Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Introduction

As we look at these words this morning, recall that the context is that Paul is writing to the believers in Philippi as he sits imprisoned as result of him proclaiming the Gospel.

He has been preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as the Messiah of all, as King to be worshipped, as Lord over all, and as a result of this he has been beaten, mocked, hated, and put in jail.

Despite all of that, he has sought to encourage these Christians in Philippi through his own joy in the fact that because of his imprisonment, the Gospel is been spreading even further.

He has also encouraged the believers through his own perspective that for him to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Here was a man who lived for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, and was prepared to die for the Lord Jesus Christ.

He recognised that his goal in life was to be with Christ.

And so his entire life was lived with that mission and goal in mind, and he lived with a longing in his heart to finally be with his Lord.

So should be the mind of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Paul concluded that last section, you will recall that Paul expressed to the Philippian believers that he was certain that he would not be put to death at this time, but that he would actually be released, and that he would come to the church in Philippi and would see them again, and this would encourage their hearts.

That’s essentially where he ended off in verse 25-26.

As he picks up in verse 27, he begins with the words “whatever happens.”

Paul is speaking here of something that is of greatest importance and significance.

He says to them that irrespective of whether he dies in prison and never sees them again, or if he is released from prison and comes to see them, there is a manner in which they are to conduct themselves.

As the Philippian believers lived their lives as Christians in this world, Paul was exhorting them, commanding them, to live in a particular way.

So with the church today, there is a manner in which we as Christians are to conduct ourselves in this world as we go by the name of Jesus Christ.

If we are those who have been truly transformed by the Gospel at a heart level, if we are truly those who have placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, then our lives must reflect that reality and truth, even when, and particularly when, opposition comes.

That is the exhortation of Paul this morning, and so let us consider this exhortation together.

1.

The Exhortation by Paul to the Church

Paul begins in verse 27 with the words:

Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ...

Paul’s exhortation is that these believers in Philippi should conduct themselves in a worthy manner; and the standard by which this manner of life is measured is that which is worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

In order to properly understand the meaning that Paul is conveying here, it’s helpful to consider the word that he uses in the Greek - πολιτεύομαι (politeuomai).

The word is an imperative - it is a command.

The word is derived from the Greek word polis, which means “city”.

The command is to live as good citizens within a particular city in terms of their conduct.

Further to this, the Greek philosopher Aristotle explained that in ancient Greece, the word Polis spoke of living together in partnership or fellowship.

The Greeks would thus be obliged use their talents and gifts together as a community for the benefit of all the inhabitants of that city.

When Paul thus speaks of this living a life worthy of a particular citizenship, he means living that life in a proper manner that shows due honor and respect to the city, but he also means that those he is addressing are to live together in unity, using their own particular giftings for the common benefit of all.

There is to be a common perspective and goal.

We will see more of this as we unfold this particular passage this morning (note that in the Gk, vs.27-30 are one single sentence, with this verb (live a life worthy) being the main verb of the sentence.

...of the Gospel of Christ.

When Paul then speaks about this worthy citizenship, he doesn’t relate it to a particular city, but rather to the “Gospel of Christ.”

Later on in this letter, Paul writes...

The conduct that should be evidenced in the life of the Christian is a conduct befitting the Gospel of Christ; it is a conduct that is aligned with and in subjection to Christ Himself as the supreme example.

It is a conduct befitting the man or woman who is a citizen of heaven, a citizen ruled and directed by the King of kings and Lord of lords.

It is that conduct that is worked out in light of the exceedingly rich grace of God that was demonstrated through Christ’s humility in his coming into the world, his subjection to death, and ultimately his resurrection and ascension for our sake!

If we are to properly understand the conduct that is to mark our lives, we must be continually reminded of the great work of salvation.

Paul said:

Christ entered into the world in order to save!! Every human that ever existed, apart from Christ himself, has lived with this deep need to be saved.

Freed from bondage and slavery to sin; freed from being under the wrath of the Almighty God.

