Our Old Covenant reading this evening comes from Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 41. We'll be looking at verses 8 to 13. This is the word of our God. But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend, You whom I took from the ends of the earth and called from its furthest corners, saying to you, you are my servant. I have chosen you and not cast you off. Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded. Those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them. Those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand. It is I who say to you, fear not. I am the one who helps you. Our New Covenant reading this evening comes from the letter to the Philippians. Philippians chapter 1, verses 27 through 30. This is the Word of God. "...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, 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. 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 The grass withers and the flowers of the field they fade and they fall But this the word of our god from isaiah and philippians It endures forever Let's pray together Heavenly father what a privilege it is To be those who hear the very word of god that Lord, in your wisdom and in your compassion, you did not leave yourself unknown in a saving way, but Lord, you have revealed yourself in your word that we would know you. And that by revealing yourself, you have revealed salvation to us supremely in our Lord Jesus. Lord, as we come to your word this evening, we ask that your spirit would work powerfully to illumine our hearts, Lord, to ignite in us a love for you, a love for your people, and a desire to ever serve you all our days. We ask these things in Christ's name. Amen. If you have Philippians open, that's what we'll be looking at in our passage this evening, looking at those few verses, verses 27 to 30 of chapter 1. And as we come to the end of chapter 1 this evening, we come to really the first imperative, the first command of this letter of Paul to the Philippians. And it's right there in verse 27. And really, a good case could be made that this imperative captures the essence of Paul's instruction to those saints. Using strong rhetorical force, Paul begins in verse 27, First and foremost, saints, Christians, Beloved in the Lord, before all else, what should characterize the life of the Christian is a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. That command, let your manner of life be, actually carries a more specific meaning than simply the way that you live. It's really a certain kind of life. The verb here comes from the Greek word for city and carries with it the idea of how one lives as a citizen. As a citizen of a particular place. So that perhaps we should understand what Paul is saying here as only live as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ. As Paul pens these words, He's in the capital city of the greatest empire on the planet, Rome. The Philippians themselves live in a unique city. That is, it's a city that's outside of Rome, but whose citizens enjoy benefits that they would receive as if they were in Rome itself. It seems to be the case that Paul is playing a bit with the socio-political context And what that means for the Christian. What does it mean in your particular context that to live is Christ? That statement, for me, to live is Christ, is not an apolitical statement. It is a statement of ultimate allegiance. It is a statement of belonging, and it is a statement of citizenship. Paul is not telling these Christians to live as good Roman citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ, but above everything else, only live as heavenly citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ. For the Christian, it is that citizen, that citizenship in, with, and through Christ that matters, which is what Paul says later on in this letter. In chapter 3, verse 20, he says, For we are those who God has raised up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That's what Paul says in Ephesians 2, 6. See, there's times living in this world living for Jesus, it will cohere well with our earthly citizenship. And in those cases, Christians ought to be exemplary citizens. But if Christ is our life, if it is a life that we are living worthy of the gospel in the pattern of Christ's kingdom that we seek to live, there will be conflict, and there will be opposition with the kingdoms of this world. So in these few verses, Paul gives us instruction for the life that coheres with the gospel as citizens of heaven. We'll look at this passage in three main sections. First, a united front. Second, conflict and confirmation. And then third, suffering by God's grace. Before we delve into the specifics of what Paul defines as the worthy life, We must note something from the outset. Something that Paul implies in verse 27 when he says, And what that reminds us of, in terms of the Christian life, as Paul is calling these Christians to something, is that there are no intermissions. There are no breaks. There are no in-between periods from the duties of citizens in Jesus' kingdom. The Philippians aren't to see any type of justification in being lax in their Christian lives since Paul wasn't around. Just like we know that our children are not only obligated to obey us when we're with them, but at all times, right? Husbands are not obligated