Where Is Your Citizenship ?
Introduction:
“No one imagined that Charles Dutton would have achieved
anything, for he spent many years imprisoned for
manslaughter. But when someone asked this
now-successful Broadway star of The Piano Lesson
how he managed to make such a remarkable transition, he
replied, ‘Unlike the other prisoners, I never decorated
my cell.’
Dutton had resolved never to regard his cell as home.
Christians, too, accomplish much in this world when they
don’t accommodate themselves to it, but instead are
‘longing for a better country – a heavenly one.’ ” (Hebrews
11:16)
“But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly
country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
Text:
Philippians 3:17 – 4:1
Theme:
To examine ourselves to see where our citizenship is
Body:
I.
Looking Out
A.
For those who imitate Christ
Philippians 3:17
“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those
who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”
NKJV
Readers
were urged to join with others in following the apostle
as he imitated Christ. (I
Corinthians 11:1)
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”
NKJV
Fix your eyes
on those who were living the Christian life; carefully
observe how they talk and how they act, their manner of
life. By considering their pattern of godliness, it
would greatly aid them as well. We learn by watching
others [Example: sports]. (Titus
2:1-8)
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for
sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent,
temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the
older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior,
not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good
things – that they admonish the young women to love
their husbands to love their children, to be discreet,
chaste, homemaker, good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise,
exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things
showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in
doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is
an opponent may be shamed, having nothing evil to say of
you.”
NKJV
B.
For those who are the enemies of the cross of Christ
Philippians 3:18-19 “For many walk, of whom I have
told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they
are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is
destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory
is in their shame – who set their mind on earthly
things.”
NKJV
Paul contrasts two groups of people:
·
Those who show they are friends of Jesus by their godly
example
·
Those who are His enemies, who hate and oppose Him and
His teachings. He had mentioned these before in
Chapters One and Three. Some may have been Christians
who had left the faith. Paul was not very tolerant
of these people – not ecumenical, not like many in the
Lord’s church today who endorse anything or anyone that
claims to be Christian. It grieved him to see what
these men were doing., He then described them:
1.
End is destruction – Their fate was eternal
separation from God in the fires of Gehenna. What made
matters worse was that they, by their example and
teaching, would take many with them into hell.
2.
Whose god is their belly – They were only
concerned with pleasing themselves and their desires.
This would include those ‘Judaizers’ in the first
part of this chapter and also any among us who are more
concerned with having our so-called ‘needs’ met or
fulfilled. (Galatians
6:12-13)
“As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh,
these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they
may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For
not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but
they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast
in your flesh.”
NKJV
3.
Whose glory is in their shame – What these
enemies were glorying in was actually shameful. (Galatians
6:14)
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world.”
NKJV
Many,
even in the Lord’s church boast that they are so loving
that they would accept into fellowship and tolerate sin
that Christ wouldn’t even Himself. This glory is
actually shame.
4.
Set their mind on earthly things – They
continually think about physical things. “Eat, drink,
and be merry for tomorrow we die.” Just opposite of
Colossians 3:1-2.
“If
then you were raised with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right
hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on
things on the earth.”
NKJV
Yes, we need to observe those who walk after the Spirit,
and imitate them. But also watch out for those who walk
after the flesh and make sure we do not listen or follow
after them.
II.
Looking Up
Philippians 3:20
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also
eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
NKJV
Paul contrasts faithful Christians with the enemies of
Christ. The latter belong to an earthly kingdom – the
former to a heavenly one. Philippi was a Roman colony
and enjoyed the right of Roman citizens. As citizens of
heaven, we enjoy some rights as well – fellowship with
saints. (Ephesians
2:19)
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and
members of the household of God.”
NKJV
If
your citizenship is truly in heaven, then this world
should feel alien. You should not feel at home here.
(Ephesians
2:6)
“and raised us up together, and made us sit together in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”
NKJV
Like an ethnic group living in a foreign city, the
church should have a unique identity in the town.
The Savior will come. We should eagerly anticipate His
return. (Acts
1:9-11)
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they
watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out
of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly
toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by
them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee,
why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so
come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ”
NKJV
III.
Looking Forward
Philippians 3:21
“who will transform our lowly body that it may be
conformed to HIs glorious body, according to the working
by which He is able even to subdue all things to
Himself.”
NKJV
When Christ
returns, He will transform our lowly body, change the
form of our body of humiliation, the body we have in
our current humble or low estate. Our body will be
changed into one like His, the same or similar in
form, a glorified body. (I
John 3:1-3)
“Behold what
manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we
should be called children of God! Therefore the world
does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved,
now we are children of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is
revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as
He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies
himself, just as He is pure.”
NKJV
(I
Corinthians 15:42-44)
“So
also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown
in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown
in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in
weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural
body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a
natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
NKJV
By power Christ possesses, He is able to accomplish this
great act of transformation. This is the resurrection
from the dead that Paul looked forward to as we should
as well.
Philippians 4:1
“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy
and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”
NKJV
Conclusion:
In view of this coming resurrection and the
hope we have in Christ, let us “stand fast in the Lord”
and continue to have strong convictions and be willing
to subject ourselves to His authority.
Invitation:
Where is your citizenship today? Is it in
heaven or on earth? Are you eagerly anticipating His
return or dreading it? (Revelation
22:20)
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am
coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord
Jesus!”
NKJV
Bobby Stafford April 28, 2019
Series on Philippians: Lesson 9
