Citizens of God's Kingdom: An Exhortation to Dedication

When Paul wrote Philippians, he was in prison, awaiting trial. The outcome of that trial was uncertain, but Paul did have hope of eventual release--and he hoped, when released, to be able to visit with his friends in Philippi again. But that was secondary to something else, a hope that whether in prison or in person he would hear about them and hear that their “conversation [was] as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27) You've probably heard this before, but in the English of the 1600s, the word 'conversation' meant conduct, the way you live your life, while in modern English it has come simply to mean the way you talk. But the Greek word which is used here is very interesting. It means “To behave as a citizen.” (Strong, #4176) Philippi, as we saw before, was a free Roman colony and all those within it were Roman citizens. Speaking of the Roman colonies, Barclay comments: “The great characteristic of these colonies was that, wherever they were, they remained fragments of Rome. Roman dress was worn; Roman magistrates governed; the Latin tongue was spoken; Roman justice was administered; Roman morals were observed. Even in the ends of the earth they remained unshakeably Roman.” (69) What Paul is saying is that just as Roman citizens behaved like Romans, so citizens of God's kingdom should live “as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” This is the climax point of the chapter. Paul has already testified to the fact that the Philippians had been dedicated to the cause of the Gospel and that he was also dedicated to that cause. Now he gives a final exhortation that they continue in that dedication, continue living as citizens of God's kingdom.

There are two things he desires for them: (1) “That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” (v. 27b) This is another casual mention of unity, something Paul will begin talking about in earnest in the next chapter. The word striving literally means wrestling and has the idea of someone fighting or working with great intensity and exertion. They were to stand together, work together, even fighting together for the cause of God's kingdom.

(2) “And [be] in nothing terrified by your adversaries.” (v. 28a) The Philippian church had enemies. The church usually does. We don't know exactly who these enemies were and what kind of opposition this was--whether it was formal persecution coming from the government or a popular anger by the common people or a concerted effort of some particular group in Philippi. It may even have been a religious persecution from other religious groups. We learn from later in Philippians that there were false teachers spreading their doctrines in Philippi. Could they have been the source of this persecution? We simply don't know. Nor do we know just how serious the persecution was. But it existed and Paul's desire was that the Philippians would face it without fear, keeping their faith and trust in God even in the midst of persecution. He wanted them to stand firm no matter what happened.

The only way they could do this--the only way they could stand strong even when being persecuted--was because they had been saved by God. That is why Paul calls their courage in persecution an evident token of salvation from God. (v. 28) And in the same vein, it was a sign of the destruction of their enemies. In other words, the fact that they were standing strong in the middle of their persecution meant that God was on their side and if God was on their side, there was no question as to who was going to win out in the end.

Often, when we are called to suffer, we think of it as a punishment or at least as discipline. But Paul calls it a gift. “For unto you it is given... to suffer for his sake.” (v. 29) Strong defines this word given as “to grant as a favor, i.e. Gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue.” (#5483) Paul is telling the Philippians not to look at their persecution as a burden but as a privilege. God had put them in this difficult situation because He knew they could stand firm and would, therefore, have the opportunity to glorify God in an unusual way. (See Acts 5:41)

There is one reason why Paul could say something like that. The Philippians knew that Paul lived his life with the same attitude. In verse 30, Paul says they were in the same conflict or struggle that he had been in when he had been in Philippi. We should remember what happened to Paul in Philippi--he was publicly flogged and thrown into prison. That was the kind of thing he had experienced before there very eyes. Many of those who formed this church had witnessed Paul's beating in Philippi. The jailer, and perhaps some of his prisoners, were members of the church and knew about Paul's time in jail. They knew that Paul had suffered for the sake of the Gospel--they knew that by sight, by personal experience--and now they knew, by second-hand reports, that Paul was still suffering for the sake of the gospel, being in prison and awaiting trial which might result in further suffering or death. Paul had a right to give this kind of advice because he had lived a certain kind of life, a life of dedication. But the point to note is that phrase in verse 30: “Having the same conflict...”

It wasn't just that Paul had suffered and the Philippians had also suffered. They had experienced the same conflict; they had fought in the same battle; they were soldiers in the same army. As citizens of God's kingdom, they were bound together in the fellowship of the gospel. If you talk to most people about the word fellowship, they associate it with the idea of happiness and fun. And there is a joy that comes from fellowship and Paul will have more to say about joy later, but we have to keep in mind that this was also a fellowship of suffering; not suffering for its own sake, but for the sake of Christ. Because Paul and the Philippians were partners together for the sake of the gospel, they were also partners together in the conflict and persecution which came for the sake of the gospel. In the verses preceding this, Paul spoke of how he wanted to stand firm in his persecution and now he exhorts the Philippians to have the same attitude--to stand firm in the midst of their persecution, accepting it as an honor and a gift from God.