Conduct Becometh the Gospel – Philippians 1:27
Conduct Becometh the Gospel – Philippians 1:27
“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” (Philippians 1:27 KJV).
Disclaimer: if you have not trusted in Christ alone, this is NOT the article for you. Salvation and service are separate events and it is never good to mix salvation and service. Salvation is always by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, documented in the scriptures alone, so, the LORD receives the glory alone. Once a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation: 1. they are born again; 2. they are a child of God; 3. they are baptized into the Body of Christ; 4. and forever sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Now, once a person is a child of God, they SHOULD read the word of God and grow in grace in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This article is written for the believer in Christ alone, the person that has already been born again and knows they cannot go to Hell and are forever going to Heaven because Christ paid for all their sin.
When I read, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1 KJV), it makes me think about our testimony because our testimony matters. Jesus Christ died for ALL sin, He was buried, and He resurrected the third day showing all mankind that He paid a perfect sacrifice for ALL sin: THE GOSPEL! A person is saved by grace through faith in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ. Once a person is saved by grace, they live by grace through faith in Christ. A person can never earn their salvation, this is why Jesus Christ revealed Himself in the flesh and died for ALL sin of mankind. Salvation is of grace. Once a person is saved by grace, they are to live by grace through faith in Christ alone. If a person can never earn salvation, how can a person think they keep their salvation. Salvation is by grace and once a person believes, they are kept as a child of God by grace. None of us deserve to be saved, it is of God’s grace. None of us deserve to be kept saved for all eternity, it is of God’s grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV).
People do not go to Heaven because they are “bad” or “good.” A person goes to Heaven because they believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18 KJV). When a person believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they are born again and become a child of God forever. The privileged position of being a child of God is received by faith in Jesus Christ alone: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26 KJV). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 KJV). A believer’s eternal security is not based on their behavior; however, it is based on their permanent position in Christ. Either a person is a child of God or a person is NOT a child of God. A person is only a child of God if they believe the Gospel of Salvation: Believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for all their sins, buried, and resurrected for them. A person can only be born again one time (just like with your physical birth). The very second a person believes in the Gospel of Salvation, they receive eternal life. A believer’s eternal life is freely given to them as a gift when they believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, if a person cannot earn salvation by rituals, sacraments, traditions, and works of men, how can a person lose their salvation by a lack of rituals, sacraments, traditions, and works of men? A person cannot lose their salvation EVER! Remember, salvation is a free gift from God received by faith alone in Christ alone. Once a person believes in the Gospel, they become a child of God forever, they receive eternal life which can never be lost, forsaken, or forfeited. Once a child of God, always a child of God - all by God's amazing grace! Remember, if Jesus Christ’s death payment for sin, burial, and resurrection does not give a person eternal life the very second they believe, it does nothing for that person.
Why are the children of God left on earth and not called home immediately? Jesus the Christ came to seek and save the lost. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 KJV). Now it is our job, as a child of God to help seek and save the lost by sharing the Gospel of Christ with the lost. We are to preach the Word of God and share Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY for salvation to others: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:14-17 KJV). We believers should be confessing with our mouths to others that if you believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins and rose again, you will be saved. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10 KJV). With the confession of the mouth unto others, salvation is received by others because the Word of God does not return void: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). When you preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, people get saved.
After sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is important that we believers know and understand that our testimony matters -by our words and actions. While good works save no one, good works SHOULD be the result of trusting in Christ as Savior. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV). Paul said to the Philippian Christians that their conduct should be in keeping with the Gospel they had believed: “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” (Philippians 1:27 KJV). Our conduct matters, our testimony matters, what we say matters. Our conduct does not matter for our eternal salvation; however, it matters for others' salvation and this is why we are to “work out'' our salvation from sin's power (practical sanctification, living by grace) and not its penalty for sin (justification) so others can see Christ within us. We are to “work out” our salvation so we are blameless and harmless as children of God. We are to “work out” our salvation so others can see the light of Christ within us. We are to “work out” our salvation so others can hear about the “word of life,” which is ETERNAL LIFE! “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:12-16 KJV).
Once a person is saved, they are saved forever and can never lose their salvation. Jesus stated emphatically: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30 KJV). Does our eternal security give us permission to act like fools and live in sin? Absolutely NOT! Why NOT? Again, while I can’t lose my salvation, however, my conduct could impact whether others will believe or not believe in the Gospel of Christ.
