Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Transcription

1 1 There have been some huge changes to the way Bible believing Christians are viewed in our society. 75 years ago, you would more often than not receive benefits for being a Christian in America. As the tide changed, maybe about 50 years ago, Christians who believed the Bible were increasingly viewed as unintellectual or simply behind the times. Now though, to believe the Bible is increasingly seen not as simply unintellectual, but immoral and oppressive. JD and I had lunch a few months back with the President of one of the largest seminaries in the world and he believes that within my lifetime and maybe even his that all Bible believing seminaries will lose their accreditation because of our views on human sexuality increasingly being seen as unethical. Now, if I can be honest for a minute, I really do think that much of the persecution brought on Christians could be avoided. You listen to many Christians on the radio and online and, let s be honest, they pretty much bring persecution on themselves. They aren t being persecuted because they follow Jesus, they are being persecuted because they are moralistic jerks. But putting those people aside, we still have to acknowledge that the world is changing and our children and grandchildren will very likely relate more to the world of the Philippians than the world of our parents. The Philippians are being persecuted for their faith. And it is affecting their public gathering, it is affecting their social standing, their ability to produce income and even their freedom and physical well-being. This is what Paul is referring to when he says, [You are] engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. And what advice does Paul have for them? What wisdom does Paul have both for the Philippians and for us and our children as we are exposed more and more to hostility towards us because of what we believe? Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The way Christians act can either be used to bring unnecessary persecution on us or used to advance the gospel in the midst of persecution. Paul is telling us that the manner or conduct of our lives must be such that it is a credit to the gospel of Jesus Christ. So this morning, I want to look at 1) How this plays out individually 2) How it plays out corporately and 3) The result I. How this plays out individually If you think about it, this is a quirky and maybe even a confusing statement. Let the way you live your life be worthy of the gospel. How do you earn the gospel? The gospel has infinite value. My life can never be of equal worth as the gospel.

2 2 Paul isn t saying that you ve been saved now earn it. There is a scene at the end of Saving Private Ryan where the dying Tom Hanks is telling Private Ryan he needs to earn the salvation he has received. His life needs to be worth the cost that was spent to rescue him. This isn t at all what Paul is saying. That is the opposite of the Christian life. Paul is saying this instead. Let your life demonstrate the power of the gospel. Let your life point to the power of the gospel of Jesus. Let the infinite worth of Jesus be seen in you. Let your life be a credit to the gospel. There is one Greek word here we translate as 5 words in English. Let your manner of life. Some translations say conduct yourselves. The word Paul uses here comes from the Greek word for city Polis. It s where we get our word metropolis. Metro = chief, Polis = town. Why do I say all this? Because Paul is trying to do something very specific by using this word. He is trying to illicit sentiments of citizenship. Every commentary points this out. It s not obscure, it s really intentional. Philippi had the distinction of being a Roman colony. And citizens of Philippi were very proud of this fact. They wanted to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Roman Empire. And Paul is playing on this. He s saying, You have worked hard for your lives to reflect the glory of Rome. Now you have an even greater honor. Now you get to reflect a glory so much bigger than the Empire, more spectacular than the colosseum, and more sure than the pax Romana. You have a new citizenship. You get to reflect the glory of the risen Christ in your life! All of us have had some interaction with children on a playground. You catch one child, maybe it s yours, doing something he shouldn t. You know his parents. You know they have taught him better. And inevitably, what is going to be his excuse? Everybody else was doing it! I know I used that one with my parents. I wasn t the only one, Dad! And I bet you can guess how my Dad responded. Well, if everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you go jump too? And then finally, Jim, you are a Davis and Davis s don t do that. This is what Paul is saying! Your citizenship isn t in puny Rome anymore! It is in heaven! Your name is now Christian! And what an honor it is to be called by this name. So let that glory and honor affect the way you live your life. Now we can laugh at the little playground illustration, but there is a fundamental exchange that starts there..at a very young age and this is the battle we will wage until we die. We want to fit in. We want to conform to the people around us. But we are different because we are in a different kingdom than them. We are citizens of a permanent land with glory and pleasure that will never pass away. And we aren t supposed to act like people who have no clue of the magnitude of that glory. We are to think different. We are look different. We are to act different. We are to be different.

