Gospel Citizenship

Introduction

Well, good morning! If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Philippians chapter three…we’re gonna do our best, this morning, to get through this chapter. It’s actually a parallel to how Paul ended chapter one where he talks about standing firm…he reminds them, the Philippians, of their citizenship…he talks about the destruction of their enemies....he reminds them of their salvation. And listen, he does all that again in the passage that we’re gonna read and dig into this morning. It’s a reminder of our gospel citizenship…how the gospel unities us together in our citizenship…in this new family we’re called to…as believers, we’re all sons and daughters of God. We belong to Jesus.

And listen, while Paul’s main theme of Philippians has been unity…there’s been some other themes that we’ve seen, right? We’ve seen the idea of joy. Paul, over and over again, he’s told us to rejoice…to be glad…to rejoice in the Lord! But he’s also reminded us of what’s to come…that God will complete in us what He started…that He’ll deliver us from this world…that we’ll join Jesus in a physical resurrection…that we don’t belong here…he constantly reminds us that our destiny, its found in the physical presence of Jesus. And if you remember last week…that’s why we run, we long to be with Jesus…we long to be like Jesus. It’s our aim, our desire…and what we’ll see this week is that it’ll determine our actions and our mindset…how we worship. Our view of the end…the weight we put into the coming of Jesus…our destiny, it determines everything else about us. It determines how people view us.

You know…one of the most frustrating things I see today is when a young athlete or a movie star or someone with some kind of influence…it’s frustrating when they don’t use their platform to serve as a role model to those that look up to ‘em…right? Guys, as a sports fan, it’s makes me so mad when a young man who has all this talent and influence…when they do dumb things. It makes me mad because there’s kids out there that see what they do and they just wanna emulate everything that athlete says or does, right? All those guys think about is themselves…how much money they make…their achievements…they’re never focused on the end of their career…they don’t care how others view them. I mean it’s kind of an example between the world and the church…But every once in a while, you get these guys…and they just care. They understand their platform....they understand their influence....they get the impact they make. For me, it’s why I love Drew Brees as a Saints fan…I know he’s not perfect…but he’s a prime example of someone who’s used his platform in a good moral way. He didn’t make things all about himself.

But listen, do you know the difference between the two different types of people? It’s their focus…what they’re focused on. Those that misuse their platform…its only about themselves…it’s about their success…its about their fame…it’s about the here and now for those guys. But those that make a positive impact…it’s about how they can use their success all for others…and listen, their focus is on the end, constantly…Drew Brees was the way he was because his focus was always on the end of his career. You understand what I’m saying? He’s gonna be a Hall of Fame quarterback and his focus was always right there. It was always on the end and on the legacy he’s gonna leave behind.

Guys, for us…as believers, it has to be the same…if we’re gonna run this race well…the race we talked about last week, we have to have the right focus. Our focus determines everything else.

And as we come to our passage this morning, Paul shows us exactly how it impacts us. And so, if you’re there with me in Philippians chapter three…let’s stand together as we read what Paul wrote. Verse 15 says, “15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Thank you, you can be seated.

Listen, as we dig into these verses together, there’s a series of contrasts that Paul gives us between believers and those that live within the world. He gives us some benchmarks…some indicators as Christians…There’s four of these in this passage…1.) Our Walk: How we live, 2.) Our Mindset: How we think, 3.) Our Worship: What we desire, and then finally 4.) Our Destiny: Where we’re going.

And so, let’s look at these four things together.

1.) Our Walk: How Do We Live? (vv. 17-18)

Look at our passage again…Paul gives us a contrast in our walk. And listen, the question I wanna ask you as we dig into this is…how do you live? That’s the first application here.

Look at verses 17 and 18…you see the word “walk” in each of these verses, right? First he says, “17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” And then in 18, he says, “18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Notice here, Paul says, “…walk according to the example you have in…who?” In us, right? He’s not just talking about himself here. If you remember…putting things in context…Paul’s been giving us example after example.

In chapter 1, Paul gave us his example. He talked about his circumstances...his outlook on his situation, how Christ was using all those things to advance the gospel...In chapter 2, Paul gave us the example of Jesus…he gave us an example of humility…And then later on in the same chapter, he talks about Timothy and Epaphroditus…he gives us an example of selfless service and risk taking love…And listen, at the start of this chapter, Paul shows his reader how the gospel changed him…how it’s taken hold of him…hows its transformed everything about him. He says, “I’m not perfect…I’ve not yet arrived…I’ve not obtained what we all seek…but I press on towards the prize…I press on for the goal of the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

He gives us example after example…and he says, “Walk this way! Walk in this kind of way! Imitate me! Imitate those that long for Jesus! Keep your eyes on those that walk according to the example you have in us. Follow those that follow Jesus.” That’s the exhortation here. Make sure your walk’s good.