to faithfulness and purity towards their wives only when their wives are at home. Christians are not obligated to speak kindly to and about people only when they're at church. So, Paul is instructing us in Christ's likeness and perseverance in this worthy-of-the-gospel life. This is not for sometimes when we feel like it. It is for all times. The first thing that Paul wants us to see or hear about in the life of the saints in Philippi is that they are a united front. a united front. He wants to know that they're standing firm, that they're striving side by side. And both of these verbs that Paul uses here are commonly used in reference to military engagements or athletic competitions. Whether or not Paul is specifically using one or both of those contexts here, He's setting us up to understand the gospel-worthy life as one in which there is resolve and there is fortitude, which are essential aspects of that Christian life. The first thing that characterizes this united front that Paul wants to see or wants to hear of is that these Christians are standing firm. That active sense of this Word here reiterates the point that we just made above about the Christian life that it's an active thing standing firm is to be the constant state of the Christian and This steadfastness of standing firm is marked by two things. It's marked first by a resolved spiritual unity Standing firm in one spirit Paul says Now Paul does at times use spirit in a non-theological kind of way, but I don't think that this is one of those instances. When he says spirit, he is referring to the spirit. The spirit of Christ who helps the saints in verse 19. The spirit who is the bond of partnership and of fellowship that Paul and the Philippians have that we looked at in verses five and seven. and the Spirit by whom and through whom the saints have fellowship with one another." In chapter 2, verse 1. Standing firm as a united front begins first with being united in the Spirit of Christ. For the same Spirit that unites the saint to Jesus is the same Spirit that unites the saints together. Because they are each united to Jesus and thereby united together in one body. The united front here is founded upon the uniting spirit. And therefore, standing firm in one spirit is not the rallying of the human spirit behind a common cause. That's not the kind of spirit that Paul is talking about. It is spirit wrought communion together. A spirit-wrought bond that marks what the Christians are. They are united together in Jesus. Which means then that unity here is not something Christians create by their own efforts, but it is a product of God himself. And the Christian is to maintain that unity, as Paul says in Ephesians 4. An already existing unity, forged by the Spirit, that needs to be lived out in the lives of the saints in the church. That unity must be the primary unity. If there is going to be a united front of God's people, that unity has to be the primary unity. Not a social cause. not a political party, not the college that you went to or the hobbies that you enjoy, but the gospel of Christ and the union you have with him and that you have with his people. We must not let that new creation tie that binds be subsumed by the ties of this world, which is all too easy to do, is it not? Paul goes on, it is not just a unity in the Spirit, but as that Spirit-wrought oneness is exposed and maintained, the Christians are second to be found standing firm with one mind, or one soul, with one selfhood, content on one purpose. That for them, to live is Christ. The one body of Christ, knit together, functioning as one cohesive man. Those things that could cause division, those things that could cause factions, are to be put away. They have no place. Contention with one another has no place in the church of Christ. A pastor. You don't know what she said to me. But pastor, you don't know how much her actions hurt me. If wounds are to be healed in the body, and reconciliation to replace discord among the saints, we're going to have to look to Jesus, and to his manner, and to his grace, which is what Paul is going to go on and show us in chapter 2, as we behold the humility of Jesus. But for now, let that call of oneness that you hear, for the sake of a united front to the glory of Jesus, put our hearts at the ready to forgive. The united front is a people who are ready to forgive. and ready to forbear. The fact that this call to unity reminds us of something obvious in this instruction, and that is the fact that the Christian life is lived together. The Christian life is lived together. It's a corporate sanctification that takes place in the church of Jesus. Growth in grace is a corporate action, right? We're here together, hearing God's Word, singing praises to our Lord, praying together as the saints. We stand together. And here, the united front of worthy citizens of heaven and earth are those who are to be striving side by side, Paul says. Just as standing firm carries that military or athletic team language, the same is true here. One word in Greek, but translated striving side by side or contending with. The United Front means that our contending is not against each other, but contending alongside each other. Because we're on the same team. We wear the same shirt, the same uniform. Right? A team that struggles for the faith of the gospel, perhaps from