Live As Becomes The Gospel
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 7th June service and hymns are below.
_________________________________
Our principal verses are:
Php 1:27 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;
Php 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Php 1:30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Live As Becomes The Gospel
The Apostle Paul was never one to be dwelling on himself. Having conveyed something of his present circumstances and frame of mind, together with his hope of coming soon to see the Philippian believers, Paul now takes the opportunity to speak of Christ. He wishes to encourage and embolden his friends in the Lord. He tells them, ‘Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ’. Here ‘only’ suggests that living according to the gospel is the greatest and foremost standard of conduct for the church.
Walking worthy of the gospel
Paul is eager that the Philippians walk worthy of the gospel they believe and the Saviour they trust. Our ‘conversation’ is more than how we talk to one another though that is included. Paul is referring to a believer’s whole life in all its parts because everything relates to our Christian witness. The Lord’s people belong to Christ wholly and we are called to live our lives to the honour of Christ and for the good of His church. Let us do nothing to bring shame on the gospel or distress upon the Lord’s people.
Inward submission
Notably the Apostle does not resort to a list of rules or a series of moral ‘dos and don’ts’. Walking worthy of the gospel is not outward compliance to God’s law but inward submission to the rule of Christ. Believers have been transformed by faith in Jesus Christ. We are new creations with a new spirit and new desires. We have a love for Christ and His glory. We are united to Christ our Head and members together with His body the church. God the Holy Spirit dwells in us and Paul calls every justified and sanctified soul to live accordingly.
The defence of truth
Paul’s two statements, ‘Standing fast in one spirit’ and ‘striving together for the faith of the gospel’ are energising and motivating phrases to describe Christ’s church. Christ’s people are active and engaged in a spiritual battle. Paul is speaking of our spiritual life in regeneration and the doctrinal truth of the gospel we believe, the spirit and the word. Every believer is united to Christ and to each other by the Holy Spirit. Every believer is united in truth, in the faith of the gospel, the faith of which Christ is the Author and Finisher.
What we stand for
Standing fast and striving together implies opposition and Paul acknowledges that the church will encounter adversaries who will oppose God’s free grace and our Christian freedom. Of course, Paul is referring to the gospel of free, sovereign grace, the only gospel that truly declares, ‘Salvation is of the Lord’. Satan does not oppose freewill, works religion of any variety. He always encourages self-righteousness and always opposes Christ’s righteousness.
Facing adversity
Paul tells the Philippians not to be afraid when they are opposed, nor to be surprised. All who contend against the faith of the gospel reveal themselves to be enemies of God and His truth. They are condemned already for they tread underfoot the effectual blood of Jesus Christ. Opposing the gospel of Christ is an evident token of perdition, says Paul. Perdition is the final state of ruin and punishment. It is the opposite of salvation.
How we live
Standing fast and striving together in unity of spirit and gospel faith is the gold standard of Christian living. It is what we do as believers and how we live by the grace of God. The faith of the gospel is the divine promise of full, free, accomplished salvation by the death of Jesus Christ. This is what we believe. The faith of the gospel repudiates any and all contribution by man towards his own salvation. Standing fast and striving together for the gospel is the church’s God-given privilege.
Living as becomes the gospel
Believers, in this fallen, sinful world, will most certainly attract opposition from natural men and will suffer accordingly, just as Paul did. The Apostle tells us it is given to us to suffer, just as it is given to us to serve. It is our calling to stand fast and strive together for the faith. This is the pattern of life for a believer. Converted sinners living for Christ and suffering for Christ’s sake adorn the gospel of God. It ‘becometh the gospel’ and it is our gift and privilege to live as becomes the gospel.
Amen
Hymn 599
“But ye are come to mount Zion.” Heb. 12. 22
W. Gadsby 148th
1
Ye sons of God, be wise,
And learn your Father’s will;
By faith lift up your eyes
To yonder shining hill;
No smoke, no thunderbolts are there,
Nor wrath to sink you in despair.
2
A pleasant mount indeed,
Where God unfolds his grace
To all the chosen seed,
And, with a smiling face,
Speaks peace to every troubled breast,
And bids the weary in him rest.
3
To worship on this ground,
Is not a legal task;
A solid peace is found,
And faith has all it asks;
There Jesus sits with smiling face,
And rules and reigns the God of grace.
Hymn 523
The Law of Liberty. James 1. 25; John 13. 17
W. Gadsby 8s
1
The gospel’s the law of the Lamb;
My soul of its glories shall sing;
With pleasure my tongue shall proclaim
The law of my Saviour and King;
A sweet law of liberty this;
A yoke that is easy and mild;
Of love it the precious law is,
Unknown unto all but a child.
2
The law of the Spirit of life,
That takes the old yoke from our neck,
Proves Zion to be the Lamb’s wife,
And Zion with beauty does deck;
Provides her a clothing divine,
And makes her all-glorious within;
Nor angels are clothèd more fine,
Nor can it be sullied with sin.
3
Its beauties all centre in Christ,
For Christ is the substance of it;
It makes broken hearts to rejoice,
And insolvent debtors will fit.
’Tis wisdom, ’tis strength, and ’tis love,
’Tis all that a sinner can need;
And all that are born from above,
By Jesus from Moses are freed.
4
This law is the poor pilgrim’s rule;
With boldness this truth I’ll maintain;
Thrice happy’s the man, though a fool,
That in it can look and remain;
This man shall be blest in his deed,
For Jesus and he are but one;
He’ll therefore supply all his need,
For ever and ever. Amen.
The gospel is God's promise to save His people by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is the message of redemption accomplished and applied by the grace of God alone and experienced by the gift of faith alone. It is to the gospel we look as believers for all our acceptance with God and to Christ on the cross for all our example of how to libe in this world.