Philippians 1:27-30
27 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, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
27 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, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
How we live matters. Our testimony of behavior reflecting Christ in us is of secondary importance to glorifying God by living in ways which please Him. This willing obedience to imitate Christ and others who imitate Him is what allows us to see clearly God’s hand gripping us forever in His grace and to then stand firm in Him. We then strive to keep and share that faith in God’s work in and through us, not fearing those opposed to Christ and us, but in our suffering and persecution proving our salvation to our enemies. The life of a follower of Christ is faith and suffering, though the sufferings should not be because of our sin, but the conflicts should be due to our testimony of His judgement and grace resolved through the gospel.
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