“A Sign of Salvation”
[Philippians
1:27-30]
August 10, 2014 Second Reformed Church
“I have one piece of instruction for
you.”
Do you know the joke?
“What is the biggest lie a pastor
ever tells?”
“For my final point…”
Paul had greeted the Philippians,
expressed his love of them and hope for them, and then he told them about how
his imprisonment has served to advance the Gospel and how, so long as Christ is
glorified in and through Paul’s body, being set free from prison or being put
to death, both end up to Paul’s benefit and joy.
After talking about his circumstances
and thoughts on his future, Paul now gives the Philippians “just one piece of
instruction.” This is a little funny,
since it comes early in the letter…
And we find three points in this
text:
First, we ought to live in a manner
worthy of the Gospel.
Second, living in a manner worthy of
the Gospel is a clear sign.
Third, living in a manner worthy of
the Gospel is a clear sign because God grants us grace.
Paul ended in last week’s text by
telling the Philippians that he hoped God would be willing to let him live
after preaching to Caesar that Paul might return to the Philippians and continue
to instruct them in maturing as Christians that they all might abound in joy
and in the glorification of Jesus.
However, whether God’s Will was for
Paul to live or die, Paul had “one piece of instruction for them.”
First, we ought to live in a manner
worthy of the Gospel.
“Only let your manner of life be
worthy of the gospel of Christ,”
What is the Gospel worth? What is it worth to you that God came to
earth in the Person of Jesus, lived a perfect life, so you would be seen as
holy, died for the sins of everyone who would ever believe, so you would be
forgiven – saved from the Wrath of God, and physically rose from the dead and
ascended back to His throne that you would be raised in your physical body to
live eternally with Him?
Jesus told two parables about the
value of the Gospel:
“The kingdom of heaven is like
treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy
he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is
like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great
value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46, ESV).
Jesus tells us that the value of the
Gospel – the value of entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven – is everything. There is nothing of greater value. It is the only answer to the most important
question a person will ever answer: “How
does a person become right with God?”
And Paul does not leave the
Philippians clueless, but he tells them how to live in a manner worthy of the
Gospel:
“so
that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are
standing firm in one spirit,”
We
live in a manner worthy of the Gospel by agreeing together and standing firm –
not wavering one way or the other – on the teachings – the doctrines – of God’s
Word.
That
does not mean that we will not have differences from time to time – look at all
the denominations. What is means is that
in those facts of the Gospel – the means to salvation – we are united on them without
question – because those things we must believe if we are to be a
Christian. One of the earliest summary formulas
of doctrine is The Apostle’s Creed.
That
is not to say that everything else in the Bible is negotiable. No, we must believe that the Bible is God’s
Word – and if we truly do, we will approach it and what it says in a respectful
and humble manner, seeking to obey and understand by faith. There are passages which are not as clear as
others, but most of the Scripture is plain and can be understood, and all that
is necessary for salvation is abundantly clear.
We
live in a manner worthy of the Gospel by agreeing on the teachings of God’s
Word – especially those related to salvation – the Gospel.
“with
one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”
Then,
side-by-side, as one person, we are to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel by
acting on the teachings of God’s Word.
We are to believe and defend and proclaim the teachings of God’s Word,
and especially the Gospel.
As
we have seen in Philippians already – Paul didn’t mind being in jail, Paul
didn’t mind being condemned, Paul didn’t mind being spoken of falsely, Paul was
ready to live or to die – whatever God’s Will was, so long as the Gospel was
advanced. So long as we all join
together in letting everyone know there is only One Way to salvation through
Jesus Christ – through Who He is and what He did – we strive with one mind for the
faith of the Gospel.
Now,
we may remember that agreeing on the Gospel and proclaiming the Gospel – being
strong and united as the Church – is one thing – but they were living at a time
and in a place of severe persecution – as are many in the world today – the
Islamic group ISIS is slaughtering Christians in Iraq today – trying to
eradicate Christianity in that country.
So, Paul continues:
“and
not frightened in anything by your opponents.”
Notice,
Paul does not say “if” you have opponents.
The Philippians had opponents in the Jews and the Romans and
others. And if we stand for the Gospel
and proclaim the Gospel, we will have opponents. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know
that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18, ESV).
