There is something about the worth of the Gospel that is greater than any threat we can face, physically or otherwise.

For us personally, I believe that God called us to Ukraine, and the conditions where we live should not change God’s calling in our lives. This morning, I want to talk with you a little bit about the worth of the Gospel in our lives. We all make decisions based on what we think is worth it, what we value in our lives. The thing we value most, above all else, is the one thing we will always be willing to sacrifice for, compromise for, give our time, energy, efforts, money, resources, and strength to.

Today, I want to talk with you about living a life worthy of the Gospel. What does it mean to live a life worthy of the Gospel? How do the truths of the Gospel change the way I relate to others, make decisions, and react to problems?

The Apostle Paul helps us to understand:

Philippians 1:27-30

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Introduction to the Text

Before we look at the details of this text, let’s talk about the context. Paul is writing to the church in Philippi, a church he knows well. They were worried about him because he had been arrested and put in prison. Paul tries to calm them by telling them:

Philippians 1:12 NIV: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”

Amazingly, Paul sees his imprisonment not as something that hinders him from preaching the gospel but as something that aids it. Paul experienced many difficulties in his life, but one thing always remained the same: his commitment to Christ and to the Gospel. Paul was so committed to Christ that even the threat of death could not keep him from serving Christ.

When Paul was in Philippi (Acts 16), he was attacked by a mob, beaten severely, and thrown into prison. But this didn’t stop Paul. The Philippians personally witnessed his commitment to live for Christ and to preach the Gospel. So when Paul wrote to them, they knew it was true!

Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Yet, Paul knew that he would go on living for a while to serve the people he loved. The truth is that Paul was more worried for the Philippians. He says:

Philippians 1:30 NIV: “since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

From what Paul says here, it seems like the same people who persecuted Paul were now persecuting the church in Philippi. Some of their church members may have been beaten or put into prison. It was a difficult time for the church, and Paul wanted to encourage their spirits and strengthen them in the faith so that they could endure the persecutions and remain faithful to Christ.

What is the Gospel?

Before we move on, let me answer one question: What is the Gospel?

Answer: The Gospel is literally “good news.”

Mark 1:14 NIV: “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.”

The good news is that Jesus came as Savior and Lord. He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. The good news is that God will forgive and give eternal life to everyone who puts their faith in Christ!

The Gospel is good news of victory over sin, forgiveness, and new life in Christ. It is the best news. The Gospel is valuable; Jesus paid the ultimate price to save you and me from our sins and from eternal punishment. Thus, when we talk about living “worthy” of the Gospel, we are talking about living worthy of the price that Jesus paid for us when he died on the cross. This is no small thing! To live worthy of the Gospel is to live like Jesus and to live for Jesus. It is to love others like Jesus; it is a willingness to sacrifice as Jesus did! A life worthy of the Gospel isn’t a way to earn salvation but rather a means to show your gratitude for all God has done for you!

9 Ways to Live a Life Worthy of the Gospel

In light of this difficult context, let’s take a deeper look at what Paul means when he tells the Philippians to live “worthy of the Gospel.” Paul gives us nine ways to help us ensure our life is worthy.

1. Make the Gospel an Unchanging Factor in Your Life**

Notice how Paul begins this text. He doesn’t say: When the weather is nice, when you have a good sleep, when you have money to pay the bills, when you feel like it, when others are watching, or when you are at church.

No, Paul says “Whatever happens.” Before our life can become worthy of the Gospel, we must establish one thing. What place will we give the Gospel in our life? Will we add the Gospel to everything else in our life? Will we simply place the Gospel on top of everything else that we believe in?

“Whatever happens” is an all-inclusive statement. It doesn’t allow room for excuses. Oh, how we love excuses, especially when we don’t want to do something. We say, “I couldn’t do it because a friend called me,” or “I’m not feeling so well today, I’ll try tomorrow.” The Gospel is unique because there can never be any circumstances in this world that would make it impossible to live out the Gospel.

– Every time a loved one betrays you, it is an opportunity to show more grace.
– Every time you are tempted to sin, it is an opportunity to submit yourself to Christ.
– Every time you face danger, it is an opportunity to pray.
– Every time you face the unknown, it is an opportunity to trust God, who knows everything.
– Every time you are persecuted for your faith, it is an opportunity to share the reason for your faith.

The Gospel is unique because only the Gospel can grow stronger in our lives no matter the circumstances. To live worthy of the Gospel, we must first change our perspective on the circumstances of life. Difficult circumstances are no longer excuses for sinning but rather opportunities for greater Gospel power in our lives.

If you want to live a life worthy of the Gospel, make the Gospel the unchanging factor in your life. All other aspects of life change. Our emotions change, our finances change, our relationships change, our bodies change. The Gospel doesn’t change; the Gospel is eternal!

2. Allow the Gospel to Change Your Life**

Now I want to focus your attention on just one important word here: “conduct.” The Greek word Paul uses here might be familiar to you: πολίτης (polites). This refers to someone who is a citizen of a country or city. The idea is someone who fulfills his duty as a citizen, who lives up to the requirements of the laws in his country, and who takes his responsibilities as a citizen seriously.

When you repent and put your faith in Christ, you become a citizen of God’s heavenly kingdom, and you have a responsibility to live up to that citizenship. Citizenship is more than just a document that proves which country you belong to. A true and good citizen will also serve his country in real ways.

So, too, our faith is not just some confession that we repeat. Our faith in the Gospel ought to change the way we live. Paul says that we are “ambassadors of Christ.” We have a great responsibility to live out the Gospel, to make it real in every aspect of our lives. Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand how the Gospel should change their behavior. However, it’s very simple if we just look at it in two ways:

– The Gospel Means Living Out the Example of Jesus**

Let us look at how Jesus lived, how he served, how he related to other people, how he loved, how he sacrificed. This is our primary example of Gospel living.

– The Gospel Means Living Out the Core Gospel Truths**

The core truths of the Gospel are simple: truth, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love.
– Do you tell the truth?
– Are you gracious to others?
– Do you forgive quickly?
– Do you love those who don’t love you back?

These are examples of how the Gospel changes our conduct.

– The Gospel Means Living Out the Teachings of Jesus**

Finally, we can simply look at the concrete teachings of Jesus and of the Bible. Our conduct should match these teachings.

Philippians 1:10-11 NLT: “10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

3. Give the Gospel Great Worth**

Not long ago, I read about an old woman in her 90s who lived in Northern France. She was preparing to sell her very ordinary home and get

something smaller and easier to maintain. When the appraiser came, he noticed an old religious painting above her kitchen stove. After examining the painting, he urged the woman to get the painting looked at by an art expert. This woman had owned th...

What Is The Gospel Worth to You? | Sermon