Christian or Impostor: Acting your Identity (Philippians 1:27)

Introduction:

One day a famous preacher visited a Nursing home where some patients with Alzheimer’s lived.

He went around and greeted the people who were very glad to see him.

He walked up to one lady and asked, “Do you know who I am?”

She said, “No, but if you go to the Front Desk, they can tell you.”

It is not just people with Alzheimer’s or dementia who forget who they are, sometimes we as Christians forget who we are as God’s Children.

How many times did your mom or dad tell you to: “Act your age?” or “Stop acting a fool?” Probably many times.

What they were saying was: “Act your identity!”

They probably didn’t say it that concisely or exactly, but likely said it this way:

“When you are out with your friends, act in a way that will make us proud.”

Or “Don’t behave in a way that will bring shame on the family.”

Or “Remember, you are an ‘Jackson,’ don’t tarnish the family name.”

Did you know that your reputation is in places that you are not?

As Paul wrote to the Philippians, that is the primary point he made at the end of the first chapter.

READ: Philippians 1:27-30

Philippians 1:27–30 CSB

Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Paul’s Challenge: “Live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

Be Like Christ

Who do you Identify with? This is a great question that is asked in the world.

Basically, Paul was saying: “Act your identity!”

a. Conduct yourself in a way that is consistent with who you are and what you are about.

b. But it is impossible for us to conduct ourselves in such a way if we don’t remember who we are.

Let’s notice three key words in that verse that create this clear and powerful command.

1. The first key word is “one,” The Greek text begins with the word “monos,” which means “only.”

It could be translated, “just one thing,”

By using that word, Paul was saying this is one thing I want you to focus on.

2. The second key word is “worthy,” which literally means to even the beam.”

a. It refers to balancing the scales so that both sides are even.

b. To live “worthy” of the gospel means to live so that your life gives proper weight to all the God has done for you in Christ.

3. The third key word is “conduct.”

a. Paul used a very interesting word here for “conduct” or “live.”

b. The word Paul normally used for this kind of point is one that means to “walk about” – like in Ephesians 4:1 where Paul wrote: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling.”

c. But rather than use that word here, Paul used one that literally means “to be a citizen” or “to perform your duties as citizens.”

d. To paraphrase an old “Church” question: “If you were arrested for being a citizen of heaven, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

e. Christians should be living in such a way that there is no doubt they are citizens of heaven.

4. With those key words in mind, let’s compare several translations of Phil. 1:27.

a. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (NIV)

b. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. (ESV)

c. Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (HCSB)

d. Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. (NLT)

E. So, Paul’s plea to the Philippians and to us is: Remember who you are, remember where your citizenship really is, and conduct yourself in a manner worthy of your true identity.

1. And why is it important that we take this command so seriously?

2. Because unbelievers draw conclusions about Jesus by the way we live.

3. If salvation doesn’t really make a difference in the way a follower of Jesus lives, then why take Jesus seriously? Right?

4. This was important for Christians in the 1st Century, and it continues to be important for Christians in the 21st Century as our surrounding culture becomes increasingly hostile to the bible and christians.

F. In the verses that follow verse 27, Paul described some of the elements of worthy conduct that will help Christians have a greater impact on the watching world around us.

First of all, worthy conduct includes…

Being Constant

A. Paul wrote: Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. (Phil. 1:27b)

1. What did Paul expect that the Philippians would do? He expected them to stand firm – to persevere – to be constant and consistent.

2. The world is full of people who quit when the going gets tough and retreat when the battle heats up, but not Christians, we must stand firm.

3. A wise teacher taught his young students: “Remember the postage stamp, it sticks to one thing until its job is done.”

B. Perseverance is certainly conduct that is worthy of the gospel.

1. God will enable us to keep going, to stand firm and to not shrink back.

2. Whatever the challenge – whatever the difficulty – regardless of the persecution or the pain, we must simply remain by standing firm.

3. God is pleased and will reward us if we are faithful to the end.

Second, worthy conduct includes…

Being Cooperative

A. Look again at Philippians 1:27b: Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.

1. We notice that worthy conduct is characterized by cooperation and unity.

2. Often when people are under pressure it is easy to lose sight of the importance of standing together, and of being unified.

3. Paul was aware of the tensions that had risen in Philippi concerning a dispute between at least two leading members (chapter 4), and that is one of the reasons he stressed unity and taught them how to have unity in chapter 2.

4. One of Satan’s favorite tactics is to “divide and conquer.”

a. He knows that if he gets us fighting with each other in the church then the church is weakened and made ineffective and unproductive.

b. The old song from 1970 by the group The Brotherhood of Man is true: “For united we stand, divided we fall. And if our backs should ever be against the wall, we'll be together, together, you and I.”

