For The Gospel

Written by Jay Jackson of the Wales Goebel Ministries
For the Gospel
Philippians 1:27-30
Perhaps now, more than ever, believers will wake up and realize we live in a heathen nation. People in the USA need the Lord. Without Him, they will perish in Hell. We possess the gospel message which answers their eternal-destiny need. Our understanding of this message, "for the gospel," should compel us to take certain steps which can impact others for all eternity. This section introduces Paul's instructions to the Philippians regarding their problem with division. Chapter two deals with the subject of unity based on a willingness to serve others. Before the apostle deals with service to others in Christ, he presents the need for unity based on our responsibility to share the gospel.

Paul presents four exhortations which flow from the motivation, "for the gospel."

I. THE CONDUCT FOR THE GOSPEL v. 27

"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...." There are two important words used in this phrase which amplify this exhortation.

A. The Conduct Befitting the Citizen "Only conduct yourselves...."

The word "conduct" ("conversation" KJV) is not the typical word related to one's behavior. This word occurs only one other time in the New Testament - in Acts 23:1 where it is translated, "I have lived." The word is the root from which we derive our word, "politics." Its primary meaning, "to behave as a citizen, to manage civil affairs, or to conduct oneself as pledged to some law or life." Paul uses this word to exhort, "Live as a citizen."

Later, in 3:20, Paul declares, "For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." The word "citizenship" is the noun form of the verb here in 1:27. The exhortation, then, is to conduct one's life as a citizen of Heaven. That carries some important characteristics. As a citizen of the USA, when we visit other countries our manner of life may change in terms of diet and comfort, but the interests, the perspectives, the thinking, and the focus are still rooted in the homeland. Our life here on earth should be like traveling through a foreign country. We are aliens here and citizens of Heaven. Our thoughts, focus, behavior, perspectives, and passions should relate to where our roots are.

According to Ephesians 2:6, we have been raised up together with Christ and have been seated with Him in Heavenly places. Our roots are in Heaven. We should view life from a Heavenly viewpoint. We should be laying up treasures in Heaven. We will spend all eternity there, not here. We are to seek the things above and to have our minds on things above, and not on this earth (Col. 3:1-2).

B. The Conduct Befitting the Gospel "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel...."

The phrase "manner worthy" comes from one Greek word which means "having the weight of another thing; of like value, worth as much; befitting, congruous, or corresponding." The challenge is that a believer's conduct should weigh the same as the gospel. It should be of "like value", or correspond to the gospel. One's life should reveal the worth of the gospel. How much was the gospel worth? It cost God His only beloved Son. This exhortation is to motivate us to live not only as citizens of Heaven, but as those whose lives reveal the weight of the gospel.

The gospel not only gives us a ticket to Heaven, but it radically changes us. The work of Jesus on the cross achieved forgiveness of sins, but also freedom from sin's power. This cost of Jesus dying should show "like value" in our behavior. The gospel rescues us from ourselves, not just from Hell. Our life, therefore, should compare to that truth. Our walk should show a selflessness rather than selfishness. The love of God came to us in Christ. Therefore, our life should show this value in allowing Christ to love others through us.

II. THE COOPERATION FOR THE GOSPEL v. 27

Part of this conduct includes how we relate to one another in the body of Christ. Paul gives two exhortations.

A. Stand Firm in One Spirit
"Stand firm" means "to hold one's ground." This persistence and firmness is in one Spirit, the Holy Spirit. This promotes the beginning of instruction regarding unity. Unbelievers are enemies of God and usually hate Christians. This fact should motivate believers to stand firm in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

B. Strive Together with One Soul
The word "striving together" is the term from which we get "athlete." The word "mind" is actually the word for "soul." The soul is the personality, made up of mind, emotion, and will. Oneness of soul is difficult for different personalities. Most couples state at the onset of marriage counseling, "We are just so different." Everyone is! Just as in marriage, it takes time and "striving together" in order to be one soul. Typically Christians strive alright, however not to come together, but to divide.

The motivation for striving together relates to the rest of the phrase, "for the faith of the gospel." We can put away our differences (if it is not major error or sin) for the purpose of seeing people come to faith in Christ. We cooperate for the gospel. A hundred years from now we will not be comparing who was right or wrong, but we will be praising the Lord for the souls who came to Christ because of our cooperation.

III. THE COURAGE FOR THE GOSPEL v. 28

Paul exhorts the Christian not to fear their adversaries. The unbelievers seek to instill fear and to intimidate the Christian. They take pride in attempting to cause one to renounce his faith. As we respond with courage, two signs will emerge in the situation. First, the believer's courage will show that the lost man faces destruction. Courage for the gospel impacts people, causing them to realize their lives are on a path of destruction. Secondly, courage for the gospel shows our salvation. A lost man would not take a stand for Christ if it cost him his job, his home, family or his life. Our salvation is from God Who saved us by the gospel for which we stand.

IV. THE CONFLICT FOR THE GOSPEL v. 29-30

Paul presents in verse 29 how suffering is a gift or privilege in view of the gospel. The word "granted" is the verb form of "grace" meaning "to be favored, be graced, or freely given." We have been graced with believing on Christ and also to suffer for Christ. The word "sake" means "in behalf of, for the sake of." God graced us with salvation and suffering for the sake of, and on behalf, of Christ.

The Philippians, like Paul, experienced persecution for the sake of Christ. Rather than view this as oppressive and something to be avoided at all costs, this suggests that these people were privileged by the Lord. They could embrace the suffering as God presenting them with a gift.

Those in Acts 5:40-42 were beaten for preaching Christ. They left the Sanhedrin "...rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His Name." Sharing the gospel sometimes means suffering. If suffering comes, then God gave a gift.

In verse 30 Paul relates their privileged suffering with his own. They saw Paul suffer at Philippi when he and Silas first preached the gospel (Acts 16). They were beaten and placed into the inner hole of the prison with their feet fastened in stocks. The Philippians saw the beating and Paul being dragged off to prison. Now they heard of his imprisonment in Rome. They heard of the trouble he endured being in prison at Caesarea for two years and then being shipwrecked on the way to Rome.

The Philippians had the same "conflict" or "battle or struggle." Evidently some of them had gone to prison, experienced beatings, or perhaps lost jobs and land. Was it worth it? For Jesus sake, or on His behalf, suffering is worth it. As Paul notes earlier in the passage, he suffered so that people would come to know Christ through his imprisonment.

The message for us is that our conduct, cooperation, courage, and conflict are for the gospel. Is not Jesus worth it? Are not the souls of lost people worth it?


Dr. Jay Jackson