Listen, you wanna grow in your relationship with Jesus? You wanna mature in your walk? You have to have the right influence. It’s why half this letter’s centered around examples. We emulate the people we wanna be like.

Going back to those with a platform...different trends and styles…things we say or do, a lot of times, those things originate from those with a platform. We emulate the things they do because we wanna replicate their success or their approval from others. Everything we do, we do it because we learned it from someone else, in one way or another. Whether you agree or not, we’re all influenced by someone else. And Paul says here, “Make sure…as a follower of Jesus, you’re influenced in the right way. Make sure you’re following the right people. Make sure the way they’re teaching you to walk…make sure it aligns with the truths of Scripture and the way Jesus commanded us to live.”

And that’s why he includes himself in this exhortation in verse 16…he says, “we should live up to whatever truth we’ve all attained.” Guys, a faithful Christian…someone truly following after Christ…they’ll pursue Jesus alongside of everyone else. And part of that pursuit, it’ll include them applying the progress they’ve made to their walk and the way they live.

But look at this…in contrast to that, in verse 18, Paul says, “For many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Listen, there’s two kinds of walks here. There’s those that walk after the example of Jesus…those that imitate Paul and other believers…and there’s those that walk as enemies of the cross. You see that here? Listen, that’s the only two walks there are in this world. Either your walk, it emulates those that follow Jesus or it doesn’t.

So what characterizes those that are considered enemies of the cross? Well, putting things in context and what Paul’s already said, they oppose the message of the cross…it’s those who stubble over that message…who are offended by that message of Christ and Christ alone. They want works…they want glory…they want some kind of responsibility…they wanna provide salvation for themselves. They refuse to cling to the message of the cross where Jesus alone brings salvation. They refuse to look at Jesus’s substitutionary death, his atoning sacrifice, as their means for salvation alone. They’re like Pharisees, they wanna give some kind of human effort to the process of being saved. They’re at enmity with the Bible…with the message of the gospel…They don’t like this message..and so they reject it.

That’s why in 1 Corinthians 1 Paul says, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” He says, “Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Listen, you wanna a test to see if you’re a true Christian or not? Are you offended by the message of the cross? Are you offended by the message that says you can do nothing to save yourself…that only Christ can save you? That He does that by taking your place…by being condemned on your behalf? By dying on the cross as a substitute for your sins? Are you willing to completely give up claim to all self righteousness? To turn from your good deeds and your choices and say, “All of this is worth nothing in comparison to knowing Christ…it’s Christ and Christ alone who must save me.” Because guys, that realization, is what determines your walk…it determines how you live in this temporal world.

Enemies of the cross, they reject that message. And listen, you might be sitting there thinking, “Pshh…that’s not me…I follow Jesus.” Guys, all these “enemies” Paul’s writing about…they all claim to know Jesus…but yet they don’t cling to the right message. Make sure the gospel you follow…make sure it changes your life. Make sure it changes your actions.

But listen, it’s not just about the message that makes ‘em enemies…its also about the way of discipleship they reject. Paul’s whole point in this passage is not just about the message of the cross…but it’s also to say, “This is the way to live. Jesus gives you the example. He gives you the example by going to the cross.” It’s the way to humility…it’s the way to self-denial…it’s the way to service…the way to sacrifice…the way of counting everything as a loss. That’s what Jesus did. He didn’t count equality with God as something to be exploited or grasped.

Listen, when we begin to implement things in the church that pushes us out…that challenges us to get up and out to use our gifts…to share the gospel…to do something beyond ourselves…enemies of the cross they get mad because discipleship to them is all about themselves…it’s about their joy…their comforts…what makes them happy. Enemies of the cross don’t understand what the gospel is meant to change…And listen, you know how you see that? Someone with this mindset? Look at their walk…are they becoming more and more humble…are they denying themselves....are they getting out of the pew and into the community…are they using their gifts all for the advancement of the gospel…listen, is their walk defined by constant complaining and discouragement?

