Well, I want to turn back to
Philippians chapter one. I thought I'd finished it last
week, but I hadn't. So I want to come back there
now. And I want to think a bit more about some of the practical
things that Paul is talking about here in this second half and
the beginning of chapter two. Remember, he has a dilemma. He's
already said that for him, because he knows he's in his final days,
the Emperor Nero is under house arrest in Rome. and the Emperor
Nero at any moment could call for his execution and there was
none of the legal restrictions and rule of law that we have
that would prevent that. Nero could say this man needs
to be put to death and that would be it. He knew that that was
the case and it did happen that he was put to death. And so he
knows that he's either going to live or he's going to die.
But he says both is good. For him to live is Christ. Living
this life with Christ now. And to die? Well that's more
because I physically see him. If I live in the flesh, this
is the fruit of my labour. Yet what I shall choose I want
not. He has a dilemma. I am in a straight
betwixt two. You know, I can't decide what
I really want. Having a desire to depart this
life and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless,
yes, I want to be there in glory with Him, freed from this body
of death, from this body of sin. Nevertheless, to abide here,
for me to carry on living in the flesh, is needful for you.
And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue
with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith. Why does he
have a dilemma? Because he wants to be with Christ,
which is far better. But he knows that the ministry
to these people is so important. Verse 25, for your furtherance
and joy of faith. the joy faith it's not it's not
a boring thing true faith of christ is joyous it gives true
joy in the heart it gives a true settled contentment the flesh
rises up things frustrate things make us angry things disappoint
things make us upset but If you know this unchanging truth of
God in Christ, it's joyous to the soul, to the very, very cause,
to the very, very root of it. And it's for your furtherance,
for your growth. As Peter says, grow in grace
and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Grow
in it. It's an exhortation. Don't stay where you are. We
like to see plants in the garden growing and progressing. We don't
like to see them just staying as they are, we like to see them
growing and developing. Grow in grace and the knowledge
of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Living and walking closer
with him. Looking always and only towards
him. This is what he wants, these
people. What does Christ call his people? He calls them his
sheep. Sheep. You know, if you know anything
about sheep, you know they're pretty stupid animals. Sheep need shepherding
in order to prosper. A flock left to itself, its coat
gets tangled and it doesn't get shorn when it needs to be and
they don't know where the good pasture is, they need to be led
to where the good pasture is. Sheep need a shepherd. for them
to prosper and therefore Christ is the great shepherd, the good
shepherd of the sheep but he has under-shepherds, the apostles,
pastors, teachers, evangelists whose purpose is to teach the
flock of God, to shepherd them to lead them in green pastures,
he needs to stay for this reason and he exhorts them to gospel
precepts, this is what J.C. Philpott calls the instructions
in the New Testament epistles on living the Christian life. There's exhortation to gospel
precepts. The epistles, you cannot deny
it, you cannot avoid it. The epistles are brimming with
exhortation to live by gospel precepts. Not to live by law,
but by gospel precepts. Listen to this from Colossians,
chapter 1, verse 28, talking of Christ. our Lord Jesus Christ,
whom we preach. Now listen, warning every man,
warning, warning, beware, don't fall down this hole, watch out,
look out, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom
that we, what for? That we may present every man
perfect in Christ. This is what Paul's joy Paul's
reward, Paul's hope, was these people to whom he preached in
the presence of Christ at his coming. Legalism is a dreadful
error. Legalism infects the churches
in this country and in other places dreadfully. Legalism is
a terrible error, terrible error. This error of progressive sanctification,
this error of improving the flesh under the moral law. So we live
by the moral law as a rule of life so that it improves our
flesh so that we get more and more like Christ until we're
ready for heaven. is a terrible error, it really is. It's fundamentally
contrary to the gospel of grace and it nowhere appears in the
scriptures. The New Testament never uses
law as an incentive for living. What do I mean by an incentive?
