Your Manner of Life
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Introduction
Introduction
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether 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,
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
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,
30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Your Manner of Life
Your Manner of Life
The phrase let your manner of life is one word. the root of that word is the greek word polis meaning city. It has the idea of upholding your civic duties as a citizen of a city. The word reveals that this action is done to a person by that person. It is also a command. Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel. This is a duty to uphold our civic responsibilities that is required according to the gospel.
Is Paul here referring to heavenly citizenship or country citizenship. Philippi you remember is a military town that was highly in favor of the Roman government. They were fans of the government, since most of them worked for it or retired from it. The idea of civic responsibility brought joy to the faces of the people of Philippi.
But for the Christian it brought a dilemma. Do I honor Caesar or God…Remember the Roman world was fine with other religions as long as it didn’t worship a deity above Caesar. For the christian however, total allegiance is to Christ.
Or does it refer to our heavenly citizenship? Is this a statement that is calling for us to live according to rules of the Kingdom of God?
I would propose to you it means both and here is why. Paul reports in , his own life served to advance the gospel in Caesar’s household. He is the example for them of what it looks like to live in a manner worthy of the gospel in a heavenly way, that impacts the earth. Perhaps the better way to state this verse for our understanding would be, “As a good citizen of Philippi and as good citizens of heaven, live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ!”
What does it mean practically to let our manner of life be worthy of the gospel?
What does it mean practically to let our manner of life be worthy of the gospel?
There is a ton of talk about the gospel in Christian circles how should we understand the gospel and what are its implications on life? Let us first describe what the gospel is not.
First the gospel is not legalism.
First the gospel is not legalism.
Legalism in Christian is an excess adherence to moral standards and expectations. This can extend to doctrine as well, we Christians have a strict adherence to issues that we consider second tier. This could be considered a false type of gospel. The gospel of the right is one that says we must think right, act right, and be right to find acceptance. Legalism of this sort focuses on externals, such as behavior and proper doctrine, but gives very little room for grace, and transformation.
We want to be cautious in declaring the standards you must live up to because the gospel tells us we cannot meet those standards. I don’t know where the time went where we used to ask people what God was saying to them and what they were going to do about it, but these questions are hard to answer when you are focused on rules and doctrinal issues that can be disagreed upon.
Second, the gospel is not lawlessness.
Second, the gospel is not lawlessness.
Lawlessness or antinomianism is the belief that under grace there is no need for obligation to moral law and is of no use. The mantra is often, Jesus paid for sin, so I don’t need to be concerned with how I behave. I can do what I want when I want because Jesus died for my sin and paid that price. When in reality this view of the gospel is a false view as well. The gospel comes to transform you into the image of Christ, not just grant your get out of hell free card.
We see aspects of this when we are told don’t judge me. We see lawlessness running rampant when sin is not called out. One of the most loving things a person can do is loving confront someone when their lifestyle, or thinking is not in step with the gospel.
Living in a Manner Worthy of the Gospel is...
Living in a Manner Worthy of the Gospel is...
So walking "worthy of the Lord" would mean acting in a way that shows how worthy and able and gracious and strong the Lord is.
Another clue to this interpretation would be where John the Baptist says, "Bear fruit worthy of (aksios) repentance." This surely does not mean: Act in a way that deserves repentance or merits repentance. Rather it assumes that repentance is there as something extremely valuable and calls us to act in a way that fits the value and nature of repentance. Thus the NASB translates it, "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance," and the RSV translates it, "Bear fruit that befits repentance."
So it is with the phrases "worthy of God" and "worthy of the Lord" and "worthy of the gospel" and "worthy of the calling." They mean: Act in a way that fits the great value and glorious nature of God and the gospel and your calling. And what fits with that great value? Faith. Above all things, faith and its fruit of love fits the worth of God and the gospel.
So think this way. NOT: I must have faith and love so as to be worth God's favor; BUT RATHER: God's favor is free and it is infinitely worth trusting. Walking worthy of that favor means walking by faith, because faith is the one thing that agrees with our bankruptcy and God's infinite "worth." Looking to God's infinite worth for our help and satisfaction is "walking worthy of God."
Making it simple we go back to the two great commandments and the great commission.
Love God and Love Others. Living one’s life in a manner worthy of the gospel means acting in a way that shows how worthy God is how gracious God is. It means loving God by honoring him by spending time with Him. Sacrificing your to do list, your tv shows, your me time, so that you can have we time the father, son, and holy spirit.
Loving others is way to fulfill the command to let our life be lived in a manner worthy of the gospel. God is so worthy, God has done so much for us, that we cannot help but view others in a light that makes us serve them and share with them regardless of what they do.
The Outcomes of Our Manner of Living
The Outcomes of Our Manner of Living
First, Paul wants to hear the testimony of their lifestyle. Wether he comes or he doesn’t, he wants to hear a good report that he may rejoice. Paul infuses accountability in this lifestyle. And you know what, that is exactly what we need. We need to hear and report that good things that the gospel is doing in us and through us.
Second, Paul affirms them to stand firm in one spirit with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. This is military language, this sentence would have evoked the image of soldiers fighting side by side in battle.
The unity Paul is striving for is lost when Christians fight with each other rather than side by side.
Third, Do not be frightened in anything by your opponents…to live is Christ and to die is gain. The word frightened is again a military term used to describe horses that are startled or frightened on the battlefield.
Fourth, Believe and suffer for Jesus.
What does it mean to suffer for Christ’s sake?
Finally, engage! Paul says to engage in the same conflict that they saw him in and the conflict he still has.