There is something about the worth of the Gospel that is greater than any threat we can face, physically or otherwise.
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For us personally, I believe that God called us to Ukraine, and the conditions where we live should not change God’s calling in our lives. This morning, I want to talk with you a little bit about the worth of the Gospel in our lives. We all make decisions based on what we think is worth it, what we value in our lives. The thing we value most, above all else, is the one thing we will always be willing to sacrifice for, compromise for, give our time, energy, efforts, money, resources, and strength to.
Today, I want to talk with you about living a life worthy of the Gospel. What does it mean to live a life worthy of the Gospel? How do the truths of the Gospel change the way I relate to others, make decisions, and react to problems?
The Apostle Paul helps us to understand:
Philippians 1:27-30
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. 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 to the Text
Before we look at the details of this text, let’s talk about the context. Paul is writing to the church in Philippi, a church he knows well. They were worried about him because he had been arrested and put in prison. Paul tries to calm them by telling them:
Philippians 1:12 NIV: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”
Amazingly, Paul sees his imprisonment not as something that hinders him from preaching the gospel but as something that aids it. Paul experienced many difficulties in his life, but one thing always remained the same: his commitment to Christ and to the Gospel. Paul was so committed to Christ that even the threat of death could not keep him from serving Christ.
When Paul was in Philippi (Acts 16), he was attacked by a mob, beaten severely, and thrown into prison. But this didn’t stop Paul. The Philippians personally witnessed his commitment to live for Christ and to preach the Gospel. So when Paul wrote to them, they knew it was true!
Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Yet, Paul knew that he would go on living for a while to serve the people he loved. The truth is that Paul was more worried for the Philippians. He says:
Philippians 1:30 NIV: “since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
From what Paul says here, it seems like the same people who persecuted Paul were now persecuting the church in Philippi. Some of their church members may have been beaten or put into prison. It was a difficult time for the church, and Paul wanted to encourage their spirits and strengthen them in the faith so that they could endure the persecutions and remain faithful to Christ.
What is the Gospel?
Before we move on, let me answer one question: What is the Gospel?
Answer: The Gospel is literally “good news.”
Mark 1:14 NIV: “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.”
The good news is that Jesus came as Savior and Lord. He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. The good news is that God will forgive and give eternal life to everyone who puts their faith in Christ!
The Gospel is good news of victory over sin, forgiveness, and new life in Christ. It is the best news. The Gospel is valuable; Jesus paid the ultimate price to save you and me from our sins and from eternal punishment. Thus, when we talk about living “worthy” of the Gospel, we are talking about living worthy of the price that Jesus paid for us when he died on the cross. This is no small thing! To live worthy of the Gospel is to live like Jesus and to live for Jesus. It is to love others like Jesus; it is a willingness to sacrifice as Jesus did! A life worthy of the Gospel isn’t a way to earn salvation but rather a means to show your gratitude for all God has done for you!
9 Ways to Live a Life Worthy of the Gospel
In light of this difficult context, let’s take a deeper look at what Paul means when he tells the Philippians to live “worthy of the Gospel.” Paul gives us nine ways to help us ensure our life is worthy.
1. Make the Gospel an Unchanging Factor in Your Life**
Notice how Paul begins this text. He doesn’t say: When the weather is nice, when you have a good sleep, when you have money to pay the bills, when you feel like it, when others are watching, or when you are at church.
No, Paul says “Whatever happens.” Before our life can become worthy of the Gospel, we must establish one thing. What place will we give the Gospel in our life? Will we add the Gospel to everything else in our life? Will we simply place the Gospel on top of everything else that we believe in?
“Whatever happens” is an all-inclusive statement. It doesn’t allow room for excuses. Oh, how we love excuses, especially when we don’t want to do something. We say, “I couldn’t do it because a friend called me,” or “I’m not feeling so well today, I’ll try tomorrow.” The Gospel is unique because there can never be any circumstances in this world that would make it impossible to live out the Gospel.
– Every time a loved one betrays you, it is an opportunity to show more grace.
– Every time you are tempted to sin, it is an opportunity to submit yourself to Christ.
