Conduct Worthy of the Church
Philippians 1:27-30
Well, this morning, Lord willing, we're going to attempt to finish Philippians chapter 1. So open your Bible, if you will, and we'll look together at the last four verses, verses 27 through 30. Then when we return, we will take up with chapter 2.
I don't know about you but I remember the wonderful moments in elementary school when the teacher left the room. Do you remember those? Those were always glorious experiences. I remember those wonderful occasions in high school when the teacher never even showed up, which was even more wonderful, and we had the opportunity to waste time, act irresponsibly or even downright rebellious. We all know about those kinds of times. As a parent, you know how many times you have asked your baby sitter if the children behaved themselves and you got a blank stare and the knowing look and you wondered to yourself, "How is it that they seem to be so much under control when you're around and so out of control when you're not."
Well I think Paul had a little of that teacher/parent apprehension here with regard to the Philippian church. His concern about them, as good as the church is, as deeply as they love him, as graciously as they have acted toward him, as kind and generous as they are, he still knows that in his absence they could begin to show signs of defecting, signs of spiritual irresponsibility, signs even of downright rebellion. He has had enough experience with churches to know that it doesn't take very long even for good churches to become infected with the wrong things. He is greatly concerned about Christ's testimony at Philippi. He is concerned about the church whether he is there or not. And so in this section, verses 27 to 30, he calls on the Philippians to behave in a way that will match their message, to behave in a way that is consistent. He is calling for integrity. He is calling for spiritual commitment. He is calling for credibility in conduct. And he adds, "Whether I am there or not, this is what I expect of you." This rich little section then hits at the very heart of the need for the church to behave itself in the way God has designed. It's a section on the behavior of the church. We could have entitled it, "The church behaving itself." That is exactly what is in his heart.
As we come to verse 27, the previous autobiographical tone of this first chapter disappears and Paul turns away from looking at himself and talking about his own joy in the ministry to pleading with the church. He is no longer concerned about himself, he is concerned about them. And he wants them to look in their own hearts and see if there's real spiritual integrity there and he wants us today to do the very same thing. Now remember that in the prior passage Paul had shared his dilemma. his dilemma was, on the one hand he wanted to depart and be with Christ which was better for him, but on the other hand he wanted to live and be with the church for its strengthening which was better for them. And both of those were strong desires so that he couldn't even chose between the two. However, he is sure in his heart that he will live a little while longer because the need of the church is so great and he was right. He lived two, three, four maybe even five years after this time.
But the point that he wants to make to the Philippians is this, whether I live or whether I die, whether I come to see you or whether I don't is not essential. It does not really matter. What is essential is the character of your conduct. I think this to be a very fitting message for me to preach today. In the truest sense it is immaterial whether I'm here or not, it does not really matter whether I am here. I will not always be here. That is not the issue. It is not even essential that I be here. What is essential is the character of this church. What is essential is the behavior of this church, the integrity of this church. And so I can easily put myself in Paul's position saying to you what he said to the Philippians in verse 27, "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether I come and see you or remain absent I may 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."
Paul says I'm concerned about you. It isn't important whether I come or don't come, whether I'm absent or present. What is important is that you conduct yourselves in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. That is the message that is not only in our text but that is the message as God would have that is on my heart this morning.
Let's look back at that opening statement in verse 27. "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." That would be my word to you this last Sunday while I'm to be gone for a couple of months, only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that when I hear, I hear the things that I want to hear. And I will hear by regular contact, I trust, and I want to hear the things that would please my heart and the heart of God.
You'll notice the first word is "only." And that is very very important. The first word, only, is in the crucial emphatic position in the Greek sentence, that is it is first in Greek as it is in English. And it stands for one essential issue. Paul has reduced his exhortation to one thing. This is the bottom line in Christian experience. This is the bottom line in church life. This is the essential of worthy behavior, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. That is the sum and circumference and substance of all that is required of you. Paul says I want your life, I want your behavior as a church, as a Christian community in a pagan culture, to be worthy of the gospel that you believe and the gospel that you proclaim. In chapter 2 he reiterates similarly in verse 15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God, above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I didn't run in vain nor toil in vain. You are to be above reproach to hold fast the word of life. You are to conduct yourselves in a worthy way.
