MARKS OF A FAITHFUL CHURCH (Phil 1:27-30) A. Paul was in prison, in Rome, when he wrote the epistle to the Philippians.

1. He was facing a capital crime & there was a strong possibility that he would be executed. a. In our US Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. b. Rome didnt acknowledge a law like that; they didnt always allow religious freedom. B. So Paul wasnt sure that he would ever see the church at Philippi again, & so he wrote to them. 1. His main concern is stated in our text: Are you mature enough to withstand the resistance you will face as followers of Jesus Christ?
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[Thats the question we all face isnt it? The church in Philippi had been very faithful to the Lord, & Paul wanted it to remain that way, & so he reviewed with them the marks of a faithful church.] I. CONDUCT WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL

Phil 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ,

A. The word conduct is very significant. 1. Paul didnt use a word that just meant behavior, or the way in which one conducts himself. 2. This word (politeuomi) means to be a citizen. B. Philippi was a proud Roman colony; it was considered to be a miniature Rome. Roman colonies were established in 1 of 2 ways.

At first, Rome founded colonies around the edges of her Empire to keep peace & to guard against invasions. Veteran soldiers were even granted citizenship if they would retire to these colonies. Later, a city could become a Roman colony by proving its loyalty to Rome. The people in a Roman colony would learn to speak the language of the Romans as well as observe their customs & adopt their culture & dress styles. They refused to allow any other culture to infiltrate & influence their Roman culture. They were Roman colonists within an alien environment. 1. Does that sound familiar? Are we beginning to see why Paul used a word for conduct that meant to be a citizen? 2. The church at Philippi knew exactly what Paul was saying. a. They were citizens too, but of the Kingdom of Heaven (Phil 3:20). b. They were loyal too, but to the King of Heaven & His citizens (Phil 2:1-5).
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c. They spoke His language (Phil 2:14-16; 1 Pet 4:11; Col 4:6; Eph 4:29). d. They observed His customs (Phil 4:9; Acts 2:42). e. They adopted His culture (Phil 3:17; Rom 12:1-2). f. They allowed no infiltration of impure/unholy outside influences (Phil 3:17-19; 1 Cor 5:7-8). g. They understood they were living in Heavens colony surrounded by a polluted & dying landscape (Phil 2:14-16). [The first mark of a faithful church is that its members conduct themselves in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. And they do so because they are proud to be citizens of the kingdom of God. In such a church you will not find any trace of the language, culture & habits regularly found in the world.] II. STAND FAST IN ONE SPIRIT

Phil 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come & see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit [pneumati: God-conscious], with one mind [psuche; Selfconscious] striving together for the faith of the gospel,

1. There must be unity in our standing fast for the faith of the Gospel (1 Cor 1:10).
Phil 1:27 (NIV) you stand firm in one spirit, contending as ONE MAN for the faith of the gospel (NLT) standing side by side, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News

A. To stand fast means to stand firm, to hold ones ground. 1. The word indicates the determination of a soldier who will not move one inch from his post. 2. Christians are not to budge one inch from the truth of the gospel.
Jude 3 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. 1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called & have confessed the good confession .

2. We are a group of Christians that stand firmly in support of New Testament teaching & what that teaching demands of us (Col 3:17). a. But in doing so, this also means that we stand firmly against everything that is not taught in the New Testament.
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Denominational division Faith only salvation: baptism only symbolic Cannot fall from grace Instrumental music Gay marriage, homosexuality, pre-marital sex Woman in leadership roles Divorce for any cause & remarriage Institutionalism Sponsoring churches Church sponsored soc. & rec. programs.

B. Notice that we are to stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together.

[You know, we could improve our image in this community if we were to relax our standards & stop trying to hold our ground for the faith of the gospel, but then we couldnt be a faithful church if we did.
Finally, brethren, become complete (aim for perfection, NIV). Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; & the God of love & peace will be with you (2 Cor 13:11).

2. That tendency exists in every faithful church because faithfulness to Christ has always met with opposition (John 15:18; 17:14) opposition is simply tough to deal with on a day to day basis. a. Slander, Name calling, Shunning. B. But we are not to be afraid of our adversaries; rather, we are to be courageous. 1. Persecution (putting to flight) is a sign that the persecutors are doomed to destruction (28). 2. Persecution is also a sign (indication) of our own salvation from God (28). 3. So rather than something to be terrified by, persecution is a privilege (29; Acts 5:41; 1 Pet 4:16). 4. Enduring persecution ourselves will strengthen other Christians when their time comes (30).

A faithful church would rather have the love & peace of God than the approval & accolades of man.] III. COURAGE IN SUFFERING & CONFLICT

Phil 1:28-30 not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, & that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me.

A. Maintaining a faithful congregation has always been a very difficult thing to do. 1. Because there is a tendency to give-in to social pressures & conform to the world (religious culture).
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CLOSING A. How do we measure up? Are we a faithful church of Christ? 1. Is our individual conduct worthy of the gospel? 2. Do we stand fast in one spirit striving as one man for the faith? 3. Do we have enough courage to endure the suffering brought on by persecution? [I trust that Paul could have written this letter to us!]