Practicing Christlikeness | Sunday, November 14, 2021

For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you... (2 Peter 1:12–13)

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27)

When the culture breaks down, the question every believer must answer is: how shall we then live?

The Call to Equip the Saints

Over the last several months I have said this frequently, but it is worth saying again: myself and the other leaders on our leadership team are called to the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. I reiterate this truth as a reminder for myself as much as for you.

Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1 that he would not be negligent to remind the church of these things, though they knew them, because as long as he was in this body he would stir them up by reminding them. I don't plan on leaving or dying anytime soon, but it is good for me as a pastor to remind you—and to remind myself—of our purpose and call.

These words from Ephesians 4—that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are given for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ—are the very words God used to call me into the ministry back in January of 1999. When I was asked if I would begin teaching a Bible study here, those words from Ephesians 4 are what God spoke to me. They have an important place in my own life, and they should be important to every leader within the church.

How Leaders Drift From Their Call

In nearly fourteen years as senior pastor, there have been times I have lost sight of this clear call, even though it is the passage that brought me into ministry. Many pastors get distracted from their primary task of equipping the saints. We can drift into thinking our call is to build the church—but building the church is the Lord's work. He said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16). It could not be more explicit.

We can also drift into thinking our call is to plan out people's Christian lives, to be a kind of spiritual guru directing all their activities. Or we drift into thinking we are spokesmen on behalf of God to the culture, or the spiritual fix-it man who must right every wrong and solve every problem. In reality, we can begin to take on the task of being God or being the Holy Spirit in people's lives—but that is not the task to which God has called us.

Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 4 that these leaders are given for the equipping of the saints. If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ, you are what the Bible calls a saint. The leaders are here to help you become ready to do the work of the ministry God has called you to, so that the church may be built up unto maturity in Christ—united, made one in Him.

The Grief Over a Divided Church

As a pastor, I am somewhat grieved and discouraged by the state of the church in our world today. This is not unique to me; I've had a half dozen conversations with other pastors in just the last few weeks expressing the same discouragement. We, the church, are not united, and our division reveals the extent to which we may still be immature and carnal.

If church leaders were wholly committed to the call of Ephesians 4:11–12, perhaps we would be more mature and more united at this cultural moment. I'm not talking about some ecumenical movement uniting all the churches of North County San Diego; I'm talking about the division and immaturity within individual local churches. That should be discouraging to us.

This grief has been the basis for my teaching through much of this year—the First Things First series laying a foundation for reasonable faith in God, and the Disciplines of a Disciple series. Now I want to add a kind of postscript answering a question posed by the apologist and philosopher Francis Schaeffer, which became the title of a book and a video series: How Shall We Then Live?

A Culture in Breakdown

I recently spoke at a men's retreat up north in Santa Cruz on this very topic. It is a far bigger question than I can fully address in two weeks, so I'll likely return to it. But I want to share what is important for us as Christians living in an increasingly post-Christian and non-Christian culture.

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when you could generally expect people to treat you civilly, ethically, and morally. That expectation arose because Western culture—the United States, Western Europe, Australia—has for the better part of the last millennium and a half been enculturated under a generically Christian worldview. We speak of a Judeo-Christian underpinning: our values, principles, ethics, and morals are linked back to the Christian Scriptures.

But we are witnessing the breakdown of civility, ethics, and morality. This is not unprecedented; those who lived through the 1960s and 70s saw a similar breakdown. And when it happens, there is always a reaction. One current reaction sociologists call "the big sort"—people uprooting their families and moving to other regions and states to find more like-minded people. Much of that movement is a response to the breakdown of civility in our culture. In the midst of all this I keep asking: what should my response be as a Christian? And my response must be informed by the Scriptures.

Paul's Outlook: To Live Is Christ

This brings me to my favorite book in all of Scripture, Philippians. Paul wrote this letter nearly 2,000 years ago to a church facing an increasingly antagonistic culture, and Paul himself was facing challenges—he was a prisoner in Rome facing political opposition, unsure what would come next. We call his letters from this period the prison epistles. He wanted to return to Philippi but recognized it might not come to pass. Eventually he was released, but he later returned to prison in Rome and was beheaded as a martyr around A.D. 66.

According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20–21)

Those are powerful words—the attitude of a man of faith and faithfulness. Paul desired to be released, and even told the Philippians he expected to be, by their prayers and the supply of the Spirit. But whether he lived or died, his hope was that Christ would be exalted in his life. That is the mindset that allowed him to say, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ," and to tell the Philippians, "Brethren, join in following my example... for our citizenship is in heaven."

What Is Your Outlook?

So as you sit watching this message, troubled perhaps by your own situation, ask yourself: what at this moment is your outlook? As you look at the chaos of the last twenty months due to Covid, the intractability of the big problems our culture faces, the inability of politicians to solve them, the rising prices—the consumer price index went up 8.6% over last October—the problems in business and the economy, the racial tensions we are constantly told about—all these things weigh on people. Are you hopeful or are you hopeless?

The answer to "how shall we then live?" differs significantly depending on your outlook. Is your confident expectation that Jesus will transform your lowly body to be conformed to His glorious body (Philippians 3)? Or are you hyper-concerned and burdened by everything in this world? Paul's confident expectation was in the Lord and in the eternity he would have with Him. He knew his citizenship was in heaven and trusted that death was not a finality but a transition.

I want to suggest that one reason so many in Western culture are so fearful because of Covid is that they have no hope of being with the Lord in eternity, no citizenship in heaven. If your only hope is this world, you will be massively affected by downturns and pandemics. But if your outlook is Paul's—my citizenship is in heaven, and God will transform this lowly body—that totally changes how you live.

