Conducting oneself in a manner worthy of the gospel is a concept that the apostle Paul emphasizes in Philippians 1:27. In this verse, Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi to live their lives in a way that is consistent with and honors the gospel message they have received. The gospel, meaning the “good news” of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, should be the guiding principle for how Christians think, speak, and act. So what exactly does it look to live a life worthy of the gospel?
1. Living in unity and harmony with other believers
One key aspect of conducting oneself worthily of the gospel is living in unity and harmony with fellow Christians. Paul tells the Philippians, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). He emphasizes the importance of standing firm together, being unified in spirit, and striving together for the common mission of advancing the gospel.
As believers in Christ, Christians are all part of the same spiritual family. Though they may have differences, they share a common faith and identity in Jesus. A life worthy of the gospel, then, is one that prioritizes unity with other Christians and avoids unnecessary divisions, conflicts, or dissension within the church. Christians are to be diligent to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). This demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel to bring diverse people together in Christ.
2. Courageously standing for the faith
In addition to unity, conducting oneself in a manner worthy of the gospel involves courageously standing up for the faith. Paul commends the Philippians for “standing firm” in the faith, which indicates a commitment to holding fast to the gospel even in the face of opposition or adversity. The Christian life is often described as a fight or battle. Paul says later in Philippians 1:30, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” There will be suffering and conflicts associated with living as a follower of Christ.
But part of a life worthy of the gospel is enduring these challenges with courage, conviction, and unwavering faith. It means holding fast to the truth and not compromising core doctrines or moral principles under pressure. Christians are called to “contend for the faith” (Jude 1:3). This requires boldly speaking up about the gospel, defending the faith when necessary, and standing firm even when it’s unpopular.
3. Living a life of holiness and obedience
In addition to how we relate to others, a life worthy of the gospel should be marked by personal holiness and obedience to God’s commands. Paul says in Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” This calling is to be set apart from the sinfulness of the world. Just a few verses earlier, Paul provides more details:
“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity” (Ephesians 4:17-19).
In contrast, Christians are called to righteousness, “putting off the old self” and “putting on the new self” (Ephesians 4:22-24). This means actively fighting sin and temptation, keeping our hearts and minds pure, fleeing from sexual immorality, and walking in obedience to God’s will. Our actions should align with our new identity in Christ. As such, a life worthy of the gospel is a life of personal holiness in keeping with God’s standards of righteousness.
4. Imitating and glorifying Christ
At the heart of conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel is glorifying and imitating Christ himself. To live worthily of the gospel is to embrace the purpose for which Christians have been saved – to magnify Christ through thought, word, and deed. Paul says in Philippians 1:20, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” His deepest longing was that whether in life or death, Christ would be glorified and honored through his life.
Moreover, a life worthy of the gospel means patterning our lives after Jesus’ example. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” As disciples of Christ, Christians are called to follow his model of love, mercy, righteousness, compassion, generosity, humility, and service to others. In this way, others see Christ living through us. Our lives become living testimonies of the transforming work of the gospel and bring glory to God.
5. Using our gifts and abilities for God’s purposes
An additional aspect of living worthily of the gospel relates to how we use the unique gifts and abilities God has given each of us. Paul addresses this directly in Romans 12, where he urges Christians to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God and to use their gifts faithfully:
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6-8).
Part of honoring the gospel is stewarding well the unique talents, passions, and spiritual gifts God has apportioned to each of us. Using them for His purposes and glory – whether through ministry, serving others, giving generously, leading diligently, or extending mercy – allows us to magnify Christ. This gives practical expression to a life worthy of the gospel.
6. Making Christ’s priorities our own
One final mark of living in a manner worthy of the gospel is embracing the priorities and mindset that characterized Christ’s life and ministry. As Philippians 2:5-8 reminds us, Jesus perfectly exemplified qualities like humility, sacrifice, compassion, and service to others. He submitted Himself fully to the will of the Father and was obedient unto death for our salvation. As Christians, we are called to “have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). This means humbly considering others more significant than ourselves, looking not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
It means esteeming the things Christ esteemed – reconciliation, truth, righteousness, justice, mercy, faithfulness, and the will of God. And it means being willing to sacrifice, suffer, and endure hardship for His sake and for the advancement of the gospel, just as Christ did for us. When our priorities align with His – seeing eternal perspectives, loving others, pursuing holiness, and glorifying the Father – then we are conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.
7. Summary
In summary, to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel means:
- Pursuing unity, harmony, and common purpose with fellow believers
- Standing courageously for the faith even amid opposition
- Living a holy life distinct from the sinfulness of the world
- Imitating Christ’s example of love, humility, and service
- Using our unique gifts and abilities for God’s purposes and glory
- Embracing the priorities and mindset displayed in Christ’s life and ministry
In all things, our lives should point to the life-changing power of the gospel and bring honor to Christ. This involves both personal holiness and public witness. Believers are to live out the character of Christ and shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15), holding fast to the word of life. When the gospel transforms our thinking and behavior, our lives become living testimonies of God’s grace. This brings glory to Him and serves as a witness to the lost around us. As Paul stresses, living worthy of the gospel is essential to advancing the very gospel message itself in the world.
