Continuing our study in Philippians . . .
There is now a Christian alternative to the Boy Scouts called Trail Life
whose motto is “Walk worthy” taken from Ephesians 4:1. Philippians 1:27 in our
passage we are studying expresses the same idea in nearly the same words: “Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ
(ESV).” Several other versions have
“Live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ (GW).” This is Paul’s segue from sharing about his experience
of suffering for the gospel to his desire to see the Philippian church grow in
their own faith.
Philippians 1:27 Walk Worthy of
the Gospel
Paul had discerned that suffering in prison was not
at all something bad when he responded properly. The Philippians remembered how Paul and Silas
had been singing in their prison after being beaten with rods for proclaiming
the gospel. This became the turning
point in the ministry at Philippi. And likewise,
now in his Roman imprisonment the results for the sake of the proclamation of
the gospel were tremendous.
Paul turns now to the Philippian believers’
situation. Effective proclamation of the
gospel is not just words. It is crucial
that those who claim to be citizens of heaven demonstrate it with the way they
live—walk worthy. (How does a citizen of heaven act?) Noticing their concern for him and their
desire to please him, Paul says, ‘Look.
Whether I see you again or not, what I really desire from you is to hear
that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by
side for the faith of the gospel.’ For
Paul, walking “worthy of the gospel” refers to how you contend for it. There is a
struggle involved.
There are three points here. First, the gospel is
non-negotiable. It doesn’t change with
the situation or the times. So, we stand
firm on it. Second, we may have some disagreements about other things,
but not about the primacy of the gospel.
We are united on this in our motives and our actions. And third, we all firmly agree on the
“faith of the gospel.”
Faith here means belief. The gospel must be believed and, because we
believe, the way we live our lives should change. The opening sentence of this verse says
literally, “Live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ (GW).” When we believed the gospel, there was a lot
we did not know about how a believer ought to live. But, just knowing we are citizens of heaven,
where good reigns and evil is banished, should make us hold our heads a little
higher and desire to live according to the rules of heaven. But, notice it is not automatic, so Paul has
to tell them to do it. (Hey, you with
the eternal life: walk worthy!)
Furthermore, Paul is saying that proper proclamation
of the gospel involves our words AND our walk.
Not just one without the other.
And the most effective proclamation is when the whole church is united
on this (contending side by side). That,
says Paul, is how you contend for the faith of the gospel.
Philippians 1:28 Indication of
Salvation
In verse 26, Paul also wants all of them to not be intimidated by their
opponents. It is one thing to be afraid
of what others can do to you, but it is quite another thing to stand up to them
anyway and allow this godly boldness to overcome the natural fear. For Paul, it was a matter of seeing that the
worst thing they could do was kill him and he would get to go to heaven. But if God still had plans for him (and he
believed this was so), then God would protect him. It was a win/win as far as he was concerned.
We do not know the precise identification of these
opponents in Philippi but verse 30 seems to indicate that they were facing the
same conflict that Paul had experienced there and was now experiencing in Rome—greedy
Gentile unbelievers who feared that Christianity would put their livelihoods in
jeopardy and jealous self-serving fellow believers.
But notice that standing firm, despite the outcry
that is being raised against them, and displaying loving concern for people as
befits citizens of heaven, is an indication to the unbelievers that you are
correct in proclaiming salvation from destruction to come. Some versions call
this a “sign” or a “token” but literally the word is “indication.” It is an indication from God that your
opponents will see. And it will either
judge them or prod them to believe also.
This is not talking about individual perfection. It is talking about the church standing up
for the gospel by living it out as they speak it out. That’s why Paul repeats in four different ways
that he wants the church at Philippi to be united, side by side, one spirit, and
one mind standing firm for the faith of the gospel. How do we present the gospel to the world? What do unbelievers see? When they oppose us, do they see an
indication of salvation from destruction to come?
Philippians 1:29-30 Suffering
for Jesus
As a young believer, I did not like this next verse. I hoped that maybe it meant that just some
Christians were going to suffer for their faith because of sin in the
world. And it is true that America and
much of Europe and the lands they controlled since the Reformation has
experienced relative peace for Christians at the hands of unbelievers—mostly
because these nations initially claimed to be Christian. But in the extended world of 8 billion people
this verse is so prophetic.
Notice that Paul is not just warning the Philippians. He is saying that this has been “granted” to
them or they have been “given the privilege.”
Remember this is in the context of “insight” over what is “best”
(1:9-10). Because of Paul’s suffering,
the gospel was proclaimed everywhere.
And the Philippians had apparently mentioned their own opposition which
Paul has just addressed as part of God’s plan for them. God allowed the suffering to advance the
proclamation of the gospel. Don’t ask
“Why do bad things happen to good people?”
Rather pray for insight in how to respond as “citizens of heaven.” Paul says this is an indication that God is
at work in you and using you to proclaim salvation from destruction. So, count it a privilege. You are now a combat veteran! Your response to suffering is what is so
crucial now.
As we pointed out earlier, this struggle is not unique to Philippi. Paul experienced it, too—both at Philippi (as
they had observed) and now in Rome. If
you are a believer involved in proclaiming the gospel you can expect to suffer and
struggle for it. Perhaps all of us have
experienced this in some manner. It is essential
that we respond to this suffering as a citizen of heaven by “walking worthy”. That’s where our next study will take us in
chapter 2.
© Eric Thimell 2018
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