Philippians 1:27-30 - Living as citizens of Heaven
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[Intro]
Today we are going to be hopping back into the book of Philippians and finishing up chapter 1. Last time we went over Philippians we read through 1:20-26 and it was mostly about what was going on with Paul’s life. His current situation and what could be next. But he looked at it as Christ’s plan being fulfilled and so with either result, whether he was to be set free or executed, he was filled with joy because Christ would be glorified. He was heaven-minded.
Now as we go through verses 27-30 today, there’s a shift in his letter. He doesn’t talk much about himself. Here Paul encourages and gives exhortation to the believers in Philippi on how to live and serve as one body in Christ. Paul had a concern for the way believers lived out their life and also how they dealt with other believers.
[Prayer]
[Body]
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
In the preceding verse, Paul was concluding how he might live or die, and if he lives, he looks forward to seeing those in Philippi again. So here at the beginning of verse 27 you see the transition, “Above all”, or some other translations read “Whatever happens”. Meaning, no matter what, whether I’m executed or I live to see you again, listen and follow the exhortations I’m about to give you. Which is what we read through verse 30.
If you’re reading from the King James translation, verse 27 starts a bit different. It reads “let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ”. The Greek word for conversation here, implies citizenship. So instead of “let your conversation be”, an easier understanding is “Let your walk as citizens be”. As I read from the New Living Translation, it read “you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ”.
Have you ever looked at a way someone talks and behaves and thought to yourself, “That man or women is definitely from [name of place]”. That’s because people often follow behaviors of places where they live. There behavior is often influenced by the people their surrounded by where they live. If you went to another country, no matter where you go, you’d probably stick out from the crowed. More-so in some places, but regardless, you would be a little different from everyone else that was a citizen of whatever country you were visiting. The way you dress, talk, demeanor, you’re behavior will set you apart. And it’s doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, assuming that behavior doesn’t go against what the Bible teaches. Your behavior to an extent is from the culture you’re used to living in.
As Christians, no matter where you’re from, you have a dual citizenship. One where you are physically living while on earth, and one in heaven.
When it comes to our behavior, the citizenship that we should be aligned with is our heavenly citizenship. As I said a moment ago, behaviors that correlate to the culture you live in is fine, as long as it doesn’t go against what is commanded of your heavenly citizenship. How do we do that? Paul says, “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.” Become more like Christ. What Paul is getting at hear is sanctification. This is separate from the salvation we receive, which is justification. Paul is saying as someone who has been justified, you are in the family of God and you ought to live and conduct yourselves as one of those members. Conforming to the likeness of Christ through the process of sanctification. How does sanctification work? By the power of the Holy Spirit. Last week we celebrated and discussed Pentecost. The gift the apostles and believers received on that day and what is promised to all believers, the Holy Spirit, is how we continue in the process of sanctification. You must rely on the Holy Spirit to conform to the likeness of Christ.
Paul was always encouraging believers through his letters in this way. Here’s a couple other verses from his other epistles:
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Paul says, if you do this then I’ll know you are fighting for the Good News together. That last part is important. Paul wanted them to work together. As believers we have the same Spirit living inside of us, the Holy Spirit. And we work as one, the body of Christ. Nobody that is working for the Kingdom of God, with the right intentions, does so for their own glory. It is all for the glory of God. This doesn’t mean that everyone has to think the same. Discussions about theology is not a bad thing, but everything should be carefully examined. Making sure the gospel is not distorted. And as long as everyone aligns on the main point, which is the Gospel of Christ, then there’s room for discussion. Because we are human and struggle with the flesh still even as believers, many times there is division in the church. Division in a way where sometimes different groups of believers don’t want to work together. And that kind of division goes against what Paul was exhorting here in Philippians. We all have the same goal as believers. We have to work as one one body in Christ to bring Him glory.
Now into verse 28. Paul says not to be afraid of the enemy. Now who is the enemy here? We can’t say exactly who Paul is referring to here. The word used here for enemy is used elsewhere in scripture to refer to quite a diverse group. It was used to refer to enemies of Jesus in the gospels, opponents of Paul when in Ephesus, the anti-christ, and Satan himself. Now, if you remember the introduction I gave to the the book of Philippians, we discussed how there was no synagogue in Philippi. You needed at least 10 Jewish adults to have a synagogue. So we can assume there wasn’t many in this area and so they likely weren’t the enemy Paul was referring to. But you never know. Although we don’t know exactly who the enemy is here, we ultimately know the enemy is anyone fighting against the Gospel of Christ. That is what they all have in common.
And when Paul tells them not to be afraid, he gives a vivid term. In the NLT we read “Don’t be intimidated”, in some translations it reads “Don’t be terrified”. The Greek word for intimidated or terrified, used here, actually refers to a horse being spooked or an uncontrollable stampede of startled horses. That’s quite a visual. Unfortunately that has definitely happened where a group of believers appear as a bunch of spooked horses when it comes time to stand firm for the gospel. And I have been guilty of this in the past.
We have to remember who we’re serving. We worship and serve the living God. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Think about the God we serve and what He has given you by you placing your faith in His Son Jesus Christ. He chose you, He called you to come to Him, He gave you right standing with himself, and gave you His glory. If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Don’t be like a spooked horse, we have no reason to fear the enemy, because God is on our side. The power to stand firm is from the Holy Spirit living inside of us.
There’s a key point that Paul connects with persecution. Let’s re-read verse 29.
29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.
You have been given the special opportunity to put your faith in Christ. The Greek word for privileged here is derived from the word “grace” or “favor”. So he has graced you, given favor to you to put your faith in Christ. But also, to suffer on behalf of Christ. We don’t often think of suffering as a blessing. When you are persecuted, it is an act of evil against you. That evil comes from sin in the world. Persecution is not divine punishment on you. And it’s not even a neutral thing, as if it just kind of happens without purpose. It comes with standing up for Christ and it has been graced to you to suffer for Christ. It’s tough to go through, but what often happens in suffering and after suffering? We depend on God to get through it, and we really have to if we want to make it through without running like a spooked horse. And afterwards our faith is strengthened.
5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
He doesn’t abandon you in this time. He’s with you every step. When you’re persecuted, don’t think that it has no purpose or that God has forgotten about you or is punishing you. If you’re persecuted on behalf of Christ, his favor is being poured out on you.
Now to close in verse 30. Paul gives us a model for suffering. Let’s re-read verse 30
30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
First of all, we’re all in this together. There is this team effort, one body, imagery. He gives his life as an example of the suffering that can come from being a follower. Paul experienced persecution in a large variety of ways to great extremes. There were so many times he almost died or was put in prison, but it never stopped him from pressing on to preach the Gospel to the world. How could he do that? He practiced what he preached. He knew that his suffering on behalf of Christ was a privilege. And He relied on God.
In 2 Corinthians Paul asked for a certain type of persecution to be removed from him, and God said “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”
Because of this message he received from God he now says,
10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul didn’t rely on his own strength. And he was happy about that. We should all be very happy that God does not depend on our own strength. We have the same power and strength given to us by God through the Holy Spirit. The same exhortations Paul gave to the believers in Philippi, applies to all of us as believers. For most of us we won’t have to worry about experiencing as much persecution that the believers in Philippi had to worry about, but we still must rely just as much on the Holy Spirit to stand firm in the midst of whatever persecution we may face.
Don’t be a spooked horse, stand firm for the gospel. And we do so together as one body in Christ.