3 3 And this will affect all areas of your life! If you are in high school or college, it should affect what you do on Friday and Saturday night. If your citizenship is in heaven, you have the honor and privilege to reflect that reality. The way you live your life will show which world you long for most. We are to live in a manner worthy of the gospel when we sit down and talk with friends and all of the sudden the opportunity to gossip presents itself. We are to show the power of the gospel in our lives. Jesus doesn t constantly bring up our shortcomings and we should offer that same grace to others. And we are to live in a worthy manner when no one is looking. When we are alone with our computer or the internet on our phone. At every turn, we are being confronted with one issue: Will I try and be a citizen of this world and be conformed to the world? Or will I live as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven? A danger here though is thinking that this is simply saying to be morally better. That isn t what is going on. And thinking this way has turned many Christians into jerks who might need a little persecution. Simply wanting to be morally better than those around us will make us judgmental, cynical, condescending and insufferable people. Certainly we should be morally beyond reproach, but what Paul is talking about here goes way beyond that! Paul is saying display the gospel!! The main mark of a Christian is dying to yourself and living for Christ. Are we serving others, putting others first, denying our own rights that the grace and mercy of Christ might be on display? Election season has begun. And with it a fresh new look at the culture wars. And this always makes me cringe because Christians generally come across so poorly in this debate. Here is how the Christians on TV and radio far too often come across. This is our country! You bad people who don t share our religious beliefs are destroying it for us and we deserve far better! If you don t like this country the way it is, leave! What part of that defense for certain moral values in our country fits into the category of dying to yourself? There is a much better way to engage in this debate. Every now and then though you do hear arguments worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It might sound something like this, I do believe that we were created and given boundaries that we might thrive! And even though I know everyone doesn t agree with me, I believe 2 things deep in my heart. First, I believe that the way I vote is not just good for me, but also good for those who disagree with me. Second, I believe that we need something more than politics to save us. If the country were exactly as I want it to be, we would still be in great trouble. Jesus is the only one who can truly solve our problems. We are to live our lives in a way that points to the gospel that displays Gods goodness, glory and grace We are live in a manner that shows the beauty of the grace we have received through Jesus Christ.

4 4 So that is what it looks like for us to individually live our lives, to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. But the thrust of what Paul is saying isn t individual it s cooperate. It is something we are all supposed to do together. So what does that look like? II. How this plays out corporately. We see four ways this is supposed to play out in us as a church and we see them in verses 27 and 28 so that wether 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, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. The first things we see is standing. We are to be standing firm. The image here is a soldier holding his ground. The very word Paul uses emphasizes the inherent struggle. We as a church need to be standing firm. It doesn t mean that we are obnoxious and look for a battle in every discussion we have. It means that we are immovable. And this picture of standing is one Paul uses over and over in his letters. Three chapters later, Paul says this: Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. To the Thessalonians, Paul says. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. And then most famously, to the Ephesians Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. 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. Stand therefore Again to the Ephesian church, Paul says I don t want you to be easily conformed, easily affected, easily tossed about by the waves. He says, I want you to be like the rock the waves break against. We are to stand firm against some things and for other things. We are stand firm against Satan, against lies, and against sin. But we aren t only standing against things. We are standing for things as well. We don t want to be the type of people who are always against things, but never for anything. We are able to stand against because we stand for God, for the gospel, for truth and for righteousness. And we do this together!! None of us will stand firm if we are trying to stand alone. We need each other if we are going to stand firm. You need the church and the church

5 5 needs you. If you aren t standing with other believers, you are not just hurting yourself, you are hurting us too. We need each other! So we need to stand firm, secondly Paul says we need to be united. Paul tells how we are to stand firm in one spirit and one mind. One. United. What does it mean to be one. Is Jesus saying we need to all dress alike and look alike and act alike and vote alike? No. The best way to understand what Paul is saying comes from Jesus. In John 17:21-22 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Do you see what Jesus is saying? We are to be a picture of the Trinity! The Trinity contains both perfect unity and beautiful diversity. Unity in diversity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are perfectly and wonderfully united in one mind, one will, one God. Yet they are three beautifully diverse Persons. Perfect unity and beautiful diversity. The concept of the Trinity is where we get our word university. Unity in diversity. One school, many colleges. And this is what we are to be. United in the gospel. Unwavering in our united love of God, praise and honor of Him. Standing firm as citizens of heaven who look, think and act so different than the word. Yet wonderfully, diverse. Different backgrounds, different dress, different jobs, different races and different incomes and different ages. As opposition to who we worship grows, it will be necessary that we are united around the gospel. And the more diversity there is in this unity, the more powerful it will be. And if we are not, one of two things will happen. 1) We will have division or 2) we will simply sink to the lowest common denominator. We must be united in the gospel. Third, we must be striving. So we are united and standing firm, but not sitting still. I don t generally bring this much Greek into the sermon, but it is so helpful here. The word Paul uses is sunathleo. Sunathleo. Can you hear it? Athleo. It s where we get our modern word athletics. Paul is giving us a picture of being on the same athletic team. And we aren t supposed to be mavericks out there striving by ourselves. Again Paul is speaking to us corporately. We are to do this side by side. It kills me to use a Florida Gator illustration, but the UF basketball team two years ago was not altogether that talented. There weren t any big names, but they made it all the way to the final 4 because they played well together. We have all seen players with a lot of talent, but the player cares more about his own success than he does the teams. When this is the case, he can often do more harm than good.

