Philippians

As It Becometh the Gospel Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27 It is here that the apostle turns to admonish and provoke the Philippians in their common cause with him. As an under-shepherd of the good shepherd, he seeks to stir them up to godly living and purpose. It is his design to unite them with him in the defense of the faith, knowing the day was short and the dangers many. They must rally to his side in the good fight of faith. Notice the admonition itself, seen in the word only and the verb translated as it becometh. The first word speaks to the urgency of the call, while the second to the nature of that call. As those united with Paul in the defense of the gospel and the pathway of the cross, they were to be conducting themselves in a way that becometh the gospel. And what was that conduct? 1. It was one of standing in one spirit. They were to be united in the faith. It is the faith and its banner we unite under. Of one mind, one purpose, and one faith. 2. It was one steadfast in the faith. They were to be united in a common cause. They were soldiers together. They were engaged in a battle, "Who, having a common enemy and a common warfare, ought to have their minds united together in a holy agreement (Calvin)." 3. It was one of all tenacity and fearlessness. They were to be of an unshaken confidence, given to a fortitude of mind, which Paul impresses upon them. It is a soldier's confidence they were to have, one that is sustained amidst assaults. Fortitude. Steadfastness. Perseverance. Free from all dismay. Doctrine. We in Christ are to live worthy of the gospel of Christ, which along with our faith, is the sum of our gracious calling. Consider: I. We have been called to believe. True Christianity begins with awe and all reverence, knowing that but by the grace of God we would be doomed. Humility is the central evidence of true faith. Consider the fruits of the Spirit, Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, each of these is the evident result of a beggar's salvation. Love, because he is loved eternally. Peace, because of a selflessness which has been mediated by the blood of Christ. Joy, on account of grief, shame, and hopelessness having been abolished in Christ. Longsuffering, which comes from knowing oneself wicked and forgiven greatly. Gentleness, because with sovereign kindness one has been dealt with so kindly. Goodness, which has been learned. Faith, which has been given. Meekness, which comes from learning forgiveness. Temperance, knowing the threat of selfishness. He that thinks he has a hand in his salvation, or thinks himself worthy or deserving of it, knows nothing of a true Christian disposition. What does that look like? First, it does not look like this, like the, Pharisee [who], Stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. That is the evidence of the pretender. But the true Christian, he is one like, The publican, [who] standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner (Lk. 18:11f). Why does Paul say, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake, because no one can ever look upon the cross ahead in Christ and embrace it with all joy, until he understands the mercy that came before. Only a beggar, publican, and Samaritan, can properly take up a cross and follow Christ. For mercy and forgiveness has taught us that all is of grace and we are undeserving of it. It is truly as Christ said, To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little (Lk. 7:47). The true gospel teaches us gratitude and what a privilege is ours to believe. What a blessing to know we have been granted faith from above. Scripture is clear, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The fact that we believe is all of grace. We begin this Christian life of faith knowing that to us it has been granted to believe. Sovereign grace equips us with the armor of humility. It prepares us for a life of gratitude and delight. II. We have been called to suffer. Once we understand how much we have been given and forgiven, then and only then can we with all joy and desire embrace the cross. He that is forgiven much, he that knows himself unworthy, with all haste rises quickly and grasps the cross. The cross is no burden, but an honor to such a one. Did Mary have trouble bowing before Jesus and wiping His feet with tears? Was she ashamed with those at the table scoffed and mocked? No, but love consumed her. Humility was her proper place and she adored it. Can anyone say to Christ, "I shall take no cross, who has known Him upon it?" The Pharisee sits at the table, doesn't stoop to wash, judges those around, thinks himself worthy, while a true Christian rises, stoops, and carries any cross, no matter how humbling or shameful. For joy, love, and delight, we raise the cross. Thus, surely no one can bear to hear Paul say, To you it has been granted to suffer for Christ, who has not first seen Christ crucified on his behalf. What an honor is ours to fight this good fight of faith, and to suffer on behalf of Christ. Could there be any more honorable calling? We that are beggars and the world's derided are called to a most noble calling. We are the Lord's people, and it has been given to us to suffer on His behalf. Like Uriah, who refused the king's order to go and be with his wife, he refused, saying to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing (2 Sam. 11:11). These two clauses are inseparable. One cannot willingly raise the cross, who has not first known sovereign grace. Uses For our determination let us make this our life. God has already done so, for we have been given faith and a cross. It is our calling; it is our civic duty and do so with the direction that we seek that joy which is ahead of us united as one. I shall seek today to sound the alarm! To rally us to the cause! For we are always in combat for Christ. Satan is always on the prowl. Our enemy is always seeking to infiltrate, undermine, overcome, divide, and conquer the church. So, we must know that we are never free from this combat. In what way, since we do not see the threats of bloodshed as Paul? Where is the battle? All around us! Consider: 1) The assaults of the world. The world is seeking to allure and draw us away. Enticements abound. Amusements, entertainments, these all have an agenda. Ease and rest, it is our common inclination. When pleasures no longer entice, then the world seeks to bolster our confidence in worldly possessions. When this doesn't work, it tries to make us its friend. When this fails, it seeks to bolster our ego, with promises of earthly prizes, lands, titles, honors, and pleasures. 