Life live out grateful for the love of Christ
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. Philippians 1:27-29 From the text, the Apostle Paul urged Christians to be true to their faith. They are called upon to walk worthy of the gospel. The admonition from God’s word was due to the fact that Christians are grateful for the life they received from God. Paul was never short of expressing his gratefulness for the salvation he received from God. Nothing is more liberating for Christians to understand that Christ freed them from a life of sin. Because of what Christ has done, Paul responded to live “in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.” People without accepting the gospel which is Christ suffered, died and resurrected from the dead, are spiritually dead and without hope. As soon as they receive the gospel and trust Jesus alone for salvation they are not only made alive but are also adopted to become children of God. “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). The Christian life will stand as a testimony of God’s transforming power. The enemy will be relentless and the goal is to frustrate the children of God to live out their life in Christ. But the life of Christ within should prevail for they are no longer enslaved by sin. Paul, knowing that he was radically transformed by the sacrifice of Christ will be motivated to live his life for the glory of God. He will not denigrate what Christ has done by living sinfully as if life had not been changed. If you have really accepted the love of Christ then do not resist what His Spirit will do to transform your life. It would be foolish for you to not submit to His working for that is His way for you to experience the life that comes from Him and He wants that life to flow through you. What He asked in return is that you will not dishonor His life working within. The way you live your life ought to be an acknowledgment of the matchless grace your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has granted you. “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy” (1 Peter 1:14-15).
Blessings,
