Evidences Of Christ’s Living In The Believer

Title: “Evidences of Christ’s Living in the Believer” Scripture: Phil. 1:27-30

Type: Expository/ Series Where: GNBC 6-11-23

Intro: Dwight Pentecost was a pastor, author, and professor. Taught at DTS for nearly 60 years before death in 2014. Told the story of preaching at a conference in Atlantic City back in the early 1960s. At the end of the week went to a local bank to cash check for $70 to cover travel expenses. After waiting in long line, gave the teller check and he counted out 10, $10 bills! He counted it 2nd time and then handed it thru the window. Dr. Pentecost slowly began to count the envelope. The teller looked at the long line while eying the clock as it was near closing time. “Trust me, I’ve counted it 2x!” Pentecost: “But sir, I believe there has been a mistake.” Teller got flushed and angry: “You have seen me count this 2x, there is no mistake.” Pentecost put the money thru the window; “Would you please count it once more?” The teller was getting redder by the moment: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10! Now he was almost purple. The exasperated teller looked at Dr. Pentecost and said: “Sir, you must be a Christian!” It was not so much what Dwight Pentecost had said, but what he had done that led the bank teller to conclude he was a Christian. Paul would agree, there are to be visible evidences in the life of the Christian.

Prop: Examining Phil 1:27-30 we’ll see 3 Evidences of Christ Living in the Believer.

BG: 1. When Paul came to the city around 49 AD, Philippi was an urban center at the eastern end of the plain, a few miles northwest from Neapolis. The people there were both Romans and Greeks and spoke predominantly Greek even though Latin was the official language.

2. The church in Philippi was founded by the apostle Paul on his second missionary journey, recorded in Acts 16:1-40. Paul originally went to Macedonia because of a night vision described for us in Acts 16:9.

3.

Prop: Let’s examine Phil. 1:27-30 so as to see 3 Evidence of Christ Living in the Believer.

I. 1st Evidence: Your Life Will Produce Conduct Becoming a Christian.

A. The Christian’s Life Will Inevitably Begin to Look like Jesus’.

1. Our life, actions, and desires will begin to mimic those of our Savior.

a. V.27 – “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy off the Gospel of Christ.” – KJV – “let your conversation” – GK - politeueothe – Paul uses this root in Phil. 3:20 when he says that our “citizenship” is in heaven. Not so much just our speech, but rather the totality of our conduct. Good behavior was expected of the Philippian citizens because they were a Roman colony, something highly prized. Paul is saying here that as a citizen of the Heavenly City, let your and my behavior honor Christ. Ask, “What would Jesus do?”, How would Jesus respond? What would Christ spend His time and money on? What would His speech be like? We are to live as citizens of the Kingdom.

b. Illust: Used to be that when young people were going out, their parents would gently caution them saying: “Remember to conduct yourself like a lady/gentleman.” Today’s parents often don’t even know to whom those terms apply! Sadly, as gender confused as Western culture is to, the Church is often more so in relation to its member’s mission! Conduct yourself in a manner worthy of Christ!

2. This Growth Will Cause us to Resemble Christ in Character.

a. Illust – In the Uniform Code of Military Justice, article 133 “Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman – is an offense with deep roots in military history and the original Articles of War. The elements of the offense are: That the accused did or omitted to do certain acts; and, under the circumstances, the acts or omitted acts constituted conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman. The word gentleman is gender neutral in the eyes of the law. Article 133 was always intended to be a “catch-all” to create liability for actions that dishonor or disgrace officers.

b. Remember that 2 weeks ago we looked at v. 21- “To live – Christ!” Ask yourself, what would Jesus do in this situation? How would Christ want me to love this person? How should I respond to this hurt? If my whole life is about Christ my conduct should match that call. Ask self: “Is my conduct becoming a Christian?”

B. There is an Objective Standard of Behavior for Which the Christian is to Measure His/Her Life.

1. That standard is “the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

a. What is the Gospel of Christ? It is the most important message in all of history yet but a fraction of Christians can elucidate its content with clarity or conviction.