I mean the threat that you'll be punished, the threat that
you'll lose something, the promise that if you do this there'll
be an extra reward for you. The New Testament never, I can't
stress this enough to you because it's a teaching that is completely
wrong and it's rampant in those churches that say they have a
name for being gospel churches of Christ in this country. Legalism,
error, New Testament never uses law as the incentive for living
it's a good acid test when trying the spirits it's a test of false
shepherds it's a test of those who are really wolves in sheep's
clothing who are leading God's people away what's the exhortation
verse twenty seven 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.
Let your conversation be as becomes the gospel of Christ. I want
to hear that you're standing fast together in one spirit. I want to hear that you've got
one mind, you're unified in your mind, striving together for the
faith of the gospel. Let's look at these things. your
conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ only let
your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ your conversation
he means the way you live the demeanor of your life the tone
of your life the attitude of the life let the way you live
it says be as becometh the gospel of what is it to become the gospel
of Christ let's say you're decorating a room or let's say you're putting
on some clothes to go out, right? So let's use the analogy of the
clothes, okay? So you decide that you're going
to wear purple trousers, okay? And you put on with it, oh, I
can't think of something outlandish enough, really, because you'll
all say, oh, my fashion sense is not very good. But you can
imagine, where it's just a dreadful clash, where it screams that
it just doesn't go. It's not becoming. It doesn't
match. He says let your conversation,
which is your demeanor of life, match. Match. Blend in with the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's the gospel of Christ. Let
your manner of life blend in with the gospel you say you believe.
Like decoration. Paul writes to Titus that we
should adorn the Gospel, the doctrine of God our Saviour,
in all things. It's the same idea. Let it match
the Gospel that you believe, in its colour, in its pattern,
matching it, making it look like it. So what is it then to let
your conversation become the gospel? You know, match the gospel
of Christ. All evangelicals know the same
gospel, don't they? No, they don't. All those that
call themselves evangelicals don't know the same gospel otherwise
Paul wouldn't have written to the Galatians about those that
look like they're preaching the gospel but he says it's another
gospel which isn't a gospel. He says they pervert the gospel
of Christ. And you know what he says of
them? Let them be accursed. I say it again. If any preach
any other gospel than that which was delivered to Paul, let him
be accursed. And that's what's happening all
around us. There are preachers who are heaping up condemnation
on themselves by preaching that which is another gospel which
is no gospel at all. So what is the gospel that Paul
exhorts us to match to live our lives as becoming in our conversation
the gospel is good news that's what it means the gospel is good
news good news in what situation? in contrast to a dreadful realization
that comes upon a person that comes upon a sinner there's a
dreadful realization that must come before you hear good news
in the gospel of grace a dreadful realization that there is a God,
there really is, that he is in control of everything, that he's
sovereign, that he's holy, that he's a purer eyes than to behold
iniquity, that he cannot look upon sin, that his justice is
unchangeable, that he is angry with the wicked every day, that
he must punish sin, that he is a consuming fire, that it is
a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living, this
is a realization, you know that hymn that says a sinner is a
sacred thing, the Holy Ghost has made him so, you say all
are sinners, that's right, but very very few know that they're
sinners All are sinners condemned, but very, very few have this
realization, this dreadful realization, this dreadful conviction of sin,
of knowing what I am, and that there awaits for me, you know,
there's an appointment, isn't there? An appointment. It is
appointed. It says Hebrews 9, 27, it is appointed to man, that's
you and me, to die once, and then When you die, that day you
leave this life, then the judgment of this God into whose hands
it is a fearful thing to fall. And that leads to the fear of
death. You know, the people who, through fear of death, all their
lifetime were subject to bondage, says Hebrews 2. And there's a
dread of condemnation. And there's a realization that
we have an utter inability to do anything about it. I'll turn
over a new leaf and lift new resolutions. I'll do that which
is necessary to make me right with God, and we find that we
have nothing with which to pay. We do not have the means to pay
the debt to the law of God. And then, by God's grace, by
his Spirit coming, there's a revelation of Christ to that soul. There's
a revelation that in him is a substitute. In him is my legal head. In him is one who has stood in
my place. These are not just facts that
reach the mind, these are things that the Spirit applies to the
soul, and by faith, that gift of God, we apprehend We see it
by faith, we apprehend that which we didn't previously apprehend.