The
imagery that Paul uses is that of a group of panicked horses stampeding
away. No, we are to stand – steadfast
and united, for the sake of the Gospel.
Jude
wrote about the need to fight the opponents of the Gospel: “Beloved, although I was very eager to write
to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to
you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For
certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this
condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality
and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:3-4, ESV).
Paul
told the Ephesians how to stand up against the opponents of Christianity – and
he explained that we are not just people fighting against people, but
world-views and ideologies and spiritual alignments fighting regarding the One Savior
Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Paul
wrote:
“Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we
do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth,
and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your
feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all
circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all
the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the
Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all
perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that
words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of
the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it
boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:10-20, ESV).
Paul
used to familiar image of the Roman soldier’s uniform to paint a picture of
standing firm in one spirt and striving with one mind, determined in faith and
belief in the Gospel, hoping in the sure victory of Christ, and we stand for
Him – unafraid – because we know who has saved us and where we are going –
waiting for what God has willed – that He would be glorified and we would have
His joy.
So,
live in a manner worthy of the Gospel – which is worth everything you could
ever have or be – and more! Live
together with other Christians, confessing the truths of the Gospel and all of
God’s Word, both ready to proclaim and defend the Gospel against the enemies of
the world. And do not be afraid, because
God has gifted us with the ability to stand in the face of evil – and to stand
strong together – serving and glorifying – making known the Gospel – of our
Victorious, Risen Savior and God.
Second,
living in a manner worthy of the Gospel is a clear sign.
“This
is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that
from God.”
Paul
tells the Philippians that if they truly live a life worthy of the Gospel, it
will be a clear sign. What does a sign
do? A sign points to something,
right? Paul is saying that we – in our
living a life worthy of the Gospel – are a sign – to unbelievers of their
destruction in everlasting torment – and to believers of our salvation which is
of God Alone.
Jesus
explained it this way:
“For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him
should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of
God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people
loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For
everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light,
lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the
light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in
God” (John 3:16-21, ESV).
God
came to earth in the Person of Jesus, and Jesus lived a life worthy of the
Gospel – a pure and holy and obedient life in all things sinless – and there
were two responses to Jesus’ light – to His bearing the sign of the Gospel –
salvation – in His living: there were
people who believed and repented, and there were people who told Jesus “no” –
in one of many ways.
Those
who believe and seek to live a life worthy of the Gospel bear the sign of a
person who has been saved by grace alone through Jesus Christ Alone. If we are seriously striving after living a
life that is pleasing to God and lives up to the worth of the Gospel, it will
be a proof of the salvation that we have – those fruits will be a proof of the salvation
that we have.
On
the other hand, those who deny Jesus and His Gospel – those who say they don’t
need His salvation – they do not live in a manner worthy of the Gospel and that
is a sign – proof – that they are condemned.
And
let no one think that you can just not make a decision: one of my college professors said that Jesus
made a logical mistake when He said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and
whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30, ESV). The professor said there was a third option –
a person could not care one way or another – he could remain agnostic about
Jesus. That professor was wrong! Jesus does not give us a third option – as
the Sovereign and Almighty God, He has made One Way of salvation and has called
all people to Himself – and those who received Him will live in a way that
proves their salvation – and those who reject Him will live in a way that
proves their condemnation. Pretending
not to make a decision is to reject Him.
There is no third option.
If
we live in a manner worthy of the Gospel it will be a clear sign as to who
believes and is saved by Jesus Alone and who rejects Jesus and is damned. And woe to the person who rejects the sign of
the Gospel made visible through our living in a manner worthy of the Gospel,
because there is no other way to be saved except through Jesus Christ Alone.
One
final point:
Third,
living in a manner worthy of the Gospel is a clear sign because God grants us
grace.
“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, engaged in the same conflict that
you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”
Paul
told the Philippians that God had given them grace to live in a manner worthy
of the Gospel and to be a sign to those who hear the proclamation of the Gospel
through our lives and through our speaking – either to salvation or damnation –
and Paul points to two outcomes of receiving grace from God:
In
receiving this grace from God, we believe savingly in Jesus. In other words, the grace to believe in Jesus
savingly – the grace to believe in the facts of the Gospel and receive them in
our minds and heart – is a gift. Salvation
is a gift and the ability to receive salvation is a gift – a gift of the Grace
of God.