2) The threats of the world. Anxieties and fears, concerns and diversions, are always raised to make us concern for this fleshly abode, saying, "But what of tomorrow?" "What of your welfare?" "How will you eat and be clothed tomorrow?" "Has God really said?" "What if we take your liberty, what if we take your life?" "Can you survive without employment, without all that we have to offer?" Fear is a principal weapon of our adversary. 3) Strikes against our confidence. Satan is always seeking to impugn our consciences with calls to holiness or threats of our sins. "You are not holy enough!" "Grace is not enough!" "Work, God demands you earn His favor!" When that doesn't work, then the world tries to undermine our confidence in Christ, saying, "Your sins are not forgiven!" "They are too many and too great!" 4) The threats against our union. False doctrine, false teachers abound, which divide and nullify our strength. When that fails, then we are made to fight and bicker with one another, often over the silliest of matters. 5) The subtlety of lull. Long hours of watch, training, drilling, guarding, often gives rise to complacency and indolence. Before we know it, the enemy has lulled the church to sleep. When that fails, then it seeks to draw us away from Christ and to damper our affections, to make us cold to His love. Before we know it, we are no longer stirred by sermons about His love and grace, we no longer find His sweet fellowship something we desire, and our union becomes rote and forced, going about the motions of a loveless Christianity. Chrysostom said, "Nothing is so incongruous in a Christian, and foreign to his character, as to seek ease and rest." 6) The danger of over confidence. We get too confident in our strength and forget we are fully dependent upon Christ. We go about it on our own. Prayerless, with books closed, we like Joshua at Ai look to our own strength. 7) The delusions of discontent. The Christian life is to be one of contentment. Contentment with our present lot, in order to employ it to heavenly ends. Yet, most of us have spent a lifetime consumed with trying to daily change our present circumstances, in order to obtain some earthly goal. We must put aside these foolish pursuits, and whether prince or a slave, prisoner or beggar, wherever the Lord has us, faithful serve Him! "We are all ready, commonly, to exert ourselves, as we say, to "improve our circumstances"; and, in one view, it is natural and fitting enough. Yet it is of more importance-much more-that in the circumstances as they stand, we should bear ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. Some of us are ready to stir heaven and earth in order that certain unwelcome conditions of our lot may be altered or abolished. It would be more to the point to walk with God under them as long as they last." 8) The illusion of comradery. The world wants to be our friend. If they can't slay us, they will befriend us. They will infiltrate us, making us adopt their goals and beliefs. They will unite with us in common, often seeming good causes on earth. The world is not our friend. It is our enemy. Dangers! They are all around us! So, let us know that we must stand! 1) One in the faith. The truth is central to our strength and union. We stand Sola Scripture, on and under the word of God. It is our rule of faith, that which you use to slay and subdue, the sword of faith. It is our ready defense and the means of our offense. Without it we will fall, without it we fail! It is our sole offensive weapon; what good are we without it? Like those of Nehemiah's day, we must have the sword in one hand, the trowel in the other. What good is a kingdom without a sword? In the Art of War by Sun Tzu, it is said, "Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor damped, your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue." When the church puts down the sword, when it is neither preached nor believed, neither known nor read, the enemy remains unchecked. Think of it. When on your own, having it not in your heart and mind, you are prone to every attach. When your homes exist without it, when it is not your mainstay each and every day, it is as leaving your home open to every thief and scoundrel in the way. God's word, its truth, it must be our bulwark, our mainstay. 2) One in Christ. Our Lord and His grace are necessary for our bond. As we can do nothing without Him, so we are bound in Him as one. Abolish all self-confidence! Put away pride and all your own devices. Recline on Christ alone! When Israel went to battle, the Ark went first! It parted the rivers. It defeated their enemies. For it was the symbol of their covenant. It was the place of their atonement. It was their emblem of Christ. He must be our emblem in the way. When Israel sought to conquer the impenetrable walls of Jericho, the Ark went daily before them. It led the way. We must have Christ before us; to go before us to the cross, before us to defeat our sins, before us to slay our adversary, before us to lead captivity captive, before us to ascend on high. 3) One in fervency. We must not give way to lulls of loveless indifference. We need to stir the coals of love. We need to make real His good mercy. We need to weep over our callous hearts. We need to find the key of Giant Despair and escape diffidence. We need to return to the bedchamber of our Lord's union. How often has our religion become a dull thing, how often have we sat and said, "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not." O stay not still. Rise, rise and say, "I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth." And do not give up the search. Plead with heaven, saying, "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether." 4) One in identity. Our kingdom and church are our central identity. This is a body politic. We must stand together, watch together, police together, and rejoice together. When there is sin in the camp? Cast it out. When there are divisions? Drive them away. When there are disputes? Resolve them. And let this be our common song: Aver weekly to gather, sing, and rejoice, saying: Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD. Ps. 149:2f Aver to join together and share our joys, sorrows, and deliverances, saying: So, the ransomed of the Lord will return, And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. Is. 51:11 I am sure the apostles had a peculiar fellowship and lasting bond that none other had. They had lived, sailed, and died with Christ. They knew a life of fellows in a shared ship. Ours must become of such an uncommon union. We must be as one in Christ.