Citizen Life as a Colony of Heaven- Part 2
Notes
Transcript
What does it mean to live worthy of the gospel? What does it mean to live as a colony of heaven? What does day-to-day life look like?
I. A colony of heaven does not allow itself to be pulled away from the advancement of the gospel
I. A colony of heaven does not allow itself to be pulled away from the advancement of the gospel
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,
II. A colony of heaven does not allow itself to be intimidated in any way from the advancement of the gospel
II. A colony of heaven does not allow itself to be intimidated in any way from the advancement 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.
“Not Frightened”
This word has the idea of being intimidated or agitated or terrified.
The Letter to the Philippians A. Stand Firm Together in Suffering (1:27–30)
The Greek word translated being frightened does not occur elsewhere in the NT. It was used in Greek literature to describe horses that are startled and frightened on the battlefield.
Christians are not to be intimidated in ANY WAY or in ANYTHING! Wow! No matter the opposition to the gospel, no matter the threat- believers are not to loose their resolve to live lives worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Why should we never loose our resolve in the face of opposition? Why should we never be intimidated in any way from the advancement of the gospel?
Courageous persistence for the gospel is a clear sign to believers of our salvation
Courageous persistence for the gospel is a clear sign to believers of our salvation
“This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.”
Two different views of interpretation in this verse:
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.
28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
Is it- “a clear sing to them of THEIR destruction”?
OR
Is it- “a clear sing of destruction FOR them”?
The Greek text is unclear- you have to supply the prepositions when translating into English:
ἥτις ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς ἔνδειξις ἀπωλείας,
this is to them a clear sign of destruction/annihilation/ruin,
If you take the first view (ESV translation) the difficulty is understanding how the opponents of the Philippian believers would see the faith of Christians in the face of opposition as a sign of their own destruction.
Why would the opponents think that they would be destroyed when they saw the unity and steadfastness of Christians?
Perhaps the believer’s willingness to go to prison or even to die for the gospel was a sign to the opponents of the sincerity of the Christian’s faith. And this would cause them to also sincerely believe the gospel and thus their own pending destruction.
If we understand the second view then what Paul is saying is that the steadfast faith of Christians, united together standing shoulder-to-shoulder together striving for the faith of the gospel, not being intimidated in any way by any kind of opposition is a sign. But this sign is interpreted in different ways by different groups of people.
For those outside the church, the courageous persistence of Christians for the gospel is a sign of the believer’s destruction.
“And not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of YOUR destruction”
What might the opposition of the Philippians have looked like? Acts 16:19-24
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
“They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
The Letter to the Philippians A. Stand Firm Together in Suffering (1:27–30)
From the opponents’ perspective, the Christians’ refusal to give up their faith that Christ is Lord was all the evidence needed to prove them worthy of execution in a Roman colony dedicated to the worship of Caesar as Lord.
You are really going to follow this Jesus of Nazareth guy as your king? as your Lord? Romans only have one Lord and that is Caesar. If you refuse to back down you will certainly be destroyed!
For those outside the church, the courageous persistence of Christians for the gospel is a sign of the believer’s destruction.
BUT,
For those inside the church, the courageous persistence of Christians for the gospel is a sign of the believer’s salvation.
This sign is interpreted in different ways by different groups of people.
For the opponents they only saw destruction and ruin as a consequence of the believer's faith in Jesus. But, to the true church, to those who are born again, they see salvation from God Himself as a consequence for their steadfast faith in the gospel.
The Letter to the Philippians A. Stand Firm Together in Suffering (1:27–30)
“In no way let your adversaries strike terror in you. For although they see your loyalty to the truth as inevitably leading to your persecution and death, you see it as leading through persecution to the salvation of your souls.”
Illustrations:
Stephen
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.
58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
To those outside the church- destruction, but for those inside the church- salvation!
John Huss
A puritan who lived in the 1400’s and became a martyr for the faith. Early in life Huss trained for the priesthood, but eventually God opened his eyes to the truth of the Scriptures. Huss had a profound love for God’s Word. “Desiring to hold, believe, and assert whatever is contained in them as long as I have breath in me.”
Eventually, Huss gave his live for the faith because he taught things like the Bible was the final authority for the church, that Christ alone is the head of the church, and that to rebel against an erring pope (who was selling indulgences at the time) was to obey Christ.
In 1414 Huss was lured to the Council of Constance, imprisoned, and then with threat of death called upon to recant his views.