Church, you wanna walk right? Find your heroes of the faith…read about them…hold them accountable to the truths of Scripture…learn from them…and listen, follow them. And let your walk model a Christ-centered life.

Guys, is your focus…is it on your citizenship? Are you eyes set on the end…on what we obtain? Because if they are…it’ll dictate how you live.

That’s the first contrast.

2.) Our Mindset: How Do We Think? (v. 15)

The second…it’s in our mindset…and the question here is…how do you think? Or better yet, what do you think about?

Look at verse 15 again. We see the key words here in this verse. He says, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”

Listen, when Paul makes the comments, “Those who are mature think this way,” we have to remember what he just said in the prior verses, right? Because context is what? Its everything. We can’t just read these verses and assume what he’s talking about. He’s talking about pressing on to reach the goal of the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus. And now he’s saying, “I want you to think this way. I want you to have this mindset....this mindset that’s constantly looking ahead…that’s counting all as loss for the sake of gaining Christ…that’s persevering for the prize. I want you to think this way.”

That word “think,” it’s a key word in this letter to the Philippians. We’ve seen it multiple times already, but it’s been a few weeks. It’s the word phroneo and its a word that literally means the “interior thoughts” or “attitudes,” “feelings that motivate exterior directions and actions.” It’s the same word Paul used in chapter 2 verse 2 when he said, “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind.” Anytime you see the word “think” or the word “mind” in this letter, it’s either the word phroneo or it’s a word associated with that word.

In chapter 2, verse 5, Paul said, “Have this mind among yourselves,” and now here in our passage this morning he says, “Let those of us who are mature think this way.” He says, “Have this mindset.” So what’s the mindset? It’s the mindset of Jesus that’s been demonstrated in both Timothy and Epaphroditus…it’s been shown in Paul’s example. He’s saying, “Have this mindset…Let this mind be in you, the mind of Christ.” It should dictate your actions…It should determine your external behaviors.

And listen, that mindset, it causes you to be humble…it causes you to be self denying…sacrificial. But listen, it also causes you to be confident in Christ…it’s causes you to be bold. Augustine said this, “The apostle [Paul] speaks of himself as both perfect and imperfect: imperfect when he considers how much righteousness is still wanting in him but perfect in that he does not blush to confess his own imperfection and makes good progress in order to attain it.” Listen, that’s the mindset Paul’s telling us have…one that understands our own imperfections but clings to the perfection of Jesus Christ. It’s a mindset that humbles you but strengthens you all at the same time.

But notice how he contrasts that in verse 19 with the mindset of the enemies of the cross. In verse 19 he says, “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory [or boast in] their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” That’s the contrast.

Either you have a mindset that’s set on Jesus and the work He does through you....a mindset that models that of Paul and all the other examples he gave…one that’s set on the prize, the goal, the upward calling of God…a mindset on spiritual reality…Or listen, you have one that’s set on earthly things. A wordly mindset.

That’s the only two mindsets you can have. And so what are you thinking about? What consumes your mind? Is it Christ and what He’s doing in you? What He’ll complete in you? Or listen, are you consumed by all the temporal stuff around you…work, or money…pleasure?

And guys, I get it, this is a tricky area…most of you, you have to get up on Monday morning and go to work, right? You have to make a living to support your family. You have to watch your finances. You have to think about these things. I’m not suggesting you forget about it.

I find that the Puritans are helpful on this topic. Jeremiah Burroughs, he wrote an entire book, A Treatise on Earthly-Mindedness. And listen, if I just read you the table of contents, it would probably be convicting to you. That’s how the Puritans were. So I can’t give you everything Burroughs said, but one thing Burroughs said that I think is helpful is that an earthly-minded person approaches even spiritual things with an earthly mind. He says, essentially, he goes to church…he listens to the word…he prays, but he doesn’t have any heart in it. That’s not really where his heart is. He prays as if he didn’t pray.

But, he says, a spiritually-minded person is the opposite of that. A spiritually-minded person attends his work with a spiritual mind. He’s doing his work not just for the sake of the bottom dollar, the bottom line; he’s not doing it just for profit in this world; he’s doing it in obedience to God, he’s doing it for the good of others, he’s doing it to glorify and honor Christ.

Burroughs says a person with a spiritual mind is more heavenly and spiritual when he’s about his calling, even though it’s the lowest calling, like digging ditches or swinging his axe or his hammer—he’s more spiritual at these than an earthly man is when he’s praying or hearing or receiving the sacraments.

