Paul wrote, “In this way, in this manner, stand firm in the Lord” (1b). His command to stand firm in the Lord is based upon his exhortation in Philippians 3:17-21. In verses 17-21, he urged them to imitate and keep their eyes on those who honored and pursued Christ and Christlikeness in their lives. He also reminded them that their citizenship is in heaven, and they are awaiting Christ’s return from heaven. So, they would stand firm in the Lord as they imitated those who pursued Christ and Christlikeness in their lives, and as they remembered that their citizenship is in heaven.
We, as believers and followers of Christ, are to stand firm in the Lord in the same way. We also live in a world that rejects Christ and his gospel, a world that lives in rebellion against him. You may think such a description is too strong. Scripture describes all unbelievers as enemies of God, who live in rebellion against him. It doesn’t matter whether or not the rebellion is outwardly combative. It is rebellion nonetheless.
Earlier in this letter, Paul had told the Philippians he desired to hear that they were “standing firm in one spirit” (Phil. 1:27b). This was one of the ways they would ensure that their manner of life was “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27a). Paul had exhorted other local churches to stand firm, as well (1 Cor. 16:13; Gal. 5:1; 1 Thess. 3:8; 2 Thess. 2:15). In spite of the sinfulness of the unbelieving world around us, we as Christians are to think and live in a Christlike way. What does that mean exactly? Christ obeyed the Father’s will. So, if we are to be Christlike, we must obey the Father’s will. God’s will is found in Scripture. So, to be Christlike is to think and live biblically. Brothers and sisters, we are living in a society which is reaping the harvest of seeking to deconstruct all moral, ethical, and spiritual standards from our Judeo-Christian heritage. The Judeo-Christian ethic and morality upon which this nation was founded have been attacked, villainized, redefined, and removed. This has been done so that people can do whatever they want, in defiance of the law of God. They will be judged by the Lord, according to his law, and they will be found guilty.
Knowing this, brothers and sisters, you must be on guard against the worldly philosophies driving education, causes, and practices in this world. They are under-girded by a pagan worldview and morality. This pagan, secular, humanistic worldview has replaced the Judeo-Christian worldview once in place in the United States. So, ask yourself, what the most championed causes of the day are. Why are these the causes? They are efforts designed to further deconstruct and throw off a biblical worldview and morality. We know how things are going to turn out in this world and in human history.
Listen to Jeremiah 2:12-13, “Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” If you subscribe to these secular, humanistic, pagan philosophies and worldview, you are trading the fountain of living waters for broken cisterns, trading the Lord for worldly philosophies. Brothers and sisters, let your view of the world, humanity, and the outcome of history come from Scripture.
Psalm 2 tells us, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’ I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” They are fighting against the Lord, his Anointed, and his law.
In the face of all this, Christians are to remain steadfast in the faith. We are to stand firm in the Lord.