Post by Fletch on May 23, 2009 22:51:53 GMT -8
Philippians 1:27-30 KJV
27 Only let your conversation1 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.
1 Modern Translations use the word Conduct or Manner in place of Conversation. Irregardless of the word used the intent remains the same. The way we interact with fellow Christians is the same way we as the Gospel of Christ are to interact with the world.
What does that mean to the Christian? It means we as the children of God must act as Christ would act. It means when a situation does not line up with our Christian beliefs we must do what we can to change them. Sometimes we will have to work behind the scenes to affect a change. Other times we may have to act as Christ acted when the money changers desecrated the Temple with their thieving ways.
As Paul tells us in these passages when we stand fast, when we're not terrified by our enemies they will know we are not afraid of our loss as we are saved and not destined to spend eternity in hell. As Christians we have the Salvation of Christ and as long as we stand in His Glory, even though we will suffer for our beliefs, how much more has Christ suffered for us?
But, we have Christ's promise that even though we will suffer for our beliefs, that we should not allow the fear of suffering overcome us. Because just as Christ did we to will over come this world.
27 Only let your conversation1 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.
1 Modern Translations use the word Conduct or Manner in place of Conversation. Irregardless of the word used the intent remains the same. The way we interact with fellow Christians is the same way we as the Gospel of Christ are to interact with the world.
What does that mean to the Christian? It means we as the children of God must act as Christ would act. It means when a situation does not line up with our Christian beliefs we must do what we can to change them. Sometimes we will have to work behind the scenes to affect a change. Other times we may have to act as Christ acted when the money changers desecrated the Temple with their thieving ways.
As Paul tells us in these passages when we stand fast, when we're not terrified by our enemies they will know we are not afraid of our loss as we are saved and not destined to spend eternity in hell. As Christians we have the Salvation of Christ and as long as we stand in His Glory, even though we will suffer for our beliefs, how much more has Christ suffered for us?
But, we have Christ's promise that even though we will suffer for our beliefs, that we should not allow the fear of suffering overcome us. Because just as Christ did we to will over come this world.