Paul
put it this way to the Ephesians:
“And
you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following
the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once
lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and
the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But
God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by
grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the
immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by
grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is
the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1-10, ESV).
Let me repeat one sentence: “For by grace you have been saved through
faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of
works, so that no one may boast.”
God, in accordance with His
Sovereign Good Pleasure chose to give some the grace – the gift – of faith –
through which we receive the grace – the gift – of salvation. God has given us this immeasurably precious
gift of salvation through faith entirely as a gift from God. We were dead and could not – we had no
ability – to receive the Gospel and belief it and repent – it is all a
gift. What a wonderful gift of grace!
And, we are given the grace to
remain in the Grace of God, saved, believing, sons and daughter of the Kingdom
of God. The gift that God gives us – and
this is shown in the grammar of the text – the gift is not a one-time gift and
then God goes away, leaving us to our own devices, hoping that we will make it
to the last day as believers. No! The gift of God’s Grace to salvation is a
one-time declaration which God continues – it is ongoing – persevering us until
the last day, so that all those God has gifted with this grace will be received
into His Kingdom. God cannot fail.
Yet, there is a second gift of the
Grace of God given to the Philippians and to all believers, as we live our
lives in a manner worthy of the Gospel – that is, that we should suffer for
Christ’s sake in the same way that Paul suffered – in the same way the
Philippians have suffered – in the same way that Christians throughout history
have suffered for the Gospel and Jesus’ sake.
Paul told the Corinthians that he
had suffered in these ways:
“Five times I received at the hands
of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once
I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at
sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger
from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the
wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship,
through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in
cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on
me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28, ESV).
And now as he waited to preach the
Gospel to Caesar, there was the very real possibility that he would be put to
death for Jesus’ sake – and we know that he was beheaded in the end.
Now, we may hear that and think, “I
don’t much like the gift of suffering!”
And we should not – we are not called to look for or to enjoy suffering. What Paul is telling the Philippians and us
is that when we suffer for Christ’s sake – and we already saw it is a promise
that we will suffer – God gives us His Grace that the bitterness of suffering
would be taken away – that, though we do not enjoy suffering, we can be joyful
about suffering for the sake of Christ.
How is that?
As Paul explained about himself – he
wanted to see the Gospel advanced – by any means – and he was willing to live
or die – both are blessings and of great advantage – according to the Will of
God – so long as the Gospel is advanced.
Paul wrote the Thessalonians:
“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—since indeed God considers it just to repay with
affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted
as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty
angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and
on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the
punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from
the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints,
and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you
was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you
worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of
faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2
Thessalonians 1:5-12, ESV).
All we who believe savingly in Jesus
Christ – all we who believe the Gospel – those historical facts of Who Jesus is
and what He has done – have received a priceless gift from God – salvation and
the ability to receive it.
Since we have, let us live a life
worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
Let us seek to live lives worthy of
the Gospel that we would be signs to the truth of the Gospel – waking people up
to whether they have been saved from the Wrath of God for our sins and made His
sons and daughters – brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ – or whether they are
continuing in the road to damnation apart from Christ and His salvation.
Let us recognize and rejoice in the
Grace of God that has caused us to believe this most worthy of worthy news –
the Gospel.
And let us stand together, united in
our belief in the Word of God, ready to proclaim it, defend it, and even suffer
for it, to the Glory of our God and Savior.
Let us live lives worthy of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, help us to live lives
that are worthy of Your Gospel. Cause
the Holy Spirit to apply these teachings of Paul to the Philippians – these
teachings commanded of the Word of God to all who believe – that we would be
blazing signs of Your Gospel, calling all people to belief and repentance. Unite us in belief and action and lack of
fear of what those who can only kill the body may do to us. May You be glorified in us as we seek to
advance the Gospel. May we be thankful
for our salvation and proud to suffer for Your Gospel as it gives You
glory. In Jesus’ Name and for His joy,
Amen.
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