”
that
(a)
you stand firm
in the one Spirit,
(b)
as one person
contending together for the faith of the gospel
(3)
not being frightened in any way
by those who oppose you
[
which
(4)
is for them an “omen”
(a)
of destruction
but
(b)
of your salvation,
(c)
and this from God ]
because
(5)
it has been granted to you,
on behalf
of Christ,
(a)
not only to believe
on him,
but also to suffer
for him
(b)
having the same struggle,
which
you saw
in me
and now
you hear
in me.
Fee, G. D. (1995)
27.
Paul wants the Philippians to live in such a way that the progress of the gospel is not hindered or slandered because of something they do wrong.
Only walk worthy of the Gospel.
The word in English here is ‘conduct’ but in the Greek it really has to do with our citizenship.
To conduct ourselves really means to take our citizenship of Heaven seriously and to partake of the life that is Kingdom living for King Jesus.
To not set our minds and hearts on earthly things but on heavenly things.
This means that we should stop complaining about earthly things and having selfish ambition.
To live is Christ.
We are citizens of Heaven.
How do the citizens of Heaven behave?
Like children of the King, I would hope.
Worthy ambassadors.
What is an Ambassador?
One that represents the nation that they are from.
How are we representing our homeland?
It is clear from the way the verse is put that we can actually make the gospel regress or go back rather than progress by the way we live our lives.
None of us have lived sinless lives since the day we became Christians but later in this letter Paul says of himself:
What is past is past.
What matters is going forward.
Paul’s concern is that they do not strive with one another.
Why would he say this?
Christians have the uncanny ability to find things to divide us over the smallest of matters.
But all that matters is Christ and the Gospel; its clear presentation and warnings of what it is not.
Paul simply wants them to focus their energies to strive and struggle for the Gospel; just as it is plain that Paul does.
It is in unity that God commands the blessing.
A Church should never be insular and inward looking but seeking for ways to make the light of Jesus shine that much brighter.
What is this gospel?
That there is forgiveness, that there is reconciliation with God because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, that there is eternal life instead of an eternity in the lake of fire.
Stand fast in one spirit.
The Spirit is the key to the unity of the Church, who is the one who makes us one together.
And we add to this singleness of mind and heart for it is only as we do this that we can contend for the Gospel and not allowed ourselves to be intimidated by enemies within and without.
Why was this so important?
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