Living Out The Gospel Together (Part 1)

REVIEW PREVIOUS WEEKS:

Paul has

remarked on the joy that they bring to him in thought an prayer

updated them on his condition,

let them eaves drop on him praying for them

encouraged them about the priority of serving others.

Now, Paul will share the update he wants to hear from them.

Text: Phil 1.27-2:4

Philippians 1:27–2:4 ESV

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, 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. 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, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

JUST BEFORE WE GET TO THIS FIRST POINT, Can I bring your attention to the phrase: “Only...”

“Only...” ESV

“Whatever Happens” NIV

“Just One thing…” CSB

the picture here is of an index finger raised to bring attention to what’s coming.

Hey…look right here. “Watch this...” “Here’s what I need from you...”

Live worthy of the Gospel

“Is the life you’re living now,” on this side of grace, “worth Jesus dying for?” - Leonard Ravenhill

WHAT ARE SOME KEY EVIDENCES THAT WE ARE LIVING OUT THE GOSPEL TOGETHER…?

1. Stand Firm (1:27-28a)

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, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents....

Letter writers of the NT era (and throughout history) have often placed parallel words at the beginning and end of a section to mark it off as a literary unit.

There are several parallels here and toward the end of the letter to show Paul’s intentionality in binding this section together as a unit of thought.

1:27 vs 3:20–4:3

“Only behave as citizens [politeuomai] worthy of the gospel” (1:27 ESV mg.) GREEK

“our citizenship [politeuma] is in heaven” (3:20)

“I may hear of you that you are standing firm [stēkō] in one spirit” (1:27)

“stand firm [stēkō] thus in the Lord” (4:1)

“striving side by side [synathleō] for the faith of the gospel” (1:27)

“who have labored side by side [synathleō] with me in the gospel” (4:3)

The rarity of these terms makes their reappearance later in the letter all the more striking.

This political word [pol-ee-tev-oh-my] - “let your manner of life be worthy” (rendered more clearly in the CSB as “Just one thing: as citizens of Heaven, life your life...”

Paul uses this political word only here in Philippians. He probably uses it because of the Philippians’ pride over their Roman citizenship.

there are privileges to citizenship

there are responsibilities to citizenship

UNPACK PRIVILEGES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP

“STAND FIRM…STRIVE TOGETHER...DON’T BE AFRAID OF OUR ENEMIES!”

Ephesians–Philemon Comment

The note Paul sounds here has rich biblical background. God promised Abraham he would curse whoever cursed Abraham (Gen. 12:3). Furthermore, God promised his old covenant people he would fight for them, that their adversaries would become his adversaries. Note especially the conceptual connections between Exodus 14:13 and Philippians 1:27–28 (cf. LXX):

Exodus 14:13 ESV

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

WE ARE NOT STANDING FOR STANDING’S SAKE…WE ARE TO STAY UP AND ENGAGED IN THE BATTLE!

In the breakdown of the armor of God, the goal is that we would be able to STAND

Ephesians 6:10–14 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

As a unified, working, courageous people, WE WILL STAND FIRM ON...

the inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture

the God of the Bible is the Holy God, the creator and ultimate ruler of all things. He exists in 3 persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Jesus Christ was God’s Son - eternally existent, yet came to earth through a virgin womb, lived a sinless / spotless life. Was crucified on a Roman Cross on Calvary’s hill as the sufficient, substitutionary sacrifice - the just for the unjust - Savior of the lost. That he rose on the third day. That he ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father as the Head over the church which is His body, where he intercedes for us.

there is a literal evil one, Satan himself, and that he is the enemy of God and the people of God.

man was created in the image of God - that he fell into sin - and became dead in his sins and subject to evil. Man is NOT basically good but is desperately wicked in his heart as his default position is to rebel and reject God’s absolute authority and goodness.

that everything needed for redemption has been accomplished by the blood of Jesus Christ. That new life for mankind comes through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. That faith is evidenced by repentance, confession, baptism, prayer and faithful service.

that the Church is not a cultural institution.  It is an organism.  It is a family, a flock, a body, the bride of Christ.

