Light Brings Salt
Volume 2, Issue 20 May 23, 2004
Dedicated to the
Systematic Exposition of the Word of God
Standing Firm - Conduct Worthy of
the Gospel
We find in Philippians 1:27 the beginning of a series of exhortations
designed to encourage them to unity and courage in view of the external
opposition that they were experiencing and that would increase in the years
ahead. Paul clearly expresses his concern for their spiritual well being of the
sheep.
1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so
that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you
are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith
of the gospel; NASB
The importance of our walk as believers is emphasized by the
imperative mood of the verb - conduct
yourselves.
The word politeu,omai
means to perform the duties
of a citizen; It refers to one's duty as
a member of a body, an organization (from
it comes our word politics).
Often it was used
to refer to the duties that one was responsible for as a member of a community.
It could be translated "behave as
citizens" or "Perform your duties as good citizens". [implies a framework
for expected behavior; parameters expected] The Present imperative stresses
that this action is to be continuous and habitual for the believer.
Roman citizenship
meant a great deal to the citizens of
"Whatever
happens conduct yourselves as good citizens.."
Need to remember that as Paul writes he is in
prison, it is his expectation to be released so he could continue his ministry,
but this is not the real issue, He says the real issue Philippian believers and
for us as believers of the 20th century is our living the Christian life today.
The adverb describes the manner of our conduct as worthy = axiwj means
to have the weight of another thing and really could be translated as
"weigh as much as". The believers conduct is to weigh as much as the
Word of God which we believe. Our conduct, our pattern of life should be in
balance with the doctrine which we believe. This is only possible as we live
out and apply the truth that we know!
Just as all loyal Philippians desired to live up to their high calling
and the special privilege of being citizens of Rome, so the Christians in
Philippi were to live up to their high calling as citizens of the kingdom of
God.
Thus Paul exhorted them to live "in a manner worthy of the gospel
of Christ." That is their position
and standing in Christ. This is not an unfamiliar concept from the pen of Paul.
(Eph 4:1; Col. 1:10; 1 Ths 2:12)
Paul next lays out the strategy to accomplish this command, to conduct
ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, and he uses an athletic
metaphor, striving together,
to make his point.
Paul first stresses again the thought that "whatever
happens" whether
I come or remain absent..... it should not impact
their conduct as believers and he is going to tell them and us by application
how to accomplish this.
He shifts from the familiar - their responsibility as
citizens of
To stand firm in one spirit refers to a having a common
mental attitude. It takes more than a believer here or there to hold the line
against the persistent thrust and pressure of the kosmos it takes teamwork, the
whole team, the local church, the gathered body of believers working together. Paul's focus here is the Philippian church
and its proper function.
Principle must be the same in any and every local church
regardless of size. There must be teamwork with all who are Christ centered.
Principle: Great defenses have been fractured and
destroyed by lack of unity and bad mental attitudes, true in any team sport. This
teamwork is achieved by having our attitudes, our viewpoint on life determined
by the same set of beliefs and values, that is, all
determined by the Word of God. As the
saying goes all being on the same page. This is impossible with out the active
ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. (Eph 4:3)
Paul next shifts to an offensive strategy.
Striving together (sunaqle,w) describes believers as laborers working together in a common cause, toiling by the side of, to struggle along with someone. We
must compete as a team which fits well with the emphasis of unified effort Paul
is stressing here - in one spirit, with one mind striving together.
This united effort
is to revolve around "the faith"
(th/| pi,stei).
By using the definite
article it refers here to the body of faith, the truth, doctrine
that we are to believe and to maintain the purity and consistency of, as it was
given to us. This striving is not
against anyone or anything but is for something positive, the body of truth God
gave us. For them to win against the opponents of Christianity (overt then -
more covert today but its there in an ever increasing degree) they had to take a strong defensive stance - keep on standing firm. But also they had to exert offensive effort,
that is to keep on contending for the faith. (Jude 1:3 appealing
that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for
all handed down to the saints.)
During the first generation of the C/A as during the OT period much truth
was not only orally given but communicated from generation to generation
orally. Out of that wider body of truth some under the principle of inspiration
became a part of the permanent record, the canon of Scripture. This is what is
in view here, once,
a[pax adverb, describes the fact that at a
point of time this revelation from God was completed and therefore
unchangeable. One of the clearest marks of a cult is that they want to add to
the revelation, or
to distort and misapply the text, what the revelation says.
Did you notice in Jude 1:3 to whom this "the faith" was delivered? Its to the saints (toi/j a`gi,oij) the set apart ones; i.e. the whole
body of Christ.
Many times the local body of believers depends on the pastor to
contend for the faith, or to look to those in leadership positions in the
church. Paul here is saying that every
believer has a responsibility to be involved in advancing the cause of Christ
through the ministry of the local church. We should have a confident attitude
or reassurance in the midst of the daily battles, that is if we stay focused on our
Savior and His grace resources through the Word and Spirit for life and
godliness.
Quote of the Week!
Senator Zell
Miller of
"Those who are wringing their hands and
shouting so loudly for 'heads to roll' over [the abuse] seem to have
conveniently overlooked the fact that someone's head has rolled - that of another
innocent American brutally murdered by terrorists," said Sen. Zell Miller, Georgia Democrat. "Why is it that there's
more indignation over a photo of a prisoner with underwear on his head than
over the video of a young American with no head at all?"