the idea of standing firm, we may initially get the impression that this united front is a defensive front. That we're just trying to not shrink back and not lose ground. It is that. We do stand firm so as not to be pushed back, but it's more than that. It's offensive too. The united front is contending alongside one another with a united mission. And that united mission is really important. You can't contend side by side if the mission isn't the same mission. Have you ever been in one of those contending against moments with your spouse? When you need to remind each other that you're on the same team. Hold on a second. Let's stop. We're on the same team here. And we have the same goal. We're trying to get to the same place. Maybe, sometimes, One of the root causes of our problems is that we don't share the same goal. You fight about money because you don't share the same vision of how money should be used. And so you're always going to contend because the goal isn't the same. Paul wants to see that the saints are striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. Just as they had been partakers with Paul in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, they are to continue together in that same defense and confirmation within their own church. Carrying out the mission of the church and the calling of the lost and the perfecting of the saints to the glory of God. Unlike the hypocrites, who are preaching the right gospel with the wrong motives, the Philippians are called to something more. We are called to something more. A life for Christ that is worthy. That is consistent with those who are citizens of Christ's kingdom. Now, you may be wondering why all this need to stand firm. Why the need to struggle and strive? Why the need to, as Paul says elsewhere, fight the good fight? What's all this fighting about? What's all this conflict here? Undergirding this instruction is the very fact that conflict is part and parcel of the Christian life. And for the Christian united to Jesus, whose kingdom is not of this world, right? My kingdom is not of this world. What did the kingdoms of this world do to Jesus? They sent him to the cross. His kingdom is not of this world. What Christians embark on in following Jesus is being embroiled in the ancient conflict between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. That's part of what it means to be citizens of heaven. This place ain't my home, ultimately. And that's a conflict that transcends politics, as it transcends the ages, as it transcends the rise and the fall of empires throughout the centuries. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. The opponents of the cross, and there are opponents of the cross. Those opponents are not simply of an ideological different place, but a theologically different place. The domain of darkness is ruled by the prince of darkness. The domain of darkness is run by sin and brings forth misery. and is composed of those who are enemies of the cross, as you and I once were. As you and I would still be, save for the grace of God in Christ Jesus. On the face of such opposition, rooted in spiritual darkness, Paul says, as we stand firm, as we strive together, We need not fear. Verse 28, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction. What do we wrestle against? We wrestle against all the powers of hell. Yet Paul says, while you're striving together in this united front, don't be frightened about anything. There's nothing to fear. How could there possibly be nothing to fear if all the powers of hell are raging against us? It's because Christ is the victor. And you, beloved saints, are in Christ Jesus. Rather than the conflict being a cause to break rank and run, it is in fact a confirmation of victory. Wait a second, that doesn't make sense. But that's exactly what Paul is saying here. The struggle of the Christian life against the world, the flesh, and the devil is a sign that we are not only part of the cosmic conflict that exists between God and the Prince of Darkness, but are in fact standing firm on the side of victory. A victory that is already won. It's a confirmation, a sign in the midst of conflict. See, when the church that Christ is building forms a united front stands firm and is struggling together side by side, that is a clear sign and a clear proof that, as Paul says in chapter 3, verses 18 and 19, to those who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame with minds that are set on earthly things. It is a sign of their destruction. But for those whose banner is Christ and whose glory is the cross, it is a sign of nothing other than their salvation, and their salvation full and complete, lacking nothing. Comma, and that from God. What is from God? What is Paul referencing here at the end of verse 28? And that from God. Is it your salvation? Is that what's from God? Yeah, of course. We can all agree about that. Is it your standing firm? Yeah. Your fearlessness before opponents? Yep. What about your sufferings in the conflict? Yes, that too is from God. And Paul makes that point explicitly clear in verse 29. Suffering by God's grace. Look at verse 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. For the sake of Christ, you have been gifted with faith to believe upon him." And all God's people said, Amen! Right? How about this one? For the sake of Christ, you have