– Every time you face danger, it is an opportunity to pray.
– Every time you face the unknown, it is an opportunity to trust God, who knows everything.
– Every time you are persecuted for your faith, it is an opportunity to share the reason for your faith.
The Gospel is unique because only the Gospel can grow stronger in our lives no matter the circumstances. To live worthy of the Gospel, we must first change our perspective on the circumstances of life. Difficult circumstances are no longer excuses for sinning but rather opportunities for greater Gospel power in our lives.
If you want to live a life worthy of the Gospel, make the Gospel the unchanging factor in your life. All other aspects of life change. Our emotions change, our finances change, our relationships change, our bodies change. The Gospel doesn’t change; the Gospel is eternal!
2. Allow the Gospel to Change Your Life**
Now I want to focus your attention on just one important word here: “conduct.” The Greek word Paul uses here might be familiar to you: πολίτης (polites). This refers to someone who is a citizen of a country or city. The idea is someone who fulfills his duty as a citizen, who lives up to the requirements of the laws in his country, and who takes his responsibilities as a citizen seriously.
When you repent and put your faith in Christ, you become a citizen of God’s heavenly kingdom, and you have a responsibility to live up to that citizenship. Citizenship is more than just a document that proves which country you belong to. A true and good citizen will also serve his country in real ways.
So, too, our faith is not just some confession that we repeat. Our faith in the Gospel ought to change the way we live. Paul says that we are “ambassadors of Christ.” We have a great responsibility to live out the Gospel, to make it real in every aspect of our lives. Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand how the Gospel should change their behavior. However, it’s very simple if we just look at it in two ways:
– The Gospel Means Living Out the Example of Jesus**
Let us look at how Jesus lived, how he served, how he related to other people, how he loved, how he sacrificed. This is our primary example of Gospel living.
– The Gospel Means Living Out the Core Gospel Truths**
The core truths of the Gospel are simple: truth, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love.
– Do you tell the truth?
– Are you gracious to others?
– Do you forgive quickly?
– Do you love those who don’t love you back?
These are examples of how the Gospel changes our conduct.
– The Gospel Means Living Out the Teachings of Jesus**
Finally, we can simply look at the concrete teachings of Jesus and of the Bible. Our conduct should match these teachings.
Philippians 1:10-11 NLT: “10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”
3. Give the Gospel Great Worth**
Not long ago, I read about an old woman in her 90s who lived in Northern France. She was preparing to sell her very ordinary home and get
something smaller and easier to maintain. When the appraiser came, he noticed an old religious painting above her kitchen stove. After examining the painting, he urged the woman to get the painting looked at by an art expert. This woman had owned this painting for a long time. It was given to her by a family member, and she never thought it had any value, yet it had been in her house for decades. She could have lost it forever.
When she finally had an art expert look at it, they discovered it was a very rare painting by a famous Italian Renaissance painter. It was valued at nearly $7,000,000!
Her life was changed because she recognized the worth of something she had had for many years. How sad would it have been if she never knew what that painting was worth!
I wonder, how many Christians don’t really know the worth of the Gospel in their lives?
1 Corinthians 6:20 NLT: “for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
I want to suggest to you that the Gospel has value, not just because of what it does for us, but because of what God did for us. God sacrificed his Son. It cost God everything to bring you the good news of salvation. It cost Jesus everything to pay for your sins and for your eternal life. This is the ultimate worth of the Gospel. We must give the Gospel great worth in our lives.
If we don’t really see the worth of the Gospel in our lives, how can we live worthy of it? We give the Gospel worth when we worship God, when we submit our will to him, and when we obey his commands. We give the Gospel worth when we love him, when we love others, and when we pray. We give the Gospel worth when we place the Gospel above all other things in our lives. The worth of the Gospel should be visible to others in the way we live.
4. Stand Firm for the Gospel**
Philippians 1:27-28 NLT: “27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”
Paul uses several strong phrases here:
– “Stand firm”
– “Fighting together”
– “Don’t be intimidated”
Let’s focus on the first one, “stand firm.” When we see the phrase “stand firm,” we can visualize an army holding the line of defense against an enemy. The army is dug into their positions, they have a wall of defense, they have weapons and shields, and they are ready to stand firm against the enemy attack.
