Philippians 1:1-27 - The Gospel is Preached

Philippians 1:1-27

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come to and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (verse 27). 

Message: The Gospel is Preached 

Time: AD 62. One of the 4 prison epistles. 

What the Lord is Saying: This was the sermon yesterday at church and I admit, I listened but also spent time studying the entire chapter, wanting to better understand the context and what led up to this verse in 27 that the pastor had said was really a hallmark verse. He made mention that his entire sermon would be on 1 verse. 

I was kind of just overcome by the words in Philippians 1 about this and what Paul was saying. Verse 12, “My circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” Verse 17, “I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.” Verse 18, “Christ is proclaimed.” Verse 20, “Christ shall even now be exalted in my body.” Verse 21, “To live is Christ.” Verse 24, “Yet to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” Verse 27, “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” — this idea is so central. It is all about the gospel to Paul. And living for Christ is what it is about. I can’t help but think of the elders, the Mormon (LDS) Missionaries I have been speaking with and their focus right from the get-go about church and specifically my need to get to their church. And their central prayer that I am to pray is not about Jesus, but about the Mormon church and the Book of Mormon and believing in Joseph Smith. Why this extreme focus on Joseph Smith? Why not a focus on Jesus instead and the gospel. Just that idea.  

But looking at this also makes me think about the gospel, that for this text is assumed. It is expected that the reader know what the gospel is exactly. Philippians is AD 62 and Paul is in prison. I Corinthians 15 (AD 56), “I make known to you the gospel preached…received…you stand…you are saved.” “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 

Each of the gospels show Jesus’ life, his ministry, his death and his resurrection. And each are titled, the Gospel According to…. His entire life - living, death, burial and resurrection - is the gospel. And this is the message that Paul says we are to preach but also our lives are to be lived proclaiming...always. 

Prayer: Lord, remind me today that my living daily is to live worthy of the gospel of Christ. Help me to be focused on the gospel of Christ. We are here for the gospel of Christ. Christ is to be proclaimed. Lord, you shall even now be exalted in my body. I want to live Christ. This is why I live. This is the reason I conduct my life. What is the gospel? It is the good news that Jesus saves, that Jesus loves me and gave me new life in Him. 

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