been gifted with suffering on behalf of him. Amen? There's something very significant there, right? Scripture says here that suffering is not merely an inevitability for the Christian. Now, it's hard enough for many Christians to come to terms with the fact that becoming a Christian doesn't mean that we are trouble-free and happy all the day. That's a hard enough thing to wrap our minds around when we come to faith. And yet, Paul here is pushing even further into Christian suffering further than that we simply need to resign ourselves to the fact that there is suffering and hard times in this life. He pushes further than even that. See, suffering is not something that comes upon the Christian in spite of the grace that they have in Christ. But suffering is actually a gift of God's grace to his saints. often tempted to view conflict and trials as signs that God is displeased with us. But what we find here is that such thinking is completely wrong. It's actually upside down. Because in reality, such conflict and suffering is God's gracious gift to those being saved. It is a sign of their salvation. This word here translated as granted means to give or deal graciously. Its root is grace. So that not only does His grace give us the faith to believe upon Christ, His grace gives us the occasion to suffer for Christ. Is that how you see your life? Is that how you see your hardships? As a gracious gift through which we prove with the help of the Spirit that for us to live is Christ. Now if such a theology of God's gracious gifts It's hard to swallow. Paul uses himself as an example. Who would look at the Apostle Paul? I mean, how many letters do we have of Paul in our New Testament? We hear of Paul in the vast majority of the books of Acts. Who would doubt that the Apostle Paul has been graced immensely by Christ? Yet look at his life. He goes to Philippi. He has this vision of a Macedonian calling for him. Paul, come and help us. Come preach the gospel here. And he gets to Philippi, and he's thrown in prison. Throughout his missionary work, he was severely beaten many times. Even almost to the point of death. He'd been shipwrecked. What was that all about? How does that serve the Great Commission? He'd been abandoned by his fellow workers. He was betrayed by his closest friends. And now as he writes this letter, he's writing it from prison. What does Paul have to say of such anguishing circumstances that come to define his life? To live as Christ. It has been granted to me to suffer for Christ's sake. It is sharing in Christ's suffering and becoming like him in his death. Not for the glory of suffering. The miseries of this life that Christ endured and we with him are not ends in themselves. Just like the death is gain was not an end in itself. We're not masochists. But in accord with Jesus's template, right? Suffering unto glory. The first fruits of resurrection life that he has attained assure us that we will, through suffering, enter into glory. That is our trajectory. That is our path. It is in the shape of Jesus. We are being transformed from one degree of glory to another. a veiled glory shrouded in suffering that will be removed when he transforms this lowly body to be like his glorious heavenly body. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice insofar as you share in Christ's sufferings, Peter says in 1 Peter 4. 12 to 13. Now, you may be asking, what suffering is for Christ's sake, and what is the suffering that's not for Christ's sake? Is my stubbed toe for Christ's sake? All I have to live is Christ. If to endure this world is a gracious gift lived for Christ, then for the believer, it is not only overt persecution that is suffering for Christ's sake, but every suffering, no matter how mild it is, is intended as a gift through which we would cling to Jesus. A gift of grace through which we would be purged of sin. A gift that we would be prepared for the glory that undoubtedly follows on the heels of this age in which the victory of Christ now lies veiled in our hearts under that outward experience of suffering. If the way of glory for Jesus was through the hells of this world and the horror of the cross, the way of glory for those who are united to him by faith same path. But it is not a path that speaks to condemnation, but a path that speaks to being sons and daughters of the Most High. As Dr. Gaffin says in his article, The Usefulness of the Cross, until he comes again, the concrete form of the Christian's fellowship with Christ is the cross. And it is there that we learn that the afflictions of this age are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed. What is a life worthy of the gospel? We see that it is a life that takes the shape Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace in all its multifaceted forms that come to us in and through Jesus, applied by your Spirit. Lord, we are thankful. For all of the mercies that you give to us in Christ, may we in our hearts and minds cherish these words, that as we have been united to Jesus, we are united front together. As we stand in opposition to this world and the world stands in opposition to us, we have nothing to fear. for even the sufferings that we face are a gift of your grace as you prepare us for eternity with you. We thank you for this sure foundation. We thank you for Christ, our surety. In his name we pray. Amen.