So where’s our mind set? Where’s our heart set? I mean just search your heart…does it approach these earthly things with a spiritual mentality? Guys, the gospel…it’s impacts the way you think and it reminds you of your citizenship…where you belong…it reminds us of what we’ve attained in Jesus. It causes us to be fixated on that unity…on the gospel…its that mindset that leads to spiritual maturity. That’s the second contrast here.

3.) Our Worship: What Do We Desire? (v. 19)

The third…it’s our worship…and so the question is, what do you desire?

Look at verse 19 again. Paul says, “Their end (talking about the enemies) Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

Let’s break that down…what’s that mean? Well, their “end,” Paul’s referring to their eternal destiny…we’ll talk more about that in a second…but what about “their god is their belly”? This is actually pretty clever of Paul but he’s saying its that their appetite is their god. And listen, he’s not referring to their physical hunger…he’s speaking metaphorically…he’s talking about their sensual lusts. The things they desire. They worship their appetites…they fulfill their hearts desire. They worship what feels right, or what feels good to them. They elevate their own desires to the level of divine authority in their lives.

But look at what else Paul says…He says, “they glory in their shame.” Which simply means they boast in themselves…in their own accomplishments…in the things they control and do. They glory themselves. They elevate themselves in their own eyes. And this self-glory it’s disgraceful and the polar opposite of what true believers look like…That’s why Paul says, “they glory in their shame.”

And listen, we might not be walking around like some of these Judaizers he’s talking about here…we might not be Pharisees…but guys, some of us have a problem with glorying in our shame because for some their god is their belly…it’s their desires…its what makes them happy or feel satisfied…it’s a job…or its money…or pleasure…or sports…or whatever…and guys, Paul says that’s the complete opposite of what a Christian looks like. They shouldn’t worship those things. They shouldn’t desire those things above Jesus.

And listen, this is exactly why the Gen Z generation is the least religious generation before us…it’s why they’re the most lost generation before us. We’re teaching them that their god is their desires....we’re teaching them that success and these other meaningless things are what’s most important. We push them to go to college but yet we never push them to youth group…we never push them to read their Bibles…some of us don’t push them to the community of God’s people. We’re teaching them that their god is their desires.

In contrast to that, in verse 20, Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s what he says he’s worshipping…that’s his desire. He’s already said in Philippians 3:3, “For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh,” right? There’s a contrast between what Christians are supposed to be and what many of us are demonstrating to the world around us.

And so the question, what do you desire? Do you control your appetites? Or listen, do they control you? Is your desire…is it set on Jesus? Is He the source of your joy?

If your desire is the kingdom of God…on that citizenship, it’ll cause you to desire godly things.

That’s the third contrast Paul gives us.

4.) Our Destiny: Where Are We Going? (vv. 20-21)

And then real quickly…the last contrast we see here is our destiny…where are you going?

Listen, I feel like this topic has been at the core of every message I’ve preached through Philippians…Paul’s focus…His aim, it’s always set on the end…on the coming of Christ…on eternity. I mean just look at these verses again…there’s only two possible destinies we see here. For those that are enemies of the cross…Paul says, and he does it with tears…that’s important guys…reaching your neighbors…reaching those that oppose us…it’s important…because he says, “Their end is destruction.” That word “destruction,” it literally means ruined, it means wasted, garbage. Meaning their life is wasted…it’s ruined for all eternity…It’s like their thrown in the garbage heap. And it should break our hearts thinking about that. We shouldn’t be able to preach hell without weeping. Hell is the garbage heap of the universe. That’s what it is.

Listen, years ago, I was fixin food for our college group back at Central…and I was making potato soup. Well, I’m impatient…I hate waiting on stuff…and so, I put everything in the pot on the stove instead of in the slow cooker…and I jacked that heat up to as high as it would go…and I let it sit…thinking it was gonna cook faster or something, right? Well, it looked done and so I started serving it out…and it taste like nothing but a burnt mess…it was scorched. And so, guess what we did with it? We threw it out…we couldn’t eat it…it was gross…it was ruined…wasted…we threw it in the garbage. Now, in the right setting, with the right cook, that potato soup, it could’ve gave some value, right? It could’ve served a purpose…under the right care and attention. But under me…not really being patient…it was ruined. You understand what I’m saying?