Now his choice of words is most rich. The verb there "conduct," the phrase, "conduct yourselves," is a very interesting verb. It literally at its root and its original meaning meant to behave as a citizen of a polis, from which we get the word political, a city state, a free state. You're to conduct yourselves in a manner that would be proper behavior for a citizen. And he's not talking about a citizen of earth, he's talking about a citizen of heaven, a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
But choosing this word was judicious on his part because of the culture in which he was involved. Let me tell you why. The Roman world had, of course, very strong political formations. Some cities like Philippi were known as Roman colonies. What that meant was that Philippi was a little Rome. It was a small scale version of Rome. They were very proud about that. To be a Roman citizen was the epitome of a human dignity. And though Philippi was nearly 800 miles from Rome, it was very near in mindset life style and attitude. There was great pride about the fact that they were a Roman city state. It spoke of their protection. It spoke of their high esteem in the eyes of Rome. It spoke of their culture. You will remember that even when the Apostle Paul initially went to Philippi in Acts chapter 16, Roman citizenship was an issue. In 16:20, "These men are throwing our city into confusion being Jews and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe being Romans," they said. Being Romans.
In other words, here are the Philippians claiming to be Romans even though they don't live in Rome. But they had all the rights and privileges of Roman citizenship. And in the Roman colonies the Roman citizens never forgot who they really belonged to. Rome was their mother, if you will. They spoke the Latin language. In Philippi they wore the Latin or Roman dress. They called their magistrates by the Latin or Roman names. They insisted on being stubbornly Roman. And they were deeply into Roman citizenship with all that it meant.
Now what did it mean? Well let me simplify it. To the ancient Greeks the polis, p‑o‑l‑i‑s, or state, free state, was not just a place to live. There was tremendous pride in that. And whatever your place was you were proud of, and particularly if it was a Roman colony, the people viewed their polis, their city state as they have been called, as a partnership with other people to obtain the highest good for all society. There was very little living for oneself. The good of the city, the good of the state was in the minds of the people. The individual citizen, for example, developed his abilities, his talents, his skills, his successes not for his own sake but for the community and the sake of all. Mutuality, inter‑dependence, the pride of the state was the issue. To live as a citizen then would ring the bell in the mind of the Philippians. Paul using that word that we have translated conduct yourselves was really saying live as a citizen of a free state. And that was so full of meaning they would know exactly what that meant...live for the good of others, not for yourselves; live being proud about what state it is you're identified with; live consistent with the values of that state and the goals of that state and the expressions of that state and the culture of that state. And that is exactly what he wants to say.
And when he says to the church, "conduct yourselves," he is saying to the church, live as a citizen of heaven. Chapter 3 verse 20 of Philippians he says, "Our citizenship is in heaven." That is what he has in mind here. And he is saying live according to the values and customs and culture of the heavenly kingdom. Live for the good of others not for yourself, and may all your talents, abilities, endeavors, successes be directed at the community rather than yourself. And believers are called on to live in partnership with others...to live as a member of a spiritual kingdom, namely the church. To live as citizens governed by the law of God, by righteousness, faith, love, service, worship. And the Bible is very clear that through the gospel we have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son, Colossians says. We have been made citizens of a new community, a spiritual fellowship, the heavenly church, Hebrews 12:22 and 23. That's Paul's point. We are to live as citizens.
Now listen, folks, it is absolutely essential that you understand that is the bottom line in the Christian life. You must conduct yourself as a citizen of heaven...not of this world, not of this passing world.
Now how does a citizen of heaven conduct himself? Follow verse 27, "In a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ," consistent with what we know, consistent with what we teach, consistent with what we preach, consistent with what we believe. That is integrity. That is integrity. You see, the thing that is stripping the church today of all of its credibility is that it says one thing and does another thing, that it lives one way and preaches another way. It is only when the church lives true to its message, and by the church I mean you and me, it is only when it's embodying in its behavior its beliefs that it has integrity, and only when it has integrity is the message clear and believable. The greatest weapon the church has is its integrity. And when the church does not conduct itself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, it cuts itself up in terms of its ability to be a whole person representing the body and person of Christ. The church cannot live beneath its theology, it cannot live beneath its message. Paul insists on this highest standard. And I would insist on it with you...whether I am here or gone is not essential, it does not matter, it is not important. The spiritual resources are all here and the message is very clear, says Paul, you must live as a citizen of heaven in such a way that you are consistent with what we believe, what we preach. And that, my dear friends, is the issue in the church today. The church is impotent. The church is being mocked across the country. Why? Because it doesn't have any integrity.
