Series: Philippians
Sermon: “Citizens of Heaven”
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Pastor John Bright
Philippians 3 “17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 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: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.”
4 “1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”
Why do I have the right to vote in the upcoming Presidential election? Because I am a citizen of the United States.
Why do I have the right to vote in the upcoming election for the US Senate? Because I am a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia. (I hope everyone knows the difference between a state and a commonwealth.)
Why do I have the right to vote in the upcoming election for the 5th District Congressional seat? Because I am a citizen of Mecklenburg County.
Why do I have a responsibility to vote?
Why do I have a responsibility to vote for values, like life and liberty?
Why do I have a responsibility to vote for women and men who will continue uphold the freedom of religion?
Why? Because I am a Citizen of Heaven. That’s what I will talk about today because Paul is using political language to explain to the Philippian Believers that they have new citizenship – the same new citizenship as Paul. Here in these verses, we read that Paul – AGAIN – uses himself as an example.
Paul’s Example
“17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 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: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”
I said “again” because we have already heard Paul doing the same thing in this letter several times:
They are both suffering for Christ – Phil. 1:29-30
They can both put the interest of others before self – 2:4
They can both reject confidence in the past – 3:1-11
They are both running the race with an eye on the finish line – 3:15
Now, in verse 17, Paul is specifically urging the Philippian Believers to look to him and to other Believers who walk as he walks. What is Paul NOT DOING HERE? Paul never tells them to do everything he does. He never tells them to travel and be arrested and incarcerated. That would be ridiculous! I have often told folks to never want to be where I am in your spiritual walk because I don’t want anybody to go through what I have been through – years of alcoholism and addiction – years of using others to get what I wanted in relationships – years of pain from being sexually abused by a friend of my older brother. Do you get the picture? I walk with Christ today as a Mature Believer in large part because of the freedom from bondage that I am offered and I have been willing to press into that freedom by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The only reason Paul can seek their willingness to follow his example is because his goal was to be like Christ – 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”
So far in Philippians, Paul has offered several measures of Maturity in Christ:
Knowing the difference between right and wrong then doing what is right – Philippians 3 “18 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: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”
Being weary of false teachings – Philippians 3:2 “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!”
False teachings can come from anywhere – handout on Critical Race Theory.
Seeking unity in the Church - Philippians 3 “15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”
Shine as God’s representatives to the world – Philippians 2 “14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
The maturity of our walk is essential for where we have our citizenship.
We are Citizens of Heaven
“20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.”
4 “1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”
When Paul was writing to the Philippian Believers, they were living in a Roman Colony. That meant they lived under different laws that those of their own country. Paul is giving them insight into a whole new set of laws that they must live under because of a whole new citizenship.
For two thousand years, the Church has struggled to understand how we live in this world – a material world – US – Virginia – Pittsylvania County – and at the same time God’s Word declares this truth – Ephesians 2 “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
In the latter half of the 17th century, a common man wrote a story, an allegory, about our journey toward our heavenly home. This book, The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, has been translated into over 200 languages. It follows a common man, named Christian, who struggles in this fallen world. He struggles under the burden of all his sins until they are forgiven and he sees beyond this world. We convey this truth with that statement I have used before- We should be in the world but not of the world.
As Citizens of Heaven, we posses the gift of Eternal Life. I say gift because it can’t be earned by you or me because it has already been purchased by the blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. One portion of that Eternal Life is here – on this earth – where we all experience pain and heartache. You see, being a Citizen of Heaven does not deliver me from the difficulty but that citizenship can deliver me from the root of bitterness that so often infects us in this life when we suffer and need someone to blame.
Unless Jesus comes back first, each and every Citizen of Heaven will experience the death of his or her physical body. Just remember the promise of 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” When we transition to that next part of Eternal Life, it will be as spiritual beings (who we really are) rather than physical beings. While lots of folks have ideas about taking activities from this physical world to Heaven, the Bible offers a different description. The Book of Revelation reveals pictures of worship in Heaven that goes on and on with no end. That’s a tough sell for Carnal Christians that complain whenever worship here lasts longer than an hour! This is what John records as worship in Heaven:
Revelation 4:8 “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Should our worship also be praise of God for who He is and what He has done? Absolutely, and our worship need not be confined to one day or one hour a week!
Paul reminds the Philippian Believers there is even more after that. For all of them and for all of us there will be another time of physical existence – we have the promise of resurrection - “…we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body,…” The end of the Book of Revelation contains a description of the New Jerusalem that descends from Heaven to the Earth. At this point, our world is transformed to what it was before. This is a reversal of the Fall in Genesis 3. Revelation 22 “3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”
Until that day comes and until we transition from this place to our Heavenly Home – what should we do? Paul told them to “stand fast in the Lord” in verse 4:1.
One of the great struggles in our day is the difference between the rights and duties of US citizens. We all have the right to protest. I have peacefully protested to protect the lives of unborn children many times and will again. Today we are seeing protests turn into riots. While citizens have right to protest, we also have a responsibility to follow the local and federal laws. Burning and looting stores is illegal. I have the right to make a fist, but have a responsibility not to hurt you with it. We have right and responsibilities.
It’s the same as Citizens of Heaven. Paul often warned the New Testament Believers that their freedom from the religious and ceremonial law of the Old Testament did not excuse them from the moral law. To stand fast, first and foremost, meant they looked to God’s Word for guidance. They could also look to mature Believers as examples. We have God’s Word and those who have gone before us in the faith. How we live our lives makes a difference to those who follow us in the faith.
I have said it before and I will say it again – the World is watching. Do they see us as Sunday-Only Christians? Do they call us Hypocrites behind our backs? Are we reflecting the Light of Christ into the dark places in this World, dare I ask, even into the darkness of our Church?
So, until Jesus comes back… until we have gathered around the throne of God… until there is a New Heaven and a New Earth… until then, we are Citizens of Heaven that enjoy our rights and attend to our responsibilities with great joy. Amen.