But the wonder of the Gospel is that God Himself entered into humanity in order to bring about the salvation that we needed.

Christ is the Saviour of all who will repent of their self-sufficiency, their sinful ways, and believe in Him and trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin and mercy of God.

If anyone does this, they are from that very moment granted forgiveness and grace through Christ, and they are brought into a new family - the very family of God.

Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers:

Adoption as sons and daughters of the Almighty - that is the work of God in and through Christ.

That is the blessing and the great treasure that is yours if you are in Christ.

And it is as a result of that great work of grace, and the profound grace of God in Christ that we are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of that great kindness and mercy of God.

The Apostle Peter wrote...

Peter then continued to emphasize this calling to holiness through the reminder of the great price paid for our redemption...

Again, Peter goes on to say in chapter 2 of his first letter...

The call to those who are called by Christ, who have been redeemed at great cost, is to live lives consistent with that calling.

Biblically, it is impossible to be born again, and to live with any kind of contentment in ongoing sin or sinful patters in our lives.

Biblically, it is impossible to be born again and to live lives that continue to show no fruit of salvation.

As those who are born again, our hatred for sin must increase; our desire for holiness must grow; our earnestness with which we pursue such holiness should increase and abound.

Why?

Because so great is the love that God has lavished upon us that we should be called children of God!!!

Do you see that?

And do you live with a sense of urgency and earnestness in your pursuit of living a life worthy of your calling as a Christian?!

2. The Attitude Required by the Church

As we look further into verses 27-28, we notice various aspects concerning the attitude that should be present in the lives of the believers as they seek to live out this life in a worthy manner.

2.1.

A Steadfast Commitment

Verse 27 continues:

Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm...

In the NASB, this line is translated slightly differently.

It says...

NASB: “...so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm...”

The key focal point there is that Paul wishes for and longs to hear that these Philippian believers are standing firm.

He has already mentioned to them that he believes (as a personal conviction) that he will be released from prison.

But if not, he is ready to pass on from this world and go to be with Christ.

But irrespective of what happens with him in his own life, he exhorts them regarding their lives.

He wants them to be grounded in the truths of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He longs for those truths to be so dear to the hearts of the believers, so significant and important in their lives, that no matter what the consequences are to their own lives and their personal well-being, they will stand firm in the defense of the Gospel through being examples in the Christian faith.

2.2.

A Unified Spirit

Not only are they to have a steadfast commitment, but they are also to have a unified spirit.

Verse 27 cont...

...in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel...

In the face of the opposition that the Gospel faced in that day, there was not only to be steadfastness among the believers, but they were to engage in this steadfastness in unity.

Unity is a key theme through this book of Philippians, alongside joy.

But in the outworking of the Gospel, unity is critical, and it ought to be evident!

He speaks of standing firm “in one spirit.”

The spirit that is spoken of here is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

It is one and the same Spirit that indwells each and every believer, and as such, there should be not division of goal in the midst of these people.

Christ is not divided!

In his closing greeting to the Corinthians in his second letter to them, Paul wrote:

To the Galatians, Paul clearly explained that there is no special “breed,” no special “class” of people; no better cultural group, within the body of Christ, but that all people in Christ are equal before God...

Here is our common standing, that every single one of us who are in Christ Jesus, are heirs according to the promise of God.

We have an inheritance awaiting us in glory.

One of the great dangers that exists when threats confront people is that they start to think of themselves.

They don’t consider others, but rather they consider their own interests first.

Or they begin to take sides as to which direction to take, which decision is a better decision, and very quickly division sets in.

This should not be, says the apostle Paul.

There should be no division within the body, but rather a deep unity as the believers focus their minds and attention on Christ.

To the Galatians, Paul gave this warning:

Instead of fighting one another, these believers are called to contend together for the faith of the Gospel.

Their task in unity is the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Lord.

It is the calling of people repentance and faith in Christ.

2.3.

A Fearless Resilience

The third aspect concerning their attitude is that they are to have a “Fearless Resilience...”