A Word in Season: The Rule of Christian Conduct (Philippians 1:27)

How should a Christian live? By what principle ought we to guide our lives?

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, a church that he knew well and loved deeply, he was in prison, and he didn't know whether or not he was going to live or die.

But he wanted them to ensure that whatever happened to him, whatever concerns they had with regard to him, that they lived in a way that was becoming of the gospel.

In chapter 1 and verse 27, he insists upon this. In effect, he says, whatever else happens, whatever else happens to me, whether or not

I can come to you, whether or not I live or die, only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent,

I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation and that from God.

It wasn't just the Apostle who was struggling. The Philippians themselves were exposed to real sufferings.

They had been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now here is in me.

So this church also is facing these particular challenges, challenges which are to those who bring them against the church a demonstration of the fact that they are in allegiance with Satan against God's people, and therefore a proof of perdition, but for God's people themselves, a proof of their salvation, because they are suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ.

And Paul says, with all these things going on, your main concern needs to be that your behaviour, your conduct, your manner of living, be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Let that be your great concern. And we might say on the one hand, do not do anything that would dishonour

Christ and his gospel. Don't do anything that would fall short of or cast any kind of smear or stain on the good news as it is in Christ Jesus.

But it ought to be more than that. On the one hand, don't do anything that would dishonour, but on the other, let your conduct be worthy.

Think about how your conduct reflects positively, righteously, honourably, on the claims of the

Lord Jesus Christ as your saviour and your king. You notice that the apostle is concerned that this not just be a mere performance that takes place when you're in the right company.

It's not, he says, whether or not I'm with you or absent. That should have nothing to do with it.

I want you to live consistently so that regardless of my presence, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel and not terrified by your adversaries.

This Christian conduct is marked by a united front, a unity of spirit with regard to the truth, with regard to faith and life, and with regard to the challenges that the church of Jesus Christ faces by an energetic pursuit of godliness in accordance with the gospel, the holding up, the holding out, and the living in accordance with the truth as it is in Jesus.

You see, the gospel doesn't just hang there in the distance as something to be appreciated or admired.

It's something that makes a radical difference from the very core of our being outward so that the life as a whole is transformed.

Now, yes, there will be battles in that. There will be degrees in which that is advanced in our experience over time.

But fundamentally, the gospel of Jesus Christ is a transformative reality.

The Holy Spirit brings that Christ into our experience so that we, living in him, now live for him.

And that means that our conduct should be worthy of the gospel. We carry the banner of Christ.

We take the name of Christ. God has set his love and his name, his honor, upon his people.

And so, when truth is assaulted, when service is required, when opposition comes, the church of Jesus Christ needs to let its conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Not simply acting because someone or someones are looking in upon us, but living before God and striving in service together for the honor of his great name.