“Being Worthy of the Gospel”

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-30

Last week, as we considered the first half of this passage, we came to realize the importance that Paul placed on the gospel message. Whatever situation he found himself in, he saw it only as an opportunity to proclaim the Lord Jesus. Whether in chains in a Roman prison, or on a dusty road with strangers, in a synagogue, in a field, in a private home – regardless of where he was, Jesus came first.

And why would he be so committed? He had been intensely committed to the law all his life, until he met the resurrected Lord on the Road to Damascus, and it was then that his allegiance completely shifted. The zealousness of his love never changed – it merely moved from dependence on the law, to faith in Christ.

Our text last week ended with this thought from Paul – that he might never shame himself in faith, but have the courage to exalt Christ throughout his life, and into his death. (Philippians 1:20) Today, Paul considers what our relationship with Jesus and his word should be, and that the gospel is a gift that we can never ignore.

Read Philippians 1:21-26

For Paul, either living or dying in Christ are the best of all possibilities. Of course, the world would, and still does, disagree with him. Society would have us believe that we are always to live for our own agenda, whatever that may be. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, he wrote that famous line “This above all: to thy own self be true”. And today, this has been taken to mean that your personal desires and standards are all that matter. But in researching this quote, the context is that we are to stay with the truth, and avoid all activities that are detrimental to our well-being. It is not about being true to our selfish desires, but only to that which is best and right for us - that which comes to us from Almighty God.

Paul wants us to know that Jesus Christ is that very Best for our lives. For him, and for us, remaining true to Christ and his teachings is the only choice if we are to live for the truth, even if it means dying for it. But are we to look forward to dying? Paul is also in a quandary over which he would prefer – to go on living for Christ, or to die in him.

Of course, dying in Christ means that we no longer have to fear the temptations of this life, or the hatred and persecution that others show toward us, or the chance that we might fail the Lord when he calls us to a task, or even our facing the range of emotions that life in the flesh can bring. But death also means that proclaiming Jesus to our friends and neighbors, and even to strangers, can no longer be. Paul sees only two options for his best – living in glory, or continuing to live in the flesh, proclaiming Jesus and his salvation, and he says that his best choice is to go on living for Jesus.

How many of us would make that choice? It’s a tough one, to say the least! To leave the pains and struggles and disappointments of this life behind, or to continue to live in failure and minor victories; to encounter divine glory and to know Jesus face to face, or to continue to live a life that shares the Lord and his message of salvation with others. I think that the apostle’s greatest joy is to share Jesus with those who have yet to know the Lord for themselves, but personally, each of us have to decide that for ourselves.

But isn’t that decision actually a moot point? After all, living or dying isn’t our choice – it’s God’s! Truthfully, the decision that we have to make is how we will live out this life in the flesh. Will we see each and every day as being filled with fresh opportunities to be the hands and feet, and voice and heart of the Lord Jesus for the people of earth? That is the very best, the only worthy option for our life!

Read Philippians 1:27-30

What does it mean to be “worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ”? Think of it this way - what does it mean to be a citizen of our nation, or resident of this state? Better yet, what does it mean to break the laws of this nation and state? For most violations of the law, there are either fines or imprisonment, but for major offenses, there is the forfeiture of one’s life. But if we live within the law, or at least never get caught in breaking them, we are deemed to be worthy of continuing to be a free citizen.

That’s very much like being worthy of the gospel. When we love the Lord and his teachings, we become worthy; if we don’t, our unrepentant offenses against God will keep us from knowing his grace and mercy. In John 14:15-17, we read that, in essence, the Holy Spirit is the proof of divine worthiness. If we love Christ and keep his commandments, we will receive the “Spirit of Truth”. But without Christ, we can never know or receive the Spirit. The Spirit of God only comes in worthiness.

Love of Christ requires that we follow his teaching, or at least to make a wholehearted attempt to do so. Paul tells us that our love of the Lord enables us to stand in unity as his Church, and the Church must stand tall in faith for the gospel, regardless of what comes against it. Paul writes that the steadfastness of the Church, not only in faith but in unity of purpose, will be a sign to the world of the salvation that comes by faith in Christ, and of our redemption from the condemnation that is rightfully ours without the Lord.

But worthiness in Christ also means that we become unworthy to the world! I understand that no one wants to hear that they are wrong, and that everyone will, one day, discover the truth of Christ for themselves. But the world’s position is not only that they are right, but they also demand that Christians be accepting and tolerant of their ways. They believe, and want us to believe, that Jesus and his gospel aren’t just wrong, but that his way is hateful. And that is what the Church must stand unified against.

So how do we do it? How do we live in unity, when we have so many differences? Today is World Communion Sunday, and regardless of our denomination, or nondenominational status for that matter, we celebrate the sacrificial gift of Christ in unity. Churches all over the world will join together to share in Jesus’ gift of life, even if they have little to do with each other during the rest of the year. But while this is a unified day, we need to begin spreading this unity across the rest of our life in Christ. During the closing days of the Continental Congress, and just before he added his signature to the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin is reported to have said “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

The Church is at this same crossroads today. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been given to the people of earth, and the Church is the only entity that has been charged with spreading this Good News. By faith in Christ’s great act at Calvary, we have been made worthy of his salvation, and by trusting in the word of God that comes to us in the gospel, we show our worthiness to the world by sharing it’s message of life and love with them. We, then, become the sign of eternal life, that others might come to the truth of God.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly worthy of our commitment – but are we worthy of it?