God knows who His children are. He knows who has trusted in Christ alone for salvation because He knows who has believed His report which is: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV). God knows who His children are because He knows who have trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation; however, how does a man know we are His children? The man knows by our words and by our conduct because our faith is demonstrated by our works –our conduct becometh the Gospel. “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” (Philippians 1:27 KJV).
Let me be real clear on what I said and didn’t say. I said you are saved when you believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I said you are forever a child of God and can never lose your salvation. I said your conduct matters to give credence to what we believe and preach. I said my conduct does not impact my salvation because I am forever saved; however, my conduct does impact others’ salvation and this is why I need to live a godly life so I can be a stepping stone to Christ and not a stumbling block to others. I never said “if your saved, your life will show it” because that is NOT true. Believers still have the sin nature and will sin until they die. I said, your conduct matters, your testimony matters because it could impact your spouse’s salvation, it could impact your father’s salvation, it could impact your mother’s salvation, it could impact your brother’s salvation, it could impact your sister’s salvation, it could impact your child’s salvation, it could impact your friend’s salvation. God already knows if you have trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation; however, how does a man know if you are saved? It is by your testimony in words and deeds because your conduct becometh the Gospel of Christ: “...I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18 KJV).
The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith, not by works: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). But the very next verse says to those who have been saved by God's grace: ”For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV). Now that we are saved and forever a child of God all by God’s grace, let our conduct becometh the Gospel of Jesus Christ all by God’s grace. Let us become the salt and light of the earth so others can witness Christ Jesus in us so they can receive Jesus Christ for salvation.
If you made a decision to read the article and you are not saved, doesn’t it make sense to trust the only one who came back from the dead as your only hope of going to Heaven? Right now, tell the Lord that you believe that Jesus Christ paid for all your sins, He was buried for you, and He resurrected for you, and that you trust in Him to take you to Heaven when you die. When a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation, that person can know they are going to Heaven when they die because the Bible says they can know. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:13 KJV).
THE PLAN OF SALVATION - THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (past, present, and future), He was buried, and He resurrected the third day to show us the payment for sin is paid in full.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
God loves you. Lord Savior Jesus Christ was revealed in the flesh for one reason: to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn individuals. Jesus Christ comes to save us because we are all Hell doomed sinners without the Blood of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
All individuals are sinners. The payment for sin is death.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ died for your sin and resurrected for you.
II Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
If you believe in Christ alone, you receive eternal life.
John 6:47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I John 5:13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
If you could be “saved” by being water baptized, doing good works, be a good person, or following the Ten Commandments? Why did (the God from Eternity Past, the God from Eternity Future) the Ever Presence Jesus Christ reveal Himself in the flesh and die on the Cross and resurrect the third day? No church can reconcile. No sacrament can save. No work or tradition of men can redeem. Only Jesus Christ can save a person from a Hell they deserve to a Heaven they do not deserve -all by grace!
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If you could earn salvation by doing those things, then Jesus Christ died in vain. However, Jesus Christ did not die in vain. Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God, and only the Lamb of God can make a perfect sacrifice for sin. There is only one way to Heaven, and it is the belief in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 3:9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
The resurrection is proof God the Father accepted Jesus Christ’s death payment for sin -death payment of past, present, and future sin: ALL SIN!
People DO NOT go to Hell because they are “bad.” People go to Hell because they believe NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People trust NOT in Jesus Christ as their Savior. People believe NOT Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection. People do NOT trust alone in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
II Thessalonians 1:8-9: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Know that God is gracious to you. He has already died for all your sins (past, present, and future), He was buried for you showing all the world He died for your sins, and He was resurrected for you, showing all the world that Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Father asked Him to do: IT IS FINISHED! Your sins are paid in full. I pray you to believe in Jesus Christ right now for salvation -believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection. Trust alone in Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you know someone who is “not saved,” share the Gospel message with them or forward this message to them.
The Good News Voice is affiliated with The Grace Gospel Church. If you are looking for a Bible preaching, Gospel sharing, Body loving congregation, look no further. Join us in Taconite on Sundays at 9:30 am. The Grace Gospel Church is the first building on the right when you turn into Taconite. God bless, love Lance & Karla.
Pastor Lance Edminster
The Grace Gospel Church
The Good News Voice
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Once Saved, Always Saved -“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30 KJV).
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