Phil 1.27-2.4 Representing Christ and Kingdom

Representing Christ and His Kingdom February 25, 2018

The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church to thank them for their financial gift while he was imprisoned in Rome. This congregation was established ten years before when Paul and Silas witnessed to Lydia, a successful business woman, a trafficked woman fortune teller, and the Philippian jailer (). The church was established in the midst of conflict over Paul casting out the “spirit of divination” in the enslaved girl (). Exploitation was part of the Roman law ().

I. Representation. Of Christ and His Kingdom –

A. Conduct yourself as representatives of the government of King Jesus

1. Believers are in submission to a kingdom that is not of this world –

2. Believers are a holy nation –

3. Our loyalty is to the city of God –

B. Stand fast in one spirit

1. Unity is a gift from God through Jesus Christ –

2. There is only one holy catholic or universal faith established by the Holy Spirit – Another term is “the historic Christian faith.”

II. Opposition. When Is Christ’s Church a Cruise Ship? –

A. Jesus prophesied conflict between His church and the world –

1. The world hates you because it hates Me –

2. Evidence that we are Christians is conflict with the world –

B. Suffering allows for genuine fellowship –

1. Fellowship is not merely standing around drinking coffee and chatting

2. Engaging the gates of hell yields fellowship with Christ – ;

3. Also with our brothers and sisters in Christ –

III. Joy. Fellowship Brings the Greatest Joy –

A. Fellowship of the Spirit

1. Like-minded –

2. Strive together for the faith of the gospel

3. A confession of faith is a “standard interpretation of the Christian faith.” “Being of one mind” and “one accord”

B. Steps to unity –

1. Do NOT act out to selfish ambition or conceit

2. To do so is to divide the body of Christ – . Reject a heretic who is self-condemned and does not have a clear conscience

3. Humility

• Esteem others better than yourself

• Look out for the interests of others as well as your own interest

Our unity in Christ is important to our witness and testimony for Christ.

We are citizens of Christ’s heavenly kingdom –