When he mentions the gospel of Christ here, what he refers to is the good news of salvation, the good news of eternal life which God has sent into the world, that men can be saved from sin unto holiness. And the church has to live that out, that we have been delivered from darkness to light, from death to life, from sin to righteousness. We have to live that reality. We have to live as if we were proud citizens of a great state, only vastly more significant than any earthly state. We are to be true to the citizenship in the heavenly kingdom where Christ reigns and where His word is law. And what is the essence of living according to the gospel? "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new." And what does the gospel tell us? The gospel tells us that men are transformed into new life and we must live that new life or we deny the gospel in our behavior.
People look at the church, they hear you preach the gospel, they see lives that don't reflect holiness, virtue and salvation from sin and they say that gospel doesn't do anything, that's not good news. They see pastors in immorality, they see church members in immorality, they see people cheat on the job, they see people lie, they see people steal even books at a booksellers Christian booksellers convention and the world says, "What message do you offer?" And we say, "Deliverance from sin." And they say, "O really...you don't look very delivered." The life of the believer, the life of the church must demonstrate the gospel which is taking us from sin to righteousness. We have to be true to our citizenship. So the main verb in this one long sentence from 27 to 30, the main verb calls for consistent conduct on the part of the church. We are to live lives that are worthy of being called Christians.
And then Paul adds, "So that whether I come to see you or remain absent, I may hear about you." My presence is not the issue. Don't depend on me. And I say that to you from my heart. Don't depend on me. There's no reason, Paul says, to wait for me to show up to begin a new level of commitment in the church, there's no reason for that. And I say the same, there's no reason to go on hold until I get back, there's no reason for that. It must be there because this is the church of Christ not because of some man. There are abundant spiritual means of grace available to you as there were to the Philippians, there are abundant spiritual resources available to you as there were for the Philippians. It does not matter whether Paul is there. It does not matter whether I am here. Any pastor wants to know that his people will go on living consistent with the gospel, that the holy truth will be revealed in their lives whether he's there or not.
And Paul had reasonable fears about this. He said to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, "I know that when I leave wolves are going to rise up, evil men are going to come in." And it happens. He wrote to the Galatians and says really more than one church was involved in Galatia, that was a whole area, there were many churches. And he says, "How so...how can you be so soon removed from what I taught you?" That's the pain of ministry. So Paul is saying, "Look, I call you to worthy behavior whether I'm there or not."
Now what is that worthy behavior? How am I understand it? Four ways...Paul gives us four characteristics of a church that is behaving itself...four characteristics of a church that is behaving itself. He's very much like a parent who is saying I'm going away, I'm leaving you in the care of these other people...now I want you to behave yourself. And you've given that speech many times. That's what he's doing. That's what I'm doing in a sense today. I'm leaving, I want you to behave yourselves. And here are the four elements of your behavior that concern the Holy Spirit...standing, sharing, striving and suffering. And that takes us through the flow of this text.
First of all, a church that is behaving itself is standing, verse 27, "I want to hear of you that you are standing firm." Stop at that point. We need to make a whole point out of just that because it's so basic, that you are standing firm, from steko which literally means to be at post in a war. The word is used to refer to a soldier who will not budge from his post, that you will be at your post and not move...no compromise with error, no compromise with sin, an unyielding maintenance of their testimony for the Word of God and the Christ of God. Stand firm, don't move, doctrinally, don't move in terms of conduct from where you are to stand.