We experience what Paul calls the power of God unto salvation,
Romans 1.16. It is the gospel is the power
of God unto salvation and we experience it. How? It's felt
in the soul, it's experienced. The gospel says this, God says,
he is a consuming fire, but what does he tell his preachers to
tell his people? Comfort. Comfort ye my people. Comfort
ye my people. Why? Because, he says, I've given
double for their sins. In other words, there's a perfect
match. There's a perfect payment for every sin. Payment for every
sin. Payment for every sin. Comfort,
because debts are matched exactly. We're justified, counted just
in the sight of God, in the justice of God. For Christ has redeemed,
has bought, has paid the price, and his blood is the currency
that has paid the price and made propitiation. He's turned away
the anger of God. in his law and so therefore God
can be just which God must be and is for him to be God and
he's unchanging and he never changes he's just but because
of this gospel he is able to justify the ungodly this is effectual
salvation this is sovereign gracious particular salvation of the people
that he gave to his son before the beginning of time that the
son covenanted to come and represent as substitute to redeem to pay
with his precious blood to pay the price that the law the justice
of God might be satisfied he came to do all of that so that
he could be just and justify and he's put his people if you're
one of them this morning he's put his people in union with
Christ in eternal betrothal before the beginning of time he called
his people with the name of their husband and Joe just as in the
old marriage laws of hundreds of years ago the husband was
entirely responsible for the legal position financial position
of the wife entirely one hundred percent and because of sin of
course the laws have had to be changed because men are not what
they should be but in that picture of marriage the husband was entirely
responsible for the deeds of his wife. And so Christ has taken
responsibility for the deeds of his wife, his bride, which
is his church, which is his people, which is all those that the Father
gave to him. Behold, I and the children which thou hast given
me. He's put us in union with Christ,
in eternal betrothal, in his human life as he walked this
earth. We walk this life in him, in him, under the law. We who
are under, we walk this life in him under the law. perfect
before the law in that respect in his death we were crucified
with him, the old man was crucified and is now dead we're dead to
sin, we're dead truly, oh but I still sin, that's because the
flesh hasn't been killed yet but in the reckoning of God we're
crucified with Christ, we were there crucified with him we were
raised with him in resurrection we've ascended to glory in him
because Paul says and you are now outside of this time and
space that we live in you are now in eternity seated with Christ
in heavenly places and the result There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus. How many times do the epistles
tell us that we have peace with God, that we have the love of
God in our hearts, that we have a hope of eternity. We've been
lifted out of the horrible pit of sin and just condemnation
and our feet have been set upon a rock and that rock in scripture
is Christ, solid, not sinking ground, not a horrible pit of
sin but the rock which is Christ, seated in heavenly places. There's
a new life of a new man. If any man is not born of the
Spirit, he cannot see the things of the Kingdom of God. Don't
talk about them, you cannot see them, you've got no apprehension
of them. But the Holy Spirit comes and
gives a new life and puts a new man in, where there wasn't one
before. The old flesh is still there, and it's not a question
of enabling the old flesh to improve, because the old flesh
cannot improve. Those that think they can progressively
improve their flesh are under a complete religious delusion.
they're either hypocritically self-righteous or they'll end
up utterly despairing at their own inability to do it. No, you
cannot improve the old man. The old man, for the believer,
is crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live. So who
lives? Christ lives in me. And the life
I now live in the flesh, because I do live in the flesh, I live
by the faith of Christ who loved me and gave himself for me. This
is the life I live. Fabrizio sent a few of us a little
video clip, a link to a video clip online yesterday and I think
it's a very good illustration of this idea of the old man being
dead and incapable and Christ in me being the way I live. And
what it is, is one of these triathlon things, you know where they run
a bit and where they swim a bit and where they cycle their bikes
a bit and they have a race like that. Except in this one, a strong
man was carrying a man who was utterly disabled. The only muscles
the man who was disabled could move seemed to be the smile on
his face and the movement of his eyes seeing what's happening.