Guys, a life tossed into the pits of hell…it’s a ruined life. There was potential for it to have value…to have purpose…but in hell, it’s wasted, ruined…its garbage. That’s the eternity of those that oppose the cross, that refuse to make Jesus everything. They wanna tend to their own life instead of letting the One that knows what He’s doing care for it.

But what about those that are in Christ? What’s our destiny? The answer…according to Paul…its transformation…it’s the complete opposite of destruction. Look at verse 20 again…Paul says, “20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Transformation…glory....that’s the destination of the believer. Listen, if you embrace the cross in it’s entirety…the cross for your justification and forgiveness…if you embrace the cross for your discipleship, as you follow Jesus…if you’ll do that, you’ll be shaped and formed in the image of Jesus Christ, and glory and transformation will be your destiny.

Closing

Guys, as we close this morning…do you have the right focus? Does your view of the end…does it drive you to Christ? Do you understand that you’re a citizen of heaven? That you don’t belong here? Does it drive you to godliness? Does it cause you to live in a certain way? Does it cause you think and worship in a certain way? Does it cause you to desire the right things? Because if all you care about is your job or money or family or sports or success or whatever…then you’re just like these enemies of the cross Paul’s talking about here. Your focus isn’t on Christ…it isn’t on the gospel. And because of that, you look just like this world.

Guys, look at me…just because you’re here this morning…just because you said some words or you got baptized or you serve in some kind of ministry…just because you’ve taught Sunday school…none of that stuff means your a citizen of God’s family. Guys, search your heart…because the way you live and think and worship and what you desire…what your focus is set on…if none of that stuff aligns with Jesus, there’s something wrong. You’re not who you think you are. And you have to stop pretending and you need to respond to the gospel. It’s serious.

But listen, for those of you that know where you belong…who you belong to…what do people see when they see your life or what you desire? Does it model what Paul describes here? What do you need to change today to start reflecting Christ in your life?

Listen, as you let this passage sink in this morning…would you just bow your head and close your eyes with me?

Listen, there’s three types of people here today. There’s those that truly belong to Christ…they’re growing…they’re being sanctified…their desire is Christ and to be more and more like Him…and listen, they recognize there’s still a bunch of junk in them that needs to be cleaned up. They’re humble…they’re not afraid to respond to the Word of God…they’re not afraid to get up and out all for the sake of Christ. They know where they belong.

And then there’s those that claim Christ but their life shows no signs of Christ. They show up to church…they check the boxes off…but they’re kind of a weekend Christian…that’s the extend of their walk…they live a pretty good moral life but that’s as far as it goes…they don’t grow…they don’t serve…they never really overcome sin because they never really see any problems in their life…they can’t remember the last time they had to repent from something because they see nothing wrong with their life or who they are…they’re not as bad as others. And they certainly never crack open their Bible....again because they have no real desire to know Jesus or to be like Him…they’re still wrapped up in this world.

And then there’s those that’ll admit they’re lost. They have no relationship with Jesus...either because they don’t believe in Him and the Spirit of God’s not opened their eyes or because they’re conflicted…they’re still battling with their own flesh. They don’t wanna turn to Jesus because they’re afraid they’re gonna lose their pleasures or joys in life.

But listen to me, here’s the common link between us all…we all need the gospel…regardless of who you are this morning…you still need the good news of Jesus…You need to understand that on your own you’re a sinner…you’re separated from the Creator of the universe…and that you deserve punishment for your selfishness. But that, God Himself…through His Son, took on that punishment by becoming like you and me…He went to the cross and experienced our death so that we could experience life…and not just a temporal life but eternal life…so that we could be resurrected physically and spiritually just like His Son. We all need that good news…we need that hope…and everyone of us needs to respond to that message and let it saturate every piece of our lives. Either we need to be praying that Christ would grow us more…use us to reach our kids or our spouses or our grandkids or whoever…or we need to be asking Jesus to come into our lives and to change it…we need to ask for salvation…we need to repent and believe.

Listen, if you’re here this morning, it’s not by chance. God wanted you here…And so, how are you gonna respond?

As we wrap up this morning and as Wendy plays…I wanna give the next few minutes for just you and God. I want you to be able to do whatever it is God’s putting on your heart right now. Guys…be bold! That’s my challenge…take a step of faith. These steps, they’re are open for you…so you come. If you need me to pray or just listen or whatever it is…you say I want Jesus…I wanna be baptized…I’m gonna be right down front as well…no one’s looking around…it’s just between you and God. I’ll close us in just a few minutes. You come...

[Prayer]