The Context

The apostle Paul was writing to the church (to the saints in Christ Jesus) in Philippi. And he was writing to encourage them in their walks of faith in obedience to the Lord because of their partnership in the gospel of Christ. And what was the gospel message that Paul preached? He preached that salvation from sin, by the grace of God, is not free license to keep on living in sin and disobedience to God, but it is deliverance from addiction to sin so we now serve our Lord Jesus in obedience to His commands in daily living.

Philippians 1:9-11 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

“9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

The Grace of God

For the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await our Lord’s return for His faithful bride (see Titus 2:11-14). We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

Jesus Christ gave His life up for us on that cross to deliver us out from underneath our addiction to sin (to redeem us) so that we would now serve Him with our lives in obedience to His commands in holy living. This is not to say that we will be absolutely perfect in every way, or that we will never sin again (see 1 John 2:1-2), but that, as followers of Christ, we are to be those who deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self and to suffer for righteousness’ sake) and who obey God (see Luke 9:23-26).

Philippians 1:27-30 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

“27Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel, 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

In a Manner Worthy

As followers of Christ we are to be those who conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of (fitting to) the gospel of Christ. And the gospel of Christ teaches us that we must deny self, die to sin, and obey God in life practice. So if we contend for the faith of the gospel, then we must be those who are standing strong on the biblical teachings with regard to what is taught is the gospel of our salvation and what God requires of all of us who profess His name. For not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Matthew 7:21-23).

And we are to stand strong on the truths of what the gospel of Christ teaches even if we are being opposed by others who profess the name of Jesus because they are accepting a cheapened and altered gospel message as truth when it is a lie from hell. For so many are being taught, and they are believing, that they can profess faith in Jesus Christ but that nothing else is required of them – no repentance, no change of heart and mind resulting in a change of behavior, and no obedience to God’s New Covenant commands. And so they continue in their sins while claiming Jesus as Lord.

But we must continue to stand strong on the truth of the gospel taught all throughout the New Testament writings, when taught in their correct biblical context. We must not be afraid to face opposition and criticism and false accusations against our character. Yes, we will be in the minority. Yes we will be opposed, sometimes strongly. Yes, we will be rejected and abandoned and criticized and ignored by those who are accepting a gospel which does not require that we forsake our sins and obey God in practice. But we must persevere in getting to the people the truth which will save them from hell.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Test and Prove What is Best
An Original Work / September 15, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Who Believes?

Based off Isaiah 53
An Original Work / October 3, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Gospel message, who believes?
Jesus Christ died on a tree,
Saving us from all our sin,
So we might be cleansed within.

Had no beauty found in Him,
That we should desire Him.
Man of sorrows, suffering;
Crushed for our iniquities.

Surely He has borne our griefs;
From our sadness, brings relief.
Bore the stripes; forsaken, He,
So forgiven we might be.

We, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us turned his own way.
Jesus calls, “Repent today;
My commandments, now obey.”

Jesus said, to come to Him,
We must die to all our sin.
Crucified with Him, we live,
Walking in His righteousness.

Suff’ring servants, we will be,
Taking His identity on us,
When confessing Him
As our Savior, Lord and King.