To which Huss answered, "I appeal to Jesus Christ, the only judge who is almighty and completely just. In his hands I plead my cause, not on the basis of false witnesses and erring councils, but on truth and justice."
He refused one last chance to recant at the stake, where he prayed, "Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies." He was heard reciting the Psalms as the flames engulfed him.
His executioners scooped up his ashes and tossed them into a lake so that nothing would remain of the "heretic.”
They thought they had destroyed Huss because of his faith, but we know that to depart and be with Christ is far better. Imagine homecoming that John Huss had seeing Jesus face to face- “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
To those outside the church- destruction, but for those inside the church- salvation!
Harry Dodd:
“You can’t scare me with heaven!”
Why should we never loose our resolve in the face of opposition? Why should we never be intimidated in any way from the advancement of the gospel?
Courageous persistence for the gospel is a clear sign to believers of our salvation
Courageous persistence for the gospel is a clear sign to believers of our salvation
Suffering for Christ’s sake is a gracious gift from God
Suffering for Christ’s sake is a gracious gift 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,
“It has been grated to you”
This Greek word means to give graciously, to bestow generously, or to show kindness to.
Paul helps us understand just how much of a gracious gift suffering is to the believer by use of comparison.
If I just stood up here and said to you that your faith in Jesus was graciously gifted to you by God- that would make perfect sense to most of us. That is what Paul says in the first part of this comparison.
Your ability to believe in Christ was graciously given to you by God.
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
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,
In the same way that God graced you with the ability to believe in Christ, God has also graced you (church) to suffer for his sake!
What godly suffering given to us by grace looks like vs. what it does not look like.
Some Christians today think they are suffering for Jesus’ sake, but in reality they are not.
Walking into Walmart without a mask on and they being yelled at by someone and they think that they are suffering for Jesus’ sake. Or, someone with a certain political yard sign in their front lawn and their house gets vandalized and they think they are suffering for Jesus’ sake. Or, being rude to people on Facebook or making politically charges statements on Twitter and then suffering the backlash is not suffering for Jesus’ sake.
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Suffering as a Christian
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Suffering unjustly
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
Being treated as evildoers when we are not
12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
Suffering according to God’s will
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Suffering in the name of Jesus Christ
16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Suffering for the gospel
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
Suffering for what is right
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
Suffering for the Kingdom
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—
Suffering for God Himself
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
So believer are you facing suffering? Are you facing slander? Why? Is it because of your own sinful nature? Is it because you have become to earthly minded?
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,
Are you really suffering for the sake of Christ?
Let the gospel be the catalyst that divides us from the unsaved world.
Why should we never loose our resolve in the face of opposition? Why should we never be intimidated in any way from the advancement of the gospel?
Courageous persistence for the gospel is a clear sign to believers of our salvation
Courageous persistence for the gospel is a clear sign to believers of our salvation
Suffering for Christ’s sake is a gracious gift from God
Suffering for Christ’s sake is a gracious gift from God
Suffering for Christ’s sake enters the believer into a wonderful line of succession
Suffering for Christ’s sake enters the believer into a wonderful line of succession
30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Saw I had- Acts 16, Paul was beaten and thrown in prison because of the gospel.
No Hear that I still have- Paul is still in prison in Rome and the Philippians are engaged in the same conflict! Let that sink in. They were suffering in the same way that the apostle Paul was!
“If there is anybody who is facing this conflict because he is a Christian, if there is anyone being persecuted or misunderstood, let me remind you that you are simply being subjected to that to which Paul himself was subjected—you are in a grand succession.” (Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
“Let me go higher and say, do you know that when you are suffering like that because you are a Christian, you are simply enduring what Christ had to endure? The world hated and crucified him. Do you know that you are in that great company: Paul, the apostles, the martyrs and the people of God everywhere, and at the head of them all, the Lord Jesus Christ himself? What an honor!” (Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
A colony of heaven does not allow itself to be intimidated in any way from the advancement of the gospel
Why Not?
Courageous persistence for the gospel is a clear sign to believers of our salvation
Suffering for Christ’s sake is a gracious gift from God
Suffering for Christ’s sake enters the believer into a wonderful line of succession
Let’s live as a colony of heaven together! Let’s live lives worthy of the gospel of Christ.
That means we stand firm together for the gospel and we do not allow ourselves to become intimidated by our opponents. A colony of heaven thinks differently and lives different- all for Christ, all for the gospel.
God grant that we might true be a colony of heaven!