Audio - Our Citizenship is in Heaven
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The Twenty-Third Sunday After Trinity
November 11, 2007
Our Citizenship is in Heaven
TEXT: NKJ 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.
The twentieth verse of Philippians chapter 3 is a verse I quote often—today we
will consider the verses preceding it—and the verse following it—it is my
prayerful desire that every one of you will have strengthened faith by the
lesson of Paul’s teaching—we will examine the lesson verse-by-verse
TEXT: NKJ Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note
those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
Paul is writing to the Christians of Philippi—these Christians were being
badgered by the Judaizers—those who were self-appointed prophets—those who told
the Christians that they had to come back and obey the Law as they defined it—or
they would lose their salvation—those who preached their own gospel—not that of
Christ
Paul is teaching that there are many who claim to have the truth of the Word—but
they preach the foolishness of this world—not the wisdom of the Word of God—Paul
says “use me as your example”—not that Paul is the human example—but that Paul
follows the teachings of Christ—he is telling us to pattern our lives after his
life—he was obedient to the teachings of Christ right to the end of his life—we
must wake up each day giving thanks to God for another day to live in obedience
to Him—we must live each hour of every day for Christ—living in the
Word—obedient to the Word—we must not pursue the fantasies of those who preach
human doctrine
On Reformation Sunday I taught you what it means to be a Lutheran—how a Lutheran
follows the example of Martin Luther—a Lutheran wants to be like Luther—putting
God first in all things—praying for God’s Church and God’s people—this is
exactly what Paul is teaching—pick a good Christian example and follow that
example all the way to heaven—consider the other places Paul teaches this lesson
NKJ 1 Corinthians 4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my
beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I
have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17
For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son
in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in
every church.
NKJ 1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 2 Now I praise
you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just
as I delivered them to you.
Likewise Paul taught Titus—and us—how to live our lives as an example to this
world
NKJ Titus 2:6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things
showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity,
reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one
who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
TEXT: NKJ 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.
There are those who walk this earth ridiculing the things of God—because they
measure success in this world by a man’s accumulation of wealth or his position
in this world—in the end the things of this world are of no value—only the
things of God will benefit us on Judgment Day—consider the teachings of King
Solomon in his “preaching” in the Book of Ecclesiastes
King Solomon wrote of his great wealth—how he owned everything his mind could
imagine—had 1,000 wives—stables for 1,000 horses—a great palace—and on and on
and on—but in the end as he approached the end of his time on this earth—King
Solomon declared it all foolishness—the only thing that matters in the end is
our relationship with God
NKJ Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God
and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every
work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
Surely Paul understood the things that King Solomon taught—we must heed the
warning of Paul in his letter to the Galatians—Paul knows there is only one true
Gospel—yet many false messages claiming to be the truth of God—but these lies
will lead the listener to condemnation
NKJ Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called
you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but
there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But
even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we
have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I
say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have
received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I
seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of
Christ.
Many of the people Paul is writing in our text were Jews who heard the Gospel
message—they understood that Jesus died for their sins—that He was resurrected
the third day just as He said He would be—but the peoples were easily distracted
from the Gospel—they were quick to follow the message of human understanding of
the false preachers of the day
Paul admonishes these converted Jews who believed in salvation by the Law—Paul
tells them to hold fast to the one true doctrine received from the beginning—we
are not to be too confident of our own wisdom—we have no independent
authority—we have only the authority given by Scripture—we must guard against
pretenders who claim to have a superior doctrine
Paul knows these converted Jews and he wants them to understand true
salvation—he warns them of the dangers in trusting in their ability to live
according to the Law—look at what he wrote earlier in this chapter
NKJ Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit,
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also
might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence
in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a
Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the
righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me,
these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss
for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain
Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the
law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from
God by faith;
Paul knows that their knowledge of the Law hinders their ability to trust in
Christ—he’s asking them to totally change their way of thinking about
salvation—Paul knows that the Jews trust in the Law—it is difficult to make them
understand that true salvation is a gift of God!
These Jews did live righteous lives—they tried their best to be totally obedient
to the things of God—what chance do we have as Christians today?—we have little
concept of true righteousness compared to the Jews Paul is talking to
Remember, Paul is writing to people who know the Old Testament very well—they
live according to the Law—many believe that they have salvation simply by being
a Jew—Paul being a Hebrew’s Hebrew—understood well the plight of his people
Wars have been fought due to the “supposed” understanding—people shout and argue
about such things—few—if any—will be shouted or argued into heaven—to understand
what Paul is dealing with we must try to project ourselves into the situation
These people were told that they must give up their religious life to obtain
salvation—someone who announced himself to be a Jewish prophet tells them they
must return to the law—this parallels their original beliefs
Now Paul returns to say salvation is free—a gift from God—just for believing
Christ died for their sins--isn’t Paul asking the people to disregard the Ten
Commandments given them by God?—no—he’s telling them they cannot obtain
salvation with them—don’t ignore them because they help us to understand sin
TEXT: NKJ Philippians 3:20 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.
We are different—we are Christians—our hearts are transformed—we are the temple
of the Holy Spirit
NKJ 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that
the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God
will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Just as we are transformed or regenerated in the Spirit while in this world—we
will also be transformed into our heavenly bodies when we enter eternity with
our Lord in heaven—we will be glorified just as Christ was glorified
NKJ 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is
destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens.
NKJ Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will
appear with Him in glory.
We are no longer citizens of earth—the baptized Christian is born a citizen of
heaven through baptism—we should be mindful of this fact and walk here as if
native there
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!