The Context
The apostle Paul was writing to the church (to the saints in
Christ Jesus) in Philippi. And he was writing to encourage them in their walks
of faith in obedience to the Lord because of their partnership in the gospel of
Christ. And what was the gospel message that Paul preached? He preached that
salvation from sin, by the grace of God, is not free license to keep on living
in sin and disobedience to God, but it is deliverance from addiction to sin so
we now serve our Lord Jesus in obedience to His commands in daily living.
Philippians 1:9-11 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)
“9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
The Grace of God
For the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await our Lord’s return for
His faithful bride (see Titus 2:11-14). We are no longer to permit sin to reign
in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey,
it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in
sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).
Jesus Christ gave His life up for us on that cross to
deliver us out from underneath our addiction to sin (to redeem us) so that we
would now serve Him with our lives in obedience to His commands in holy living.
This is not to say that we will be absolutely perfect in every way, or that we
will never sin again (see 1 John 2:1-2), but that, as followers of Christ, we
are to be those who deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to
self and to suffer for righteousness’ sake) and who obey God (see Luke
9:23-26).
Philippians 1:27-30 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)
“27Nevertheless, 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 one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel, 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
In a Manner Worthy
As followers of Christ we are to be those who conduct
ourselves in a manner worthy of (fitting to) the gospel of Christ. And the
gospel of Christ teaches us that we must deny self, die to sin, and obey God in
life practice. So if we contend for the faith of the gospel, then we must be
those who are standing strong on the biblical teachings with regard to what is
taught is the gospel of our salvation and what God requires of all of us who
profess His name. For not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Matthew 7:21-23).
And we are to stand strong on the truths of what the gospel
of Christ teaches even if we are being opposed by others who profess the name
of Jesus because they are accepting a cheapened and altered gospel message as
truth when it is a lie from hell. For so many are being taught, and they are
believing, that they can profess faith in Jesus Christ but that nothing else is
required of them – no repentance, no change of heart and mind resulting in a
change of behavior, and no obedience to God’s New Covenant commands. And so
they continue in their sins while claiming Jesus as Lord.
But we must continue to stand strong on the truth of the
gospel taught all throughout the New Testament writings, when taught in their
correct biblical context. We must not be afraid to face opposition and
criticism and false accusations against our character. Yes, we will be in the
minority. Yes we will be opposed, sometimes strongly. Yes, we will be rejected
and abandoned and criticized and ignored by those who are accepting a gospel
which does not require that we forsake our sins and obey God in practice. But
we must persevere in getting to the people the truth which will save them from
hell.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts
26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans
8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1
Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians
5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14;
Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24;
1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation
3:1-22]
Test and Prove What is Best
An Original Work / September 15, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Who Believes?
Based off Isaiah 53
An Original Work / October 3, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Gospel message, who
believes?
Jesus Christ died on
a tree,
Saving us from all
our sin,
So we might be
cleansed within.
Had no beauty found
in Him,
That we should
desire Him.
Man of sorrows,
suffering;
Crushed for our
iniquities.
Surely He has borne
our griefs;
From our sadness,
brings relief.
Bore the stripes;
forsaken, He,
So forgiven we might
be.
We, like sheep, have
gone astray,
Each of us turned
his own way.
Jesus calls, “Repent
today;
My commandments, now
obey.”
Jesus said, to come
to Him,
We must die to all
our sin.
Crucified with Him,
we live,
Walking in His
righteousness.
Suff’ring servants,
we will be,
Taking His identity
on us,
When confessing Him
As our Savior, Lord
and King.
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