The Same Outlook in the Hall of Faith

Paul's circumstances were dramatically more troubling than yours and mine; he was not sure he would live another year. Yet his mindset was not unique to him. Last week Pastor Mark spoke on Abraham in Genesis 22, and Abraham and all the men and women of faith in the Old Testament had the same confident expectation. This is the foundational sentiment of those listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance... for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God... These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth... But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. (Hebrews 11:8–16)

Their focus was not on this life but on a city whose builder and maker is God. They sought a better, heavenly country. By faith Abraham, when tested, offered up Isaac, concluding that God was able to raise him even from the dead. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Enoch—all of them had the very mindset Paul had: this world is not my ultimate home; my focus is on what God has promised me in eternity. And because they had that outlook, it affected how they lived.

Faith Determines Outlook, Outlook Transforms Conduct

So how shall we then live? This is key: my faith determines my outlook, and that outlook alters my mindset and transforms my behavior. I put my trust in Jesus Christ just as Abraham did—"Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). When I put my faith in Christ, I now have a certain hope of a great future, and it changes my mindset and conduct in this world.

In Philippians, Paul is writing to equip and transform the church. Reading carefully, it becomes clear the Philippians had issues—immaturity and division—just like our churches today. There is no perfect church, but God wants to transform us. That is why this book has application for us at this moment.

That brings us to Philippians 1:27: "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ." Right now we live in the gap between justification and glorification—the gap of sanctification, where God wants to transform us. Practically speaking, our conduct ought to be characteristically Christlike. As God works in me by His Spirit, and as I work out my salvation with fear and trembling, I ought to align with Christ's character and will.

If you don't know what that practically means, it's an indication you need to get to know Christ from His Word. The Scriptures reveal God's nature and His will. If I want to know what I ought to look like, I need to read the Scriptures and learn what Jesus is like.

The Hallmarks of Reputable Conduct

Paul expands on what he means by conduct worthy of the gospel. He says we should stand fast in one spirit, be like-minded with one another, work together for the faith of the gospel, and—in verse 28—not be intimidated by opposition. So at least included in conduct worthy of the gospel are unity of spirit, unity of mind, and a unified labor together.

This is a consistent theme in the New Testament. Christians are to work toward maturity and oneness in Christ. As Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13). So why are so many church leaders discouraged right now? Because the dominating characteristics of the local church are not the characteristics of maturity, oneness, and love.

About the same time he wrote Philippians, Paul wrote to Ephesus:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. (Ephesians 4:1–6)

The hallmarks of mature Christian love are humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and unity. Paul highlights these same things as he continues in Philippians 2:

Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:2–4)

I'll resist jumping into those words now—we'll look at Philippians 2 next week. But you can see the connection. Maturity is far less about how much Bible you know, how gifted or talented or wealthy you are, or how big a risk of faith you take. Maturity in Christ is far more about humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, unity, and love—which connects directly to the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, longsuffering.

Working It Out Practically: TIPS

Let me bring this home to something uber-practical. As I shared a few weeks ago, it is God's desire that we be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the Scriptures, so that we display in our daily lives what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1–2). God has given us tools to make transformation more likely—the body of Christ, prayer, and the Word of God.

I taught you a method for using God's Word in daily life: TIPS. The T is the truths—the principles Scripture teaches. The I is examine myself in light of those truths. The P is pray in light of how I've examined myself. The S is step out with the Spirit's help to walk these things out.

So here are the truths from Philippians: the hallmarks of Christian maturity are humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, unity, and love. The Scriptures establish that plumb line of doctrine. Then I examine myself: How well am I doing with humility? With patience? With bearing with people I disagree with? With being unified and at peace with my brothers and sisters in Christ?

If I find I'm out of alignment, then I pray. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). God, forgive me for being arrogant, unkind, lacking self-control. Then I make supplication: God, give me Your patience, Your self-control, Your love in this situation; help me to be at peace with the people in my life.

Finally, the S—I step out with the Spirit's help. This week, who do you need to talk to and apologize to for your impatience or arrogance? Who do you need to be reconciled to after being separated by anger or frustration? Paul says to bear with one another in love—so maybe you say, "God, help me by Your Holy Spirit's power to reach out to that person this week so I can walk in righteousness." The Word of God is useful for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, so that I can walk in rightness before the Lord.

Shining as a Light

This is what it looks like to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling as God works in you to will and to do His good pleasure. So how shall we then live? Conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. You may know the Bible very well, but if you are not walking in a way that honors God according to His Word, you are out of alignment, and God calls you to confess it. He will forgive and cleanse you—but His aim is to transform us, so that we live in a way that honors Him in a world of chaos.

It may be that the world simply continues in chaos until the Lord calls us home. In the midst of that we need to be a bright shining light of those who have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, gentleness, and self-control—the fruit of the Spirit. May God cause these things to abound in our lives this week.

Closing Prayer

Father God, I pray for us, Your church, and for some who are watching who have not yet trusted in You. Lord, draw them by Your Spirit, that they would put their trust in You and experience Your justification, have the hope of glorification, and begin to experience the work of sanctification in their lives. And I pray for the church listening to this message—do a work by Your Spirit and by Your Word of transforming us more and more by the renewing of our minds, that we would display in this world what is that good and acceptable and perfect will. Lord, do a work in Your church, we pray. Cause us to shine brightly in the dark time in which we live. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.