B. With this in mind, Paul called for unity, togetherness and cooperation.

1. He called for them to stand firm in one spirit.

2. Then he envisioned them so unified that they are “contending as one man.”

3. When we are truly working as a team, then there is great synchronization and power.

4. Perhaps Paul envisioned an illustration from Roman warfare.

a. The Roman legions were renowned for their iron discipline.

b. Often when under attack they would draw close together in one small unit and raise their large shields and advance together as an impenetrable wall called a Roman Wedge.

c. It takes both skill and cooperation to advance together as one man.

C. For the church to be effective in any time or circumstance, then we must work as a team and be willing to cooperate with each other.

1. Let’s let the world be a place where people quarrel, fight and divide, but let’s have the church be a place where we contend as one.

2. So, as citizens of heaven, Paul commands that we walk in a worthy manner by walking constantly and consistently, and by walking cooperatively.

Third, worthy conduct includes…

Being Confident

A. Paul wrote: 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. (Phil. 1:28-30)

1. Here we see that Paul called them to remain cool, confident and courageous in the face of opposition.

2. Paul told them not to be frightened in any way by those who oppose them.

a. The word Paul used for frightened was used to describe a horse spooked by movement in the bushes or a horse that shied away from battle.

b. Such a frightened horse will rear up and run away, but a Christian must not be like that.

B. In times of crisis, others may be nervous or afraid, but not the Christian, he or she should be serene and confident.

1. Why and how can the Christian remain confident and courageous in the time of crisis and conflict? Answer: Because we know the outcome of the battle.

2. We know the end of the story – God wins! And if we are on God’s side, then we win.

3. It’s like the difference of watching a live football game and watching a recorded version after the fact when you know the outcome.

4. It is like watching your favorite exciting movie.

a. The first time you see the movie, you might be on the edge of your seat and anxious.

b. But now when you watch the movie, your not anxious because you know how it turns out and that all is safe in the end.

5. Likewise, we know the end of the story of God and we know that Jesus is the victor.

a. Our own personal story is still being written, but if something should happen to us, we know where we are going, and so what’s there to worry about, right?

C. Paul explained that when we live with confidence and courage, then we become a sign to the unbeliever.

1. When the unbeliever sees our confidence and courage in the face of difficulty, crisis and suffering, then they realize that we possess something they do not.

2. Do you remember how amazed and perplexed Pilate was at the calm, confidence of Jesus during his arrest and interigation?

3. When we know that we stand with God, then we know where we are going and we can be calm and confident even in the face of persecution.

D. Paul wanted the Philippians and us to be prepared for opposition.

1. Sooner or later, we will run into opposition.

2. Opposition to the gospel reveals the spiritual reality that we are on the right track and that those who oppose us are on the wrong track.

a. Our strong faith will act as a sign to them of what will occur at the end – the destruction of Christ’s opponents and the salvation of believers.

b. This is something that God will do through our faithful witness.

3. If no one ever criticizes or opposes us, if we never make waves because of our faith, if everyone is happy with our Christian faith, then perhaps there is something wrong with our expression of Christianity or there is something wrong with their understanding of our faith.

4. Those who walk worthy of the gospel are going to annoy the world because we stand as a rebuke of everything the world stands for.

a. When we say that Jesus is the only way, they call us arrogant.

b. When we say the Bible is the word of God, they call us ignorant.

c. When we dare to say that promiscuity and adultery and homosexual activity are sinful, they call us narrow-minded, judgmental bigots.

5. And so it will go, we will annoy the world precisely because we are citizens of heaven and live by different principles.

6. Paul’s advice for us is: Don’t be afraid, just keep on speaking and living.

7. People may not like our lives and message, but we can’t let that stop us.

E. Paul ended this section by verifying the difficulty of this.

1. Paul told them that they had been called not only to believe in Jesus, but to suffer for him.

2. Paul reminded them of his own personal experience with suffering.

a. The Philippians must have remembered what Paul suffered when he first visited their city – he was flogged and imprisoned.

b. And even as Paul wrote them this letter, he wrote from imprisonment in Rome.

c. He didn’t write from some sun-drenched island retreat, or some relaxing, luxurious cruise ship, but from a place of suffering.

d. Paul certainly practiced what he preached!

3. It is often helpful for us to realize that there are others who are fighting the same battle we are.

a. We are not alone in our struggles, our difficulties are not unique, but are common.

b. And when we suffer for Christ, we join the company of other Christians who have done so in the past, will do so in the future, and are experiencing the same in the present.

Conclusion

Paul’s basic message to them and to us is: Remember who you are. Remember you are sons and daughters of the King of Kings. Remember where your citizenship really is.

1. When we realize we are children of God and citizens of heaven, then we realize that we have the resources of our heavenly Father available to us.

2. Those resources based on our identity will help us to stand firm and keep us from quitting.

3. Those resources will help us to work together as God’s family and fellow heavenly citizens.

4. Those resources will help us to have faith and confidence in the face of opposition and suffering.

5. All of this is available to us as children of God, but we must remember who we are and remember to take hold of them by faith, so that we can act our identity and live a life worthy of our calling.