Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 12

Paul Exhorts the Philippian Believers to Stand firm for 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; KJV

Despite Paul being confident in being freed from prison and returning to these Philippian believers, he still knew that he was not always certain of the will of God in every matter, therefore, Paul reminds them of who they are urging them with these words, “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). At the beginning of this verse the very long English phrase “let your conversation be” is translated by one Greek word politeuomai meaning a townsman or citizen; to behave as a citizen. Paul perhaps cited this particular word to these Philippians knowing that they would immediately get his exhortation seeing that they lived in and were citizens of the city Philippi, but they belonged to and were Governed by the Romans and Roman law, therefore, they were also citizens of Rome. In the same like manner, the Apostle Paul reminds these Philippian converts to Christ that though they are on the earth their true citizenship is now in Heaven with Christ where he sits at the right hand of God the Father (Colossians 3:1).

It was Paul’s desire to see them living as the new creatures that God the Holy Spirit had made them when they were born again. However, Paul knew that this would not occur by happenstance, but they needed encouragement and to be impelled to walk/live as citizens of Heaven and be reminded of the things of their past that they were to let go of as Paul said with these words written to the Roman believers, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:11-14). This Greek word politeuomai was used only one other time in the entire New Testament and it happened to be used by this same Apostle Paul speaking of himself when speaking to the Jewish Council after he had been attacked by the Jews in the Temple in Jerusalem and saved by God the Father using the Roman Commander of the Garrison to stop the beating and arrested Paul, this is what Paul said as recorded for us by Dr. Luke, “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived (politeuomai) in all good conscience before God until this day.’ And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?’ And those who stood by said, ‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ Then Paul said, ‘I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” (Acts 23:1-5).

Note: “The Church is to obey all of the rule of law of the earthly country wherein it is presently dwelling, however, when those laws are contrary to the Word of God (which is what the Church is Governed by according to its citizenship in Heaven), then the Church must obey God as was the testimony of the Apostle Peter when he and others were arrested by the Jews for preaching Christ, “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ But Peter and the other Apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.’” (Acts 5:27-32).”

Paul wanted them to honor the Gospel of Grace that saved them eternally from their sin whether or not they ever were to see his face again, because it was not Paul that they were to answer to, but Christ Jesus our Lord. The Apostle Paul knew that his time here on the earth would come to an end (perhaps soon), therefore, he wanted these Philippian believers (in his presence or absence) to stand fast. This English phrase “ye stand fast” Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word steko meaning to abide, continue, or remain; to be stationary, that is, (figuratively) to persevere. The stance is to be taken in the Gospel truth that only through Jesus Christ can sinful man be redeemed, reborn, and reconciled to God. This Paul wants each of the believers in Philippi to believe and fight for in their world despite their individual uniqueness, but they are to lay all petty differences aside and unit their minds and wills to this very cause of declaring the truth of the Gospel. Paul makes the point with emphasis by using the English phrase “striving together” which is translated by one Greek word sunathleo which means to wrestle in company with, that is, (figuratively) to seek jointly: - labor with, strive together for. Although they are individuals and each came to Christ individually, they are to work jointly for Christ sake and His Gospel of Grace throughout their world and beyond. The Gospel is to be proclaimed and taught as it was received from Christ Jesus given to the original Apostles as declared by Jude with these words, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3).

“Our ‘manner of life’ is all-important. In the open day and in the hours of darkness it must be worthy of the Gospel. We must show ourselves to be of a heavenly tone and temper, as citizens of that ‘city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.’ Lady Powerscourt used to say that she dwelt in heaven, but came down for a few hours each day to do her work on earth, returning home at night. Clearly, then, our dress, accent, and behavior should betray us as strangers and pilgrims who can well endure the discomfort of the inn or the troublous experiences of the place of our sojourn.” F. B. Meyer

“The meaning is, Play the citizen in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Paul does not, of course, mean, discharge your civic duties as Christian men, though some Christian Englishmen need that reminder; but the city of which these Philippians were citizens was the heavenly Jerusalem, the metropolis, the mother city of us all. He would kindle in them the consciousness of belonging to another order of things than that around them. He would stimulate their loyalty to obedience to the city’s laws. As the outlying colonies of Rome had sometimes entrusted to them the task of keeping the frontiers and extending the power of the imperial city, so he stirs them up to aggressive warfare; and as in all their conflicts the little colony felt that the Empire was at its back, and therefore looked undaunted on shoals of barbarian foes, so he would have his friends at Philippi animated by lofty courage, and ever confident of final victory.” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…