He says it again in chapter 4 verse 1. "Therefore my beloved brethren, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved." Using the same verb in an imperative form, stekote, stand firm. He's calling, beloved, for loyalty to the Lord. Loyalty in life is the issue here. To stand firm in Paul's mind has to do with spiritual character, has to do with godliness, purity, virtue, holiness, obedience. And you find that particularly if you go back a page or so into the last chapter of Ephesians. You'll notice in verse 11 he says you are to stand firm, and that's the same term, against the schemes of the devil. Verse 13 at the end of the verse, having done everything to stand firm, and again he says it is a matter of resisting, resisting the devil in the day when he comes to do evil.
Now mark this, will you, please. When he talks about standing firm then, he has in mind resisting the devil, resisting temptation, corruption both doctrinally and in behavior, because they go hand in hand. He has in mind the matters of resisting temptation. And the military metaphor is that of holding a critical position while under tremendous attack. You're standing, you're holding a position under tremendous attack. Now in order to stand firm, he says in Ephesians 6, you have to have the full armor of God because you're standing not against flesh and blood, verse 12, but rulers, powers, world forces, spiritual forces of wickedness, demonic hosts, demonic hosts, seducing spirits he called them in Paul's letter to Timothy.
So, we are standing against Satan and demons. And you have to have your loins girded with truthfulness. That's spiritual commitment. You have to have a breastplate of righteousness or a holiness or purity. Your feet need to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, that is you know that God is at peace with you, you are at peace with God, God is on your side and you stand your ground knowing he will defend you. You take the shield of faith, you believe God. The helmet of salvation, your confidence in His glorious ability to keep you until the day when He takes you to heaven and you have in your hand the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. That's how you stand firm.
And I say to you what Paul said to the Philippians...get your armor on, folks, and stand firm. The one thing I don't want to hear when I'm away is that somebody or some group in our church defected to a false teaching. I don't want to hear that somebody in our church ran off with somebody else's wife. Or somebody on our staff got involved in immorality. I want to know that when I'm gone and come back you will say to me, "We have stood firm, the church has stood its ground against the onslaught of Satan and his demonic hosts." And I'm just experienced enough to believe that Satan may bring about an all‑out attack in my absence not that you are weaker without me but that sometimes you might perceive yourselves to be so. That's not necessary. But I look at the church around and I see so many people collapsing, so many leaders falling, so many men going into sin and immorality. The thing that frightens me more than that, more than the leaders falling into immorality is the eagerness of the churches wanting to put them back in leadership, because that shows me that the system is corrupt at the very grass roots level. It's not just corrupt leaders that bother me, we could deal with that properly and show the world that the church had integrity. But instead, by trying to push those people back into leadership we show the world the church hasn't got any more integrity than its leaders do. That's what's frightening. The collapse of the leading soldiers in our army is epidemic and it has impact of the troops at every level.
I preached in Dallas to the...to a special banquet down there and I used 1 Corinthians 9:27 where Paul says, "My greatest fear is that in preaching to others I myself would be disqualified." And he says, "In order not to be disqualified, I buffet my body to keep it into subjection." Why? Because it is the misuse of the physical body that disqualifies a man permanently from ministry. And he knew exactly what he was talking about because in the prior couple of sections, back in chapter 6, he had discussed how immorality was such a vile use of the body. But when the leaders fall and the church pushes them back, then the church simply demonstrates its own weakness. Stand firm against Satan, against the lies of hell, the doctrines of demons, the seducing spirits, the temptations of the flesh. And like Paul, I want you to be sure that you do not fall, hold your ground. How do we do that? Get on the armor. If you feel a little weak, get out that section and read it and let the Spirit of God apply it to your heart. This is an essential element of worthy behavior, stand firm...doctrinally, stand firm in behavior.
A second word that Paul brings up is implied in the next section, that's the word sharing. In our standing firm there must be a sharing. These flow into one another as is obvious since they're in the same sentence. So he says, "I want to hear that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind." Those two beautiful phrases express to us Paul's desire for mutuality. It's not just standing firm alone, it's standing firm together in unity, supporting one another. Purity first, unity second. Purity and unity. Believe me, friends, the battle for unity has gone on in the church since its inception. It was going on in Philippi. In chapter 2 he says in verse 1, "If there's any encouragement in Christ, if there's any consolation of love, if there's any fellowship of the Spirit, if there's any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united i