THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSIBILITY

Part 3

Philippians 2:14,15

Our Responsibility in Showing the Reality of Biblical Christianity vs. 14,15

When the world comes into contact with Biblical Christianity what should they see? People need to see the product in action. We can’t very effectively persuade people to buy into a product if that product isn’t working for us.

1. Keep an uncomplaining life style v.14 (the key attraction of the believer)

The Greek words used here have to do with working out of your salvation in verse 12. This in turn involves taking the responsibility for developing your life with the LORD and your relationship with others – cf 2:1-4. Grumbling and disputings cover every area of your life and relationships – against others, against circumstances and against God. The point is that the believer is to be free from this noxious disposition.

• This involves accepting your station in life – learning to love others and live with them in the family of God. Learning not to expect too much of people.

• It also involves accepting the fact that God is the sovereign of your life. It involves refusing to become skeptical. It means that you don’t question God in the sense that you are not trying to match wits with Him. You don’t challenge the authority of God in your life. When you do this it overflows to others in the form of disputes that destroys the beautiful unity of the Spirit.

2. Becoming Children of God v.15

We are to become children of God characterized by blamelessness, sincerity and without fault. To be blameless does not mean to be sinless but without scandal. To be harmless doesn’t mean that you’re a wimp – but sincere. To be without fault mean there is nothing in your life to disfigure your testimony. So these terms do not imply sinless perfection. They refer to what you are before men in the world. Intrinsic holiness is the direction of your life, not the perfection of your life.

3. In the midst of a crooked and perverse generation v.15b

Cf Deut 32:5; Matt 12:39; 17:17; Acts 2:40; I Peter 2:9; II Timothy 3:1-5.

This is a generation that distorts and perverts true moral values such as abortion, politicians making money by exploiting their sin in a book, the killing and senseless beheading in Iraq, destroying the lives of other by gossip, homosexuality and adultery. The list could go on and on – but you get the point!

4. Among whom we shine as lights in the world. v.15c

Arch bishop Trench points out that the word used here is used for heavenly bodies. The message is clear. This world has no light of its own e.g the earth gets its light from the sun. Christians are heavenly bodies. The church is the only spiritual light in the world. When Jesus was in the world He was the light of the world cf John 9:5; 8:12. Believers are now the light of the world cf Matt. 5:14-16; I Peter 2:9.

We are not lights within ourselves – cf Eph 5:8. What is the characteristic of light? Light is honest. Light is non deceptive. Light truly illuminates. Note metaphorical use of light in Scripture:

Light is truth – darkness is error Ps 119:105,130; Eph 5:8; II Corinthians 4:4,6

Light is purity – darkness is evil

God is absolute truth and He is morally pure and perfect. In a sense the church is exactly

this.

The church is the representation of truth in this world of error and doctrinal perversion

cf I Timothy 3:5. The church is the representation of moral purity in a world where morality is perverted – Eph 5:3-9.

Responsible Christianity shows the world what Biblical Christianity really is.

God bless.