Philippians 1:27a
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Last time I wrote on this verse, back in September, I focused on how my actions and words impact those around me. This time around, I felt led to focus more on whether or not God's grace gives me a license to sin. It doesn't, based on what Paul commands me in the verse...to conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel.
Getting back to the basics for a moment...What is the gospel? Simply put, it is "good news." This good news is that Christ died and rose again. He was victorious over sin and death. Because of His shed blood, I too, can have victory over sin. Because of His shed blood that covers me and makes me righteous, I can now come into the presence of a holy God.
Paul, in Philippians 1:27 tells me to conduct myself in a manner worthy of this gospel...I am now covered with Christ's righteousness and my actions need to reflect that. In Romans 6:1-2, Paul raises the question of whether I should continue in sin since I am now covered in Christ's righteousness. His blood covers me anyway, right? If I come to God and ask forgiveness, He'll forgive me, so why not just do what I want to do since it's "covered" anyway? WRONG! God's grace, Christ's shed blood for my sin does not give me a license to go out and sin as much as I want. When I accepted Christ into my life, I died to my sinful nature. I need to die daily to my sinful nature because it didn't disappear when I became a Christian. It's still in me, and will be there until I die.
Living in a manner worthy of the gospel demonstrates that I understand that Christ suffered and bled and died for my sins and rose again victorious over sin and death. It means I am not flippant about how I act on a daily basis. My actions should show the new life that is in me through Christ. They should not reflect my old self any more. I am still going to make mistakes; I'm still going to sin, but I should not be living a life of sin. There is a big difference.
Is it easy to conduct myself in a manner worthy of the Gospel? No. My sinful nature is at war with my new nature and they are constantly battling. Paul in Romans 7:14-25 talks about this battle that I face between my sinful nature and the new nature within. Like Paul, I so often find myself wanting to do what's right, yet I don't do it, and I find that I do what I know to be wrong instead. I desire to do what's right, yet it's a tough battle with the sinful nature.
As I was thinking about this passage, a song from VBS years ago came to mind. You know how you hear those songs so much during that week, they become engrained in you? This one came from the Outrigger Island theme. The song is titled, Let My Actions Match My Passion.
Gonna let my actions match my passion for what my God has done.
He's given me salvation through Jesus Christ His Son.
I believe in His authority and that He loves me.
So I'll stand on His commands and let my actions match my passion.
I'll love the Lord my God with all my heart, my soul and my strength
And with my mind, and I will love my neighbor like I love me.
This struck a chord with me in that my actions don't always show my passion for what God's done for me which means one of two things...I lack a passion for what God's done in my life, or I need to step up my actions and words to reflect God's work in my life. When I have a genuine love for all God's done for me, that love should overflow from me for others to see in my daily actions, attitudes, and words.
So what does it look like to conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel? Paul explains it some more in Ephesians and Colossians.
Ephesians 4:1-3
As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling
you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with
one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through
the bond of peace.
Colossians 1:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and
may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in
the knowledge of God.
Father, help my conduct to be worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Help me conduct myself in such a way that what Christ did for me shines through.
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