But the man set off, I'll probably get the order wrong, it doesn't
matter, but he set off doing the running leg and he's carrying
this disabled man. He's carrying him. And then they
get to the swimming bit. and he puts the man in a rubber
dinghy, an inflatable dinghy and he swims towing the rubber
dinghy across the lake and he gets out the other side and he
sits him in a seat on the front of the bike and then he does
the bicycle bit and then he parks the bike and he carries him over
the finishing line it really is very moving, it's a very moving,
but that's what it is for the believer to be in Christ, to
be crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ
lives in me. I live by faith, looking unto
Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. He is the author
of it, I'm not the author of it, He is. Perfectly reconciled
to God in Him. This is the gospel of Christ.
It's the gospel of which He is the sum and substance. Without
Christ and those who do not preach Christ, there is no gospel in
their church. You or I, if we go to these places
that call themselves gospel churches, you listen to the preaching and
you say, you know, well I didn't get anything out of that, why
not? And the answer to the believer is this, there was no Christ
in it. For there's only Christ that satisfies. Now none but,
one of those hymns that's normally sung in Arminian circles, now
none but Christ can satisfy. None other name for me. None,
but this is absolutely true. It's the gospel of Christ. The
law only condemns. Only the Son is pleasing to the
Father, and all who are in him, all who are married to him. are
pleasing to the Father. So there's the flesh and there's
the spirit in contrast in the one believing person. The flesh
and the spirit, Paul tells us in Galatians 5. These are in
conflict one with another, contrary to one another. The exaltation
is to let your conversation, your style of life, match the
gospel. Flesh can't ever adorn the workings
of grace. Flesh cannot do it. But can the
flesh be subdued by the new man that's within? Can the flesh
be put down by the new man that's in? There is a new man. There's
a new man who cannot sin. John tells us this. He who is
born of God cannot sin. The new man cannot sin. The old
man is the flesh. Yes, he's nothing but sin. Can
the flesh be subdued by the new man? Not by the workings of the
law. not by the law as a rule of life
but by the grace of God, yes else why do the epistles say
to the new man of Christ living in me put off the old man of
the flesh and put on the new man of the spirit flesh can't
do it but the new man can The conversation is the manner of
life, is the personal walk with God, is our interaction with
one another as brethren. Let our demeanor of life match. How? By the new man putting down
the old man. The old man is still there, will
never be any better. By the new man putting down that
old man. It's not only with the brethren,
but in family situations. It's in our interaction with
the world. Let it match the gospel, she's
saying. Let it match the gospel that
you believe. How is it going to do that? 2
Corinthians chapter 5, verses 17 and 18. If any man be in Christ,
are you in Christ? Am I in Christ this morning?
If any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. all things are
passed away behold all things have become new and all things
are of God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ
flesh will want to sin that grace may abound this is what flesh
says shall we sin that grace may abound you know he hears
the gospel and says shall we sin that grace may abound what
does Paul say to that? God forbid of course not Shall
we say that we have got license to sin? Who says that? The flesh. Because the flesh
loves sin. The flesh is sin. The flesh loves sinning. So the
flesh hears this thing, the gospel, and says, oh, that's great, isn't
it? Sins are paid for. I love sin. But it doesn't matter,
because sins are paid for. So I'm going to sin that grace
may abound. That's an antinomian spirit that
the scriptures condemn. And they do. They really do.
Really, this is why Paul warns. Think about the Corinthians.
Think about 1 Corinthians chapter 5. That man who was preeminent
in the church of Corinth, he was probably one of the preachers.
And he was in an immoral relationship. An immoral sexual relationship
with his father's wife. I mean, absolutely dreadful.