When Paul says to “stand firm” for the Gospel, he means to keep yourself strong in your faith and belief in the Gospel. When we are weak in our faith, we can be easily persuaded by others to believe different things or to sin. When we are strong in our faith, we will not be persuaded or tempted by the enemy. We can stand firm.
1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT: “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”
5. Strive Together for the Faith of the Gospel**
Philippians 1:27-28 NLT: “27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”
Paul uses a phrase here that really stands out: “Striving together.” When we strive together for the faith of the Gospel, we are working together as one. We are united in our faith, united in our purpose, and united in our efforts.
As Christians, we are not alone in this world. We are part of a larger community of believers. We need each other to strengthen our faith, to encourage us, and to help us stand firm. This is why it is so important to be involved in a local church, to have fellowship with other believers, and to serve together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT: “24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
When we strive together, we are stronger. We can accomplish more for the Kingdom of God. We can stand firm against the enemy, and we can support each other in times of need.
6. Do Not Be Intimidated by Opponents of the Gospel**
Philippians 1:28 NLT: “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”
In every generation, there are opponents of the Gospel. There are people who will try to intimidate Christians, to silence them, to make them doubt their faith, and to persecute them. Paul himself faced many opponents throughout his ministry. He was beaten, imprisoned, and ultimately executed for his faith.
Yet, Paul encourages us not to be intimidated by our enemies. When we stand firm in our faith and are not intimidated, it is a sign to our enemies that their efforts are futile. They cannot destroy our faith; they cannot take away our salvation. It is also a sign to them that we are confident in our salvation, that we trust in God’s promises, and that we are not afraid.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
7. Recognize That Suffering for the Gospel is a Privilege**
Philippians 1:29-30 NLT: “29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.”
Suffering is not something we naturally seek out. We tend to avoid pain and hardship. However, Paul tells us that suffering for the Gospel is a privilege. Why? Because it identifies us with Christ. Jesus himself suffered for the sake of the Gospel, and when we suffer for our faith, we share in his sufferings.
Romans 8:17 NLT: “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”
When we suffer for the Gospel, it strengthens our faith, it refines our character, and it gives us a deeper understanding of Christ’s love and sacrifice for us. It is an honor to suffer for the one who suffered for us.
8. Rejoice in the Gospel**
Philippians 1:18-19 NLT: “18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.”
Paul found joy in the Gospel, no matter the circumstances. Even when he was in prison, even when others were preaching the Gospel with wrong motives, Paul rejoiced because the message of Christ was being proclaimed.
Joy is a powerful testimony to the worth of the Gospel. When we rejoice in the Gospel, we show others that our faith is genuine, that our hope is real, and that our joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with Christ.
Philippians 4:4 NLT: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
9. Share the Gospel with Others**
Philippians 1:12 NLT: “And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.”
Paul’s imprisonment led to the spread of the Gospel. Even in difficult circumstances, Paul looked for opportunities to share the Gospel with others. He witnessed to the guards, to fellow prisoners, and to anyone who would listen.
Sharing the Gospel is one of the most important ways we can live worthy of the Gospel. We have been given the greatest news in the world, and it is our responsibility to share it with others. Whether it’s through our words, our actions, or our testimony, we can make a difference in the lives of those around us by sharing the Gospel.
Mark 16:15 NLT: “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.'”
Conclusion
Living a life worthy of the Gospel is a high calling. It requires commitment, sacrifice, and a deep understanding of the worth of the Gospel. It means making the Gospel the unchanging factor in our lives, allowing
it to guide our actions, our decisions, and our relationships. It means standing firm in our faith, striving together with other believers, and not being intimidated by our enemies. It means recognizing the privilege of suffering for the Gospel, rejoicing in the Gospel, and sharing it with others.
May we all strive to live lives worthy of the Gospel, bringing glory to God and making a difference in the world for His Kingdom.
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