Sunday, October 20,
2019 pm
STUDIES IN
PHILIPPIANS (23)
Our Citizenship is In Heaven
Philippians 3:20-4:1
In our lesson tonight, Paul concludes his encouragement here by
contrasting where we stand with those just mentioned.
He speaks of our citizenship being in heaven.
a.
What is the idea of
citizenship?
The KJV uses the word “conversation”.
The actual word in Greek (πολίτευμα,
politeuma)
is a word associated with
citizenship or commonwealth.
Bear in mind that Philippi was a Roman colony and as such they
enjoyed the privilege of citizenship in the Roman Empire, and it was a
privilege. Those born in
that city were citizens.
Even though they were not in the city of Rome, or even Italy, they
enjoyed privileges of citizenship.
Think of that in comparison to Paul’s point in this text.
b.
Our citizenship is in
heaven –
in scripture we are reminded of the fact that this world is not our
home. We must never forget
this as we endure whatever it is we must endure.
Ephesians 2:19 – we are fellow citizens with the saints and members of
the household of God.
Philippians 1:27 – let your conduct be worthy of the gospel.
The word for “conduct” is the verb form of our word in our text.
Paul was saying, Act life citizens of heaven and of the gospel.
1 Peter 2:11 – Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims…
Hebrews 11:13 – “These all died in faith, not having received the
promises…they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
Hebrews 12:22-23, the writer encourages these brethren to continue to
follow the better way in Christ and described it with various terms of
endearment to encourage us to look to something better.
Matthew 19:28-30, even Jesus spoke of those who left houses and earthly
things and relationships receiving eternal life.
Even Colossians 3:1-2 points toward this idea when Paul says, “Set
your mind on things above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of
God.”
c.
What does it mean to
be citizens of the kingdom of heaven?
i.
Recently, as I prepared for this
lesson, I came across an article (Focus Magazine, by Russ Bowman, July
31, 2017,
https://focusmagazine.org/the-blessings-of-citizenship.php
) entitled the blessings of citizenship.
In that article the following observations were made.
ii.
We have a new
homeland
– we are looking forward to heaven.
A place Jesus described, as did other writers.
It is a place where there will be no more sorrows or tears, no
disappointments, no sin or evil, not even temptations that so burden us
in this life (Revelation 21:4, 21:27-22:5).
I think of Hebrews 11:13-16, where many to whom promises were
made looked for something better “on the other side”, and God had
prepared such a place for them.
iii.
We have access to our
King –
what a blessing to know that our King knows each of us personally and He
has acted in EACH one of our best interest.
Not only did He die on that cross to give us access to
forgiveness and hope, we have a King who intercedes for us – Hebrews
4:14-16,7:24-25; etc.
iv.
We enjoy His
protection as our King
– Good leaders
protect their citizens, or at least they try to.
Jesus, our King, provides ultimate and everlasting protection.
He offers us escape from temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13); 1
Peter 3:12 – He hears our prayers; 1 John 4:4 tells us that He is
greater than he (the devil) who is in the world.
v.
We enjoy His
provisions as our King
– again there are
promises. While the world
doesn’t understand, we are promised that we will be taken care of.
Matthew 6:33. And
while His message is sometimes abused by proclaimers of the health and
wealth gospel, He has made many promises to provide for us nonetheless.
We just need to understand what we REALLY need (cf. Matthew
6:19-20 – where is your treasure?).
vi.
We are part of a
community
– we are a
“brotherhood” (1 Peter 2:17,
5:9). Jesus purchased the
church with His own blood (Acts 20:28).
We have noted that this was a part of God’s plan from before the
world began (Ephesians 3:10-11).
This includes the local church (congregation).
It is a way for us to be with and help each other.
We assemble to worship God, BUT we are also edified in the
process. What a blessing
that is, and how tragic that so many seem to diminish its importance.
a.
Are we actually
waiting on our Lord to return?
i.
There are many who do
not want Him to return yet – usually for worldly or materialistic
reasons – they want to see some more things, they are not right with
God, etc. Chances
are, if that is the case – we are loving the world more than we should
(cf. 1 John 2:15-17).
ii.
Recall how Paul was
ready to depart. We
addressed that in Philippians 1:21-24, and we do know WHY Paul wanted
the Lord to delay. But He
was ready – 2 Timothy 4:6. 1 Corinthians 16:22, in concluding remarks,
Paul notes, “O Lord, come!”
iii.
The point is, are we
living too much for the gratifications of this world?
b.
Who will transform
our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body
– We look at this world and think, there HAS to be something better.
That is a common theme of hope for Christians.
Be reminded again of 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1 – we think of our
light affliction.
What are going to be like?
We may not know exactly, but here Paul notes it will be as the Lord’s
body. Recall how when the
resurrected Jesus appeared, it was glorious.
It WAS His body, but it was different!
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 notes how when we are raised we will be
changed.
John said it this way, 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.
(1 John 3:2-3)
How many of us anxiously await that transformation?
c.
According to the
working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself
- perhaps much could be said about this, but we summarize – HE
WILL WIN!
God is in control and what will happen to this world, is His will – 2
Peter 3:10 warns us that the day of the Lord is coming and all things
will melt.
a.
They were Paul’s “joy
and crown” – we have noted in times Paul how Paul cherishes the brethren
in various places. They are
the source of his joy and his victory.
They are a source that gives him the drive to keep going.
b.
So stand fast in the
Lord, beloved – DON’T QUIT!
1 Corinthians 16:13, etc.
And thus we see reason behind Paul’s actions, including his sacrifices.
And we see his encouragement of these struggling brethren to
endure, even in the face of difficult times.
Satan wants nothing more than for you to give up – on God, the
world and even yourself.
But you cannot do that.
Whatever we face in this life, God knows!
And if we in Him, when that time comes, it will be worth it.
How about you? Where
is your citizenship?