6 6 We are to be striving together as one united church to take the gospel everywhere we are and it is not. We need to pray together. We need to share together. We need to confess our sins to each other. Lift each other up. Remind each other of the gospel. We must be striving together. Two questions we need to ask ourselves: 1) Are we striving? Are we working like an athlete for the defense and proclamation of the gospel? And 2) are you striving together? Or are you a maverick out there on your own? If that s you, we need you. Please strive with us. So we must stand firm, be united, and strive together to be a church that can battle opposition. Lastly, we must be unafraid. Paul says not frightened in anything by your opponents. The Philippians were receiving persecution because they didn t believe in the Roman gods. They were actually referred to as atheists. They didn t by into the myths of their culture, they believed in the One True God and this created difficulties in their lives. Their beliefs cost them social status. It cost them business opportunities and it could cost some of them their freedom. And Paul is saying don t be afraid! There is no reason to be afraid! You were the enemy of God according to Romans 5. An enemy. Then Jesus rescued you. He took the wrath that we deserve and we are no longer enemies, but children. We now enjoy every familial blessing that Jesus receives from the Father. Enemies to children. So think logically with me here. You were an enemy of God and now, you are His precious child. How would you feel if your child was being bullied on the playground? Take those emotions, filter out the sinful plans to slap a five year old around. But take those emotions of hurt, sorrow, sympathy and love multiply them by 10,000. Then we get somewhere in the ballpark of how God feels about his children in their persecution. He feels for us when we are excluded, when we are made fun of, when we are ostracized. He wants us to draw near to Him when pressure builds against us. And God promises to sustain and care for us in our sorrow, pain, loneliness, despair and anger. And as this love sinks more and more into our hearts, it drives out fear. We can stand up to the most powerful opposition and persecution with a peace that surpasses all understanding because we have God. What can this world really take from us if we have God? And when all this happens..we stand, we strive together, we are united and unafraid as a church remember, not individuals. When as a church, we walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we become a sign. III. The result. Paul says the result is that we all become one big sign. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

7 7 When we individually and collectively walk in a manner worthy of the gospel we become a sign to all those who oppose the gospel. And this sign says something and it accomplishes something. The sign says, united and unafraid. United and unafraid! Our circumstances won t shake us. Our resolve won t give. Our unity will not break. Our fears will be kept at bay. Our losses will not cause us to waver! We are united and unafraid because we have Jesus. We are no longer enemies of God, but children. We are no longer simply US citizens we have a new citizenship in heaven. And that truth, that joy, is displayed through us in our unity and our courage. That is what the sign says and here is what it accomplishes. It allows people to see their destruction and our salvation. Now that might seem harsh, but it s good. It s for their benefit. It s not that we can arrogantly rub our salvation in peoples faces. It s not like we are mocking people on the inside of a jail cell. Our sign helps us to show people their need for our Savior. The sign we create is good, right, just and compassionate because if people are heading for destruction, the need to know! And we are given 2 gifts from God to make our sign bigger, brighter and clearer. Verse 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 Two blessings to make a bigger sign: Faith and suffering. In order to create a sign, a big bright unmistakeable, irrefutable sign of fearlessness, what do you need? You need something to be afraid of, and you need faith to not be afraid. It makes no sense to claim that you are unafraid if you aren t around anything scary. God wants to erect a sign of fearlessness and so he allows things in our lives to be afraid of. But he gives us the faith to not be afraid. The two gifts of verse 29 create the sign of verse God wants this. God designed America in all its blessings and challenges. He has ten thousand reasons for doing it. We might only get to know three of them, but that s all we need to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To be united and unafraid. Conclusion: I don t think it s crazy to say that I think we are losing the culture war in America. I m not saying to give up, but to keep proper perspective. Remind yourselves that the more we lose the culture war, the bigger our sign gets. The more we lose the culture war, the more opportunities we have to show our sign: United and unafraid! The more we lose the culture war, the more we win the spiritual one. So today, we are taking the Lord s Supper. This is a time to reflect on the gospel. We reflect on Jesus body crushed for us as the bread is crushed between our teeth. We reflect on Jesus blood shed for us as the grape juice goes down our mouth.

8 8 And I want us to use this time to reflect on how we handle opposition to our faith. 1) Are we experiencing opposition because of the gospel or are we looking for fights and bringing opposition on ourselves. This is not living in a manner worthy of the gospel. 2) The second question I want us to ask is this: are we experiencing opposition? Is there ANY opposition to our faith? Paul tells Timothy Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. We don t seek opposition. We don t want to bring it on ourselves. But we also don t want there to be no opposition. If there is no opposition, we need to ask ourselves if we are truly walking in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When this balance can be found when we aren t jerks, but aren t silent, scared doormats either when we walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ we as a body make a sign to the world. We are united and unafraid. This sign is built on and sustained by the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. And this is the gospel we are reflecting on as we take communion. Let s pray.