Sunday Re Cap (22nd May 2011)

What is Your Sign?
Reasons for Obedience (Phil 1:28b-30).

Text: Phil 1:28b-30
This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Introduction:
The Christian life can be described as Spiritual Warfare. It will come to us one way or another.The warfare can sometimes get so intense that we can become discouraged and feel like giving up. Last week we heard HOW we should conduct our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel. This week we are going to look at Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians Christians as to WHY they are to live as citizens of heaven.

Testimony of Steadfastness (v28b).
a.    Christians to stand firm in one spirit, contend as one man for the faith of the gospel, without being frightened in any way because this would a testimony of their courage (“a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.”).
The courage of Christians is a sign. Just like the courage of an army is a sign to their enemies that they are up against formidable opposition. Illustration:  Ex 15:13-15; Josh 2:9-11; 5:1; are some examples. We may think that we are the only Christians in our families, workplace, schools but if we stand firm, our courage becomes a sign to our families, colleagues and classmates that God is with us and that they need the Lord. This is more powerful than eloquent preaching!

b.    Christians to stand firm in one spirit, contend as one man for the faith of the gospel, without being frightened in any way because of the grace that they have received (“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”).

Suffering is a gift of God as much as the act of believing in Christ.

A direct translation of  Phil 1:29 from the original text implies the meaning “you have (graciously) been granted the privilege of suffering for Christ”

Their suffering was no accident, nor is it a mark of divine punishment as though God were angry with them. On the contrary it is a sign of His favor; it comes as a gift of His grace. To suffer on behalf of Christ which can mean the same as “for the faith of the gospel” is actually a privilege given by God. Christ Himself is identified through the affliction of His followers.

c.    Christians to stand firm in one spirit, contend as one man for the faith of the gospel, without being frightened in any way because it is their duty as soldiers of the cross (“since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”)

To stand firm in one spirit and to contend as one man has the connotation of soldiers at their battle stations. Likewise the duty of the soldiers of the cross is to have the privilege to courageously fight for the gospel to spread.

Conclusion
Whatever happens, Christians should conduct themselves as loyal and patriotic citizens of God’s Kingdom because this would testify to their opponents of their impending destruction and that God is saving the Christians; God has graced them with suffering along with salvation, as faithful soldiers of the cross.