It is not a club, not a volunteer organization, nor is it a service provider.  It is the Spiritual Authority on earth ordained by Christ Himself to officially affirm and give shape to my Christian life and yours.

The church wasn’t birthed by culture, she isn’t sustained by culture, nor will she be shattered by culture.  We are - by our very nature of being in Christ - counter-cultural!

We need to stand in these days of apostacy where the truth is being traded as a lie.

We need to stand in these days where we are surrounded by a culture of death. Where your Charlotte City Council is protecting one of the region’s largest abortion mills by working to deny peaceful praying Christians their right to assemble as they attempt to stand in the gap for the voiceless and vulnerable. It’s a culture of death!

We need to stand firm against anything that would threaten the marriages inside this covenant family of believers.

We need to stand firm against the insidious threats to our single men and women in this over-sexualized, hyper-individualistic culture.

We need to stand firm and resist the temptation to go with the flow of the prevalent modern-day consumer-driven American perversion of “Christianity” as men and women of God, as families, as brothers and sisters, as a church, as those who lead.

We need to armor up, love well, serve selflessly, and STAND FIRM TOGETHER as Grace Covenant Church. So that we can reach the unreachable and love the unloveable whether they are across the street or around the world.

ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK WE’LL STAND!

ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND!

Paul wants to get a report back that the church is not risk averse when it comes to reaching others with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. He wants to hear that they are STANDING firm!

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WHAT ARE SOME KEY EVIDENCES THAT WE ARE LIVING OUT THE GOSPEL TOGETHER…?

STAND FIRM

2. Be the Sign (1:28b)

Philippians 1:28 ESV

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.

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 ESV

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

Here’s your sign...

The gospel is about love; therefore, we should be known as loving people.

The gospel is about justice; therefore, we should be justice-seeking people.

The gospel is about life; therefore, we should display visible vitality and joy in our gatherings and in our relationships.

The gospel is about liberty; therefore, we should not live as stuffy legalists.

The gospel is about humility; therefore, we should be a humble people, gladly serving others.

-Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 75). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

It’s like seeing a One Way sign…it only has the 2 words on it. But immediately sorts the compliant and defiant. One sign…2 meanings = You can do this. You can’t do that!

Many of the pagans in Philippi probably looked at the small band of Christians and thought, We’re winning, and from the surface, the church may have looked like a small, weak, pathetic band of people.

Our own culture - with the sexual revolution now coming with such mainstream force to warrant 2 long articles in a NY Times edition from this week (one with 1000+ words while containing no less than 160+ confusing pronouns), where unrestricted abortion without any negative connotation or consequences is now washing the zeitgeist like a tidal wave that would seek to pressure away any church’s declarations that would dare say, “The Bible says.”

Be the Sign of LIFE…in this culture of death.

Be the Sign of LOVE…in this culture of hate.

Be the Sign of HOLINESS…in this culture of sin.

Be the Sign of HUMBLE SERVICE AND SUBMISSION…in this culture of unrestricted consumption and individualism.

The salvation and the destruction are from God and they are both right and just!

Old timers used to say, “There’s a Heaven to Gain and a Hell to Shun.” God created both!

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SUMMARY: How can we live worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How is this evidenced?

1. STAND FIRM, AS WE STAND TOGETHER!

2. BE THE SIGN…THAT POINTS TO JESUS - TOGETHER!

CALL FOR MUSICIANS

BENEDICTION

Luke 10:2 ESV

2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Help us to rejoice in knowing

as we STAND FIRM, we are standing together…with you knowing that it’s not your will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

as we ARE THE SIGN that points to you - may we encourage our Christian brothers and sisters in their disciple-making journey while at the same time lovingly confronting men and women and boys and girls with the claims of Christ that will bring life or destruction to their souls

Be glorified as we are sensitive to opportunities to reach our neighbors and the nations this week.

Amen

Now, Beloved, go be the answer to Jesus’ prayer this week!