When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, there were very few problems that he needed to correct. These brethren were faithfully following the Lord and were an encouragement to the apostle. So he encouraged them to continue serving the Lord in a way that would please Him. Consider the following verses:
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 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. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me” (Philippians 1:27-30).
In the passage above, Paul told them to “conduct [themselves] in a manner worthy of the gospel.” This indicates that the gospel calls us to a higher standard, and Christians must strive to live up to it. But what exactly does that mean? How can we do this today? Let us consider what Paul wrote in this passage about how we can “conduct [ourselves] in a manner worthy of the gospel.”
Not Dependent upon the Approval of Others
Paul told these brethren that whether he visited them or remained absent, he wanted them to be faithful (Philippians 1:27). He made a similar statement in the next chapter: “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
Christians are certainly able to provide a benefit to one another – and are obligated to do so. We need to “encourage one another day after day” (Hebrews 3:13). We are also to hold one another accountable and help to “restore” a brother who “is caught in any trespass” (Galatians 6:1).
However, as Paul explained in our text, we must be of the mind that we will serve God no matter what others do or fail to do for us. We are to do what is right, even if we think that no one will ever find out about our sin – just like Joseph when he was tempted by his master’s wife (Genesis 39:11-12). Ultimately, our goal is to please God, not man (Galatians 1:10), and we cannot hide anything from Him (Hebrews 4:13).
Stand Firm
Paul wanted these brethren to remain faithful, but he also wanted them to do this consistently and to stand firm (Philippians 1:27). The gospel is an unchanging standard. This is why the apostle told the churches of Galatia that following a distorted form of the gospel meant they were following “a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6-7).
The gospel provides us with a firm foundation so that we can stand firm. We have been “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). Since Jesus is the cornerstone, everything must be built and based upon Him. Only He is qualified to be in this position since He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
However, we will eventually depart from the faith if we do not stand firm. The Hebrew writer warned that brethren could develop “an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). He also said it is possible to become “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). Earlier he explained that if we fail to “pay…attention to what we have heard,” we will “drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1). This is why we find a repeated emphasis in the New Testament on standing firm (cf. Ephesians 6:11-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Peter 5:12). We do this by building our lives upon Christ and His word.
Be of One Spirit and One Mind
As we have already mentioned, Christians can benefit from one another. Therefore, we must work to preserve unity. Paul told the Ephesians to be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
Paul told the brethren in Philippi that they were to be of “one spirit” (Philippians 1:27). This meant to be united in purpose. Just after our text for this lesson, Paul told these brethren, “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2). Rather than acting with “selfishness” and looking out “for [their] own personal interests,” they were to “regard one another as more important than [themselves]” and “look out for…the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). They were not to allow petty conflicts to disrupt the unity in the church (cf. Philippians 4:2-3).
Paul also told these brethren that there were to be of “one mind” (Philippians 1:27). In other words, they were to be united in doctrine and practice. Paul wrote later in this letter, “However, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Philippians 3:16-17). As they followed the “same standard” and “pattern,” they were to “all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among [them]” (1 Corinthians 1:10, NKJV).
Strive Together for the Faith of the Gospel
This meant they were to work together for a common cause (Philippians 1:27). As a local church, they were to do the work that God had given them to do, particularly evangelism and edification.
- Evangelism is about spreading the gospel to the lost. The church does this as “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Paul praised the church in Thessalonica as an example of this as “the word of the Lord [had] sounded forth from [them]” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). The church in Philippi engaged in the work of evangelism as well by participating with Paul in the gospel (Philippians 1:5) and supporting him in his work (Philippians 4:15-16).
- Edification is building up or strengthening Christians in the faith. As brethren assemble together in their local churches, they “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” and “[encourage] one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25). As each part of the body works together, it “causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). Paul encouraged the brethren in Philippi to carry out this work by helping the two sisters in Christ that Paul mentioned near the end of the letter (Philippians 4:2-3).
Striving together to do these things also requires us to limit ourselves to the works that God has given. We are to do everything “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17), which means we do things by His authority. Engaging in something other than or contrary to what He has authorized is not only out of harmony with His will but also distracts us from the work He has given that we ought to be doing.
Be Ready to Suffer for Christ’s Sake
Paul told them not to be “alarmed by [their] opponents” (Philippians 1:28). Opposition was going to exist, so they were to be ready for it. Paul said this was “a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you” (Philippians 1:28). God would justly punish the wicked people who were persecuting them and would also reward them for their faithfulness. Paul made this same point in his second letter to the church in Thessalonica. In His “righteous judgment,” God would “repay with affliction those who [afflicted them]” and would “give relief” to the faithful who were suffering (2 Thessalonians 1:5-7).
Paul told the brethren in Philippi that it has been “granted” to them “to suffer for [Christ’s] sake” (Philippians 1:29). In other words, there was a sense in which this was a privilege to endure persecution for the cause of Christ. Peter said, “If anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name” (1 Peter 4:16).
Persecution is inevitable. Paul told Timothy, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). We must be ready for it even today. Those who faithfully endure it, in the end, will be rewarded. The brethren in Smyrna were told, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Whatever opposition we face for our faith, we have the same hope as those brethren.
Conclusion
The gospel calls us to live according to a higher standard and to follow the will of the Lord. We must be willing to do this, no matter what consequences come from it. Notice what Paul wrote just a few verses before the text we just considered:
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better…” (Philippians 1:21-23).
In the end, it is far better to be with Christ. So let us continue to walk with Him and “conduct [ourselves] in a manner worthy of the gospel.”
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