SUNDAY NIGHT WITH EKURWE
4 September 2022
Philippians 1:27
“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 side by side, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.” (NLT)
God makes us pure by His sovereign Grace, but we have something to look after, this bodily life by which we come in contact with other people and other points of view; these are apt to tarnish. Not only must the inner sanctuary be kept right with God, but the outer court is also to be brought into perfect accord with the purity God gave us by the gospel. The spiritual understanding is blurred immediately the outer court is stained. If we are going to retain personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean that there are some things we must scorn to do or think and touch. The gospel of Christ can create abundant discernment as we try to please God in this polluted world of sin.
The gospel of Christ came with a standard and goal. It should be discharged having a common disposition and purpose. The word– conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ or let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ or simply rendered -your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, is loaded immensely. It does not merely mean our talk and conversation with one another; it means the whole course of our life and behaviour in the world. We should let our actions as citizens of Heaven and pilgrims through the world be such a manner that it be the gospel of Christ. When they call Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, you should be the fifth gospel.
What is all about this whole gospel?
The gospel is straightforward–so Christians should be simple and plain in their habits. There should be about our manner, speech, dress, and whole behaviour, that simplicity which is the very soul of Christian beauty.
The gospel is predominantly true– the gospel is the gold without dross. Christian life will be nothing without the jewel of truth. In the process of wanting to put a point across, some Christians even tell a flying story.
The gospel is fearless–it boldly proclaims the truth whether a man likes it or not. We must be equally faithful and unshaken, not ignorant, courageous and not displaying foolishness and calling it faith.
The gospel is very gentle– mark this Spirit in its founder Jesus Christ, ‘a bruised reed He will not break.’ Some Christians are sharper than a thorn hedge or thorn fence. Such men are not like Christ; let us seek to win others by the gentleness of our words and actions.
The gospel is very loving– it is the message of love to the lost and fallen race. Christ’s last command to His disciple was ‘love one another’ that love demands more tender compassion towards the soul of the worst and vilest of men.
The gospel of Christ is holy– it never excuses sin, it pardons it, but only through the atonement and finished work of Christ by faith, not by services or religious duties, not by good morals or works.
Our lives must resemble the gospel. We must prayerfully eliminate everything that would hinder our perfect conformity to Christ and His gospel.
For the sake of Christ, for our sake and for the sake of others, we must strive day by day to let our whole course of life fulfil what the full gospel of Christ requires. Amen
Keep a date with us next Sunday
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