Paul says it's worse than even the world talks about. And he
says it's got to stop. you seem to say oh I believe
the gospel therefore I can do this because it doesn't make
absolutely not absolutely let your conversation your manner
of life does that manner of life living in that immoral relationship
before society and the church does that become the gospel of
Christ? Does that match the precepts
of the gospel of Christ? Of course it doesn't and what
does Paul say? You have to stop it and you as a church have got
to put him out until he learns his lesson and stops it. Flesh
does triumph constantly the flesh triumphs but In the true believer,
what does that lead to? Always to remorse, to repentance,
to bitterness for the offense caused, for shame. Think of David's,
you know, when he was utterly convicted about his great sin,
and you read Psalm 51, and he's cut to the heart against thee,
The only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. Cleanse
me and I shall be clean. He's absolutely eaten up and
burdened with it. Think about a regiment and soldiers
for the day of the parade, they love to be turned out in their
very best. And you think one of the soldiers
gets it wrong and there's some aspect of the uniform or of the
marching or of the maneuvers that he gets wrong and think
about that sense of shame not because of law but just because
of the honour of the regiment the remorse the repentance the
bitterness this is what happens in a true believer are we alone
in this as believers you know is this something that we're
encouraged to do on our own well no it isn't from that verse you
can see that he's talking about others being involved in it several
that we know are entirely alone in their experience as believers
they're on their own they just listen to things on the internet
they have nobody that they meet face to face physically with
whom they can have conversations but praise God I mean I know
the internet's used for a lot of evil things, some dreadful
things are going on, but like everything it's used under the
providence of God for tremendous blessing to a lot of people.
Think of the way that we can, you know, the gospel is going
places it never ever would have done twenty years ago because
of how it is today and there are several people alone but
they're not alone because we communicate together by email
all the time and so we're told to stand fast let this conversation
be as becomes the gospel of Christ and stand fast in one spirit
the picture is imagine old ancient battles where the armies would
line up against each other and the ones that were more successful
were the ones that formed very tight ranks who put their shields
together and there was no gap in the defense they were braced
for attack they were ready for it they sort of set themselves
ready for the attack they were armored with the correct armor
this is what it is for believers to stand fast together to be
of the same mind in tight ranks braced for the attack which we
know is out there for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but
against principalities and powers spiritual darkness Paul tells
us, but he says there's a remedy for this it's in Ephesians chapter
six put on the whole armor of God wherewith you will be able
to withstand the attacks of Satan he says put it all on, that helmet
of salvation that breastplate of righteousness that shield
of the spirit, that shield of faith the sword of the word of
God, he said take this whole armor The wind of error blows
to and fro everywhere and there's always a need to be defensive
against error as it arises and to be united in a gospel spirit
gospel spirit, it's not mere gospel letter you see there were
those in verse fifteen of chapter one some indeed preach Christ
even of envy and strife, they preach Christ gospel letter but
with a wrong spirit envy and strife and contention not sincerely
supposing to add affliction to my bonds, there are those that do what they do according to
mere gospel letter but he's talking about a gospel spirit that you
stand fast in one spirit a gospel spirit whatever the situation
whether alone or in large numbers whether by email fellowship or
together exchanging spiritual nourishment for one another exchanging
food for meditation mutually encouraging one another in a
commonly held faith helping one another providing help to one
another stand fast then and then striving with one mind striving
with one mind together for the faith of the gospel the faith
of the gospel this is it striving together defending this faith
of the gospel for its truth for its power of God unto salvation
to everyone that believes united in its doctrine This is what
he wants to see in the Philippians, this is what he wants to see
in groups of true believers united together in doctrine. Amos chapter
3 verse 3 says, can two walk together except they be agreed? You know, I love going walking.
It's not very nice if you go with somebody who you don't agree
with. It's good to go together with people you agree with. This
is fellowship. Can two walk together except
they be agreed? Disunity is a very destructive
thing. You know, we hear about it in
political parties, it's one of the most destructive things.
More important than the policies, they say, is to present a united
front, not disunified. Well, more so in the church.
