By Pastor Kevin Burden ~ Carter Creek Baptist ~ For Sunday AM, February 24, 2008
Philippians 1:27-30 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”
Joy is the result of Faithfully Following Jesus Christ. Psalm 5:11 “Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”
There are three divisions to this chapter. They are revealed through the word “Gospel.” These divisions give the primary focus of Paul’s life!
1. The Fellowship of the Gospel – v 5.
2. The Furtherance of the Gospel – v 12.
3. The Faith of the Gospel – v 27.
V 1-11 Reveal the things that make Joy Amidst Adversity possible.
1. Understanding the Past – v 3.
2. Expressing Gratitude To God – v 3.
3. Caring For Others – v 4.
4. Partnership In Ministry – v 5.
5. Having Confidence In Christ – v 6-7.
6. Loving God’s Word – v 9.
Today we want to examine The Necessity of Faith – v 27-30.
Faith is conviction of the truth of something; belief in a conviction respecting man’s relationship to God. Faith is the persuasion of the mind that something is true. Its principal inspiration is trust.
Biblical faith has levels or degrees – ranging from little faith (Matt 6:30), to great faith (Matt 8:10), to full assurance of faith (Heb 10:22-23).
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,… 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
Faith is enhanced through the venue of preaching and teaching.
Romans 10:14-17 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Faith is agreeing with God! It is an act of the will in addition to the act of understanding. Assent to the truth is the essence of Biblical faith, and the ultimate ground on which our agreement to any revealed truth rests is the truthfulness (veracity) of God.
Biblical Faith is categorized into three basic types.
Intellectual Faith = knowledge only.
Temporal Faith = the result of the mind of man. It can exist with the absence of knowledge.
Saving Faith = Divine truth and the assent of the mind of man working in concert.
In order to enjoy something you must be dedicated to the protect-ion of it – v 27.
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”
The “Faith of the Gospel” is that body of divine truth given to the church.
Jude 3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
2 Timothy 2:2 “The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
In order for us to enjoy “The Faith of The Gospel” there must be Compliance; Cooperation; Confidence.
#1. COMPLIANCE WITH DIVINE TRUTH – v 27a. “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:”
Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestine-ate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,”
Compliance affects your Conversation. “Let you conversation be…”
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Compliance affects your Constancy. “That whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs,”
1 John 2:6 “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
#2. COOPERATION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – v 27b. “…that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
John 16: 7-8 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
The Holy Spirit guides us toward things that are true.
John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
The Holy Spirit Comforts The Believer.
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
#3. CONFIDENCE IN THE GOD WHO SAVED YOU – v 28-30.
Confidence that He is able to deliver – v 28.
“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.”
Confidence that He has called you into the ministry – v 29.
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”
Confidence that God’s will is always best – v 30.
“Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”
CONCLUSION: In order for us to enjoy “The Faith of The Gospel” there must be Compliance; Cooperation; Confidence.
#1. Compliance with Divine Truth.
#2. Cooperation with the Holy Spirit.
#3. Confidence in the God who saved you.
