Is Christ Your Life?

Two weeks ago we looked at living a holy life because God is holy and He commands us to be holy (1Peter 1:15-16). Last week we looked at “perfecting” or achieving holiness by cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1). In these evil days, we must strive to live a holy life that is separated from this world.

The influences around us, to live as the world lives, are strong and we know that ultimately it is God who will sanctify, or separate, us from this world. Without Him, we cannot live a holy life, but with Him all things, pertaining to salvation and holiness, are possible. He has given us ALL THINGS that pertain unto spiritual life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us…and please don’t take that verse out of context.

Don’t try to apply it to achieving your dreams, if your dreams are anything other than being holy and like Christ…if your dream is to make a name for yourself in this world, or to make a lot of money and live a life of ease…don’t use Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”), or Matthew 19:26 (“…with God all things are possible”) to try to motivate yourself to achieve anything other than a life pleasing to God. To do so is to take the word of God out of context and render it useless. There are many professing Christians who do so. Do not be one of them.

“Don't pursue a dream and ask God to bless it. Pursue God and be

blessed with all spiritual blessings.” 

~ Joey Newell

                A life that is holy; a life that is separate from this world is a life like Christ’s. Is that what you want? Do you want to be like Jesus Christ? Is Christ your life? …what your life is all about? Whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do…do you do it all for the glory of God? Jesus did.

                If you are saved this morning, remember… “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Romans 8:29. If you are saved, you have been predestined to be made in the image of Jesus Christ. He will perform it! He is Sovereign…yet, let us not forget that we still have a responsibility before God to live a holy life.

                This morning, let us gain some wisdom and encouragement from the Apostle Paul, as we read from his Holy Spirit inspired letter to the saints in Philippi…and to the saints at Bible Baptist Church in Rising Star, TX.

Philippians 1:1-24

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

                Paul and Timothy are writing to the believers who were living in the city of Philippi in the region of Macedonia, or the north western portion of Greece. Philippi is believed to be the first place in Europe where the Apostle Paul preached the gospel around 50 A.D. My understanding is that there was no major Jewish population here. There was no synagogue…just Gentiles who had been elected unto salvation by God before the foundation of the world. Paul had a most definite fondness in his heart for the people of Philippi.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

From his first visit around 50 A.D. until this letter, which was written around 62 A.D, Paul had a very close relationship with the Christians in Philippi. Think about those fellow believers in Christ you know, who are dearest to you. You may not see them often, but when you do, the fellowship around Jesus Christ is sweet…and every form of communication you have with them (phone call, email, text message) is especially dear and encouraging to you. That is what this letter was from Paul to the Philippians.

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he (God) which hath begun a good work (faith in Christ unto salvation) in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 Even as it is meet (approved of God) for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense (a reasoned argument) and confirmation (establishment) of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace (God’s divine influence in the heart and its reflection in the life).
8 For God is my record (witness), how greatly I long after (desire) you all in the bowels (with the greatest passion) of Jesus Christ.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment (moral discernment in ethical matters);
10 That ye may approve (recognize as genuine after examination) things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere (pure) and without offence (not troubled by a consciousness of sin) till the day of Christ;
11 Being filled with the fruits (works) of righteousness (integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting), which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

We must understand that living a holy life…a life of integrity, virtue, purity, rightness, and correct thinking, feeling and acting, only can come by Jesus Christ as our life is being transformed into His image. One of the most difficult parts of this “holy life” is that the Lord works at His own pace, as He pleases. It is not instant. He is a master craftsman and He takes His time. We have to keep that in mind as we long to be like Him. We can’t allow ourselves to get discouraged when we don’t progress as we think we ought. At the same time, we can’t use the slow rate at which we are being transformed as an excuse to indulge in sin. We are responsible to pursue holiness.  Also, we have to keep this in mind as we look at others and think to ourselves they are not progressing as we think they should…

                Paul wants his beloved fellow believers to realize that his imprisonment by Rome and all his trials and tribulations was resulting in God’s intended purpose…the furtherance of the gospel.

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto (resulted in) the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest (made known) in all the palace ("head-quarters" in a Roman occupied land, the living quarters of the commander-in-chief), and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident (being persuaded) by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy (to lead away a Christian church from that state of knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide) and strife (contentious debate); and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention (for the purpose of splitting people and getting some on your side), not sincerely (honestly with no hidden agenda), supposing (thinking it will) to add affliction (distress) to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense (a reasoned argument) of the gospel.
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense (simply for show), or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Paul rejoiced that the gospel of Jesus Christ was being preached, regardless of the intentions of those doing the preaching. That is one reason why we can rejoice even when an armenean preaches the gospel, even when we don’t fully agree with their ending statements…at least they are preaching Christ and Him crucified.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor; yet, what I shall choose I wot (know) not.

Paul is saying that as long as he lived in his fleshly body, the work which he had set out to do was to live Christ and preach the gospel! For me to live is Christ… Have you been brought to the place, today, where you can say that? Is Christ your life? Is He your everything? Is He what motivates you to do what you are doing?

                I’ve had to ask myself hard questions like… Why do I correct my children when they need it? Is it because I don’t want to be embarrassed by their bad behavior and I want you to think I am a good father? …or is it because I want to point them to Christ?

         

Why do I go to work every day? …is it because I want you to think I am a good provider for my family? …or is it because it is my duty before God in Christ to provide for them and I want to bring Him glory?

If He is not my reason for living…if He is not your reason for living, then we must pursue Him until He is…that is holiness! That is what this life is all about for the Christian…for God to conform us into the image of Christ. It is not for us to chase our dreams. It is not for us to amass our wealth. It is not to gain power over others. Our life is to be like Christ. Is Christ your life? Paul was so given over to Christ that as long as he was alive, he lived for Christ…

23 For I am in a strait (pressed between two opposing sides like a calf in chute) betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better (for Paul):

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

                Do you desire to be with Christ beholding Him in all His glory? …not so you can escape all the trials of this life, but so you can behold His glory. I do. However, like Paul, at the time he wrote his letter to the Philippians, it was more needful for them that he remained on this earth to encourage them to pursue after Christ. It is more needful for my family and for you that I am here to encourage you. When I have accomplished all that God has predestined by to accomplish…and He has completed His work of conforming me into the image of His dear Son, He will call me home…which is FAR better!

                I want to encourage you to pursue Jesus Christ in holiness until you are in His presence, beholding Him face to face. Nothing this world has to offer will come anywhere close to bringing you the joy you will get when you look into His eyes and see the One who shed His own blood for your soul and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”