The Token of Belief or Unbelief

“Only let your conduct be as becomes the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and terrified in nothing by your adversaries. For this is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.” (Philippians 1:27-28)

This is where the rubber meets the road. Our conduct is the evidence of the heart condition. As a new Christian, this may wobble some, but it’s because we don’t know all the Word, all of God’s promises and have little or no knowledge of the Lord. There is also the fact that there is much sanctification needed. In other words, the flesh is still exerting its muscles. We must recognize the flesh desires as sin, repent and confess them in order for the Holy Spirit in us to gain us victory in those areas.

How long before our conduct is naturally reflecting the Gospel? That depends on us. It depends on our obedience to the Word we read, our obedience to the urging of the Holy Spirit and our quickness to abandon the flesh urges. In reality, to completely reflect the Gospel is a lifelong process of victory in the battle between the flesh and the spirit. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do.” (Galatians 5:17) Even Paul who is considered the epitome of Christianity suffered with the flesh. “For that which I do, I know not. For what I desire, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do. If then I do that which I do not desire, I consent to the law that it is good. But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I do not find. For I do not do the good that I desire; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. But if I do what I do not desire, it is no more I working it out, but sin dwelling in me.” (Romans 7:15-20) Paul clearly shows that it’s his desire to do good, but his flesh at times wins.

Paul writes to the Philippians that he will know about their conduct even if he’s not there with them. And that is true always. People watch us especially if they’ve heard we’ve had a religious experience they don’t understand. They will watch to see if what they’ve heard is true. They’ll watch to see if there is a true change in us. And those who belong to the family of God also watch. We watch and pray for the new Christian’s growth and devotion. The Holy Spirit also opens our eyes to see where prayer is needed. And as Paul prayed, we also pray. “For this cause we also, since the day we heard, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every work and increasing in the knowledge of God, being empowered with all power, according to the might of His glory, to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:9-12)

Paul mentions that our Christ like conduct is “...an evident token of perdition” to our adversaries, those who do not belong to Christ. Whether we’re aware of it or not, the Holy Spirit in us is recognized spiritually by those who do not belong to Christ. And they will oppose us, oppose our words and oppose our actions, whether obviously or obscurely. The spirit in them opposes the Spirit in us. They may feel convicted or guilty and will react to us. But to us, the Holy Spirit in us is a token or stamp of approval before the Great and Mighty God, not because of our Christ like conduct, but because we have accepted Jesus, His saving work on the cross and forgiveness and eternal life as a child of God. “For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

To sum up, our conduct reflects our heart condition. We all wobble in our Christ like behavior as we obey the Spirit who indwells or the flesh. Our Christ like behavior is evidence of our belief and evidence to those who don’t belief of their condemnation.