Let's not live in a way which is unbecoming of the gospel. Why? Because it leads to disunity. And disunity, not striving together
with one mind, disunity speaks of my rights. And that's fleshly. My rights is fleshly. It's not
for the common good. Philippians 2 verse 2, look down
in the next chapter. Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be
like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of
one mind. See, the mind of Christ. He says
in 1 Corinthians 2.16, that we have the mind of Christ, that
we have the mind of Christ and we have that same mind of Christ
together. He's saying to them, subdue self,
that's fleshly, for the good of others, for the good of the
whole body. Look at verses 3 and 4 of chapter
2. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on
the things of others. Because why? verse 1 of chapter
2, if there be therefore any consolation in Christ. If there
be? Of course there is. He's speaking
hypothetically. If there be any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love. Is there any comfort of love?
Of course there is comfort in the love of God, in the gospel
of his grace. If any fellowship of the Spirit? Of course there's
fellowship in the Spirit. if any bowels and mercies this
warm feeling fellowship feeling to one another then fulfill ye
my joy of course because of these things there is consolation in
Christ the gospel is true there is that comfort felt in the heart
of love there is fellowship in the spirit therefore subdue the
flesh subdue the flesh let the new man come to the fore let
nothing be done for self and for personal improvement. Let all be done for the good
of the body. Will all be a bed of roses? Will
it? Is that what Paul is promising?
The people that live like this? Look at verses 29 and 30 of the
previous chapter. For unto you it is given in the
behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer
for his sake having the same conflict which he saw in me and
now here to be in me. No that believing these things
in this life, there's going to be suffering. It's given to you.
It's given from God. It's given that in the flesh,
in this life, not only to believe, but also to suffer for his sake. To suffer. Paul's in conflict,
he's in prison, having the same conflict which you saw in me
and now hear that there is in me. It won't be a bed of roses. It's given to believe and suffer
as Paul did. For flesh always opposes spirit. It does. The flesh always. The
flesh of self opposes the spirit of the new man that's in self.
The flesh of others in the world around opposes the spirit of
God. Just as Ishmael, the son of Abraham,
persecuted Isaac, the son of promise, in exactly the same
way. Flesh always opposes spirit.
So know it. It's going to happen. Expect
it. Don't be surprised by it. Don't be terrified by your adversaries,
the spiritual principalities as well as the flesh. Because
your response to persecution, to suffering, the response of
the new man in Christ is an evident sign of their perdition. Perdition? Lostness. Their lostness. And
it's also an evident sign of your salvation from God. You
know, as Paul says somewhere else, the gospel is a savour
of death to those who are dying under the condemnation of the
law. It's a nasty smell, but it's a savour of life. It's sweetness
to the child of God who hears it. So then, what do we conclude? Let your conversation be as becometh
the gospel of Christ. The flesh, the old man, can never
respond to that. but there is a new man in every
believer who cannot sin it's Christ who lives in me I am crucified
with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in
me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith
of the Son of God the faithfulness of the Son of God in all that
he did and accomplished for his people who loved me and gave
himself for me And he is given power, this new man is given
power to subdue the flesh. Just look over at verses 12 and
13 of chapter two. We'll come to them in future
weeks. But in verse 12, Paul writes, wherefore my beloved,
as ye have always obeyed, he's talking about obeying the gospel,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Now I used
to hear this preached like this. Right, you've been saved, here
it is, you've been given this gift which is called salvation.
Now it's over to you. You work it out. You make the
best of it as you can. No, it doesn't mean that. Look
at the next verse. Look at the next verse. Work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling. Why? For it isn't you, it's God,
which works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not
I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in
the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God. It is God
which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure,
subduing the flesh, that your conversation will be as becometh
the gospel of Christ. It's not easy making this clear. I hope, I hope my words are not
misunderstood. Salvation and all of its benefits
are entirely in Christ and in nothing whatever that we do.
We don't have an antinomian spirit and we know that there is a new
man and that new man is exalted. Subdue the flesh, put on the
new man, live in accordance with the knowledge that it is Christ
that lives in me. Amen.