Living as Citizens of Heaven.
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Citizens of Heaven
Citizens of Heaven
Last week in Philippians 1:27 Paul challenges the Philippian church to live as citizens of Heaven. The NRSV translates that same phrase to live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ saves us from a life defined by sin and death, for a life worthy of that gospel.
A quote from Gandhi continues to stick with me. Gandhi, who was not someone of Christian tradition or belief, is reported to have said this on the topic: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” To quote the Christian author Brennan Manning: “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
Brothers and sisters being a follower of Christ, a Christian, is not just about being saved from a life defined by sin and death. It is about striving to live like Christ in the here and now. It is living as a citizen of Heaven. It is living a life that reflects the gospel of Christ.
In Philippians 2:1-13 Paul gives an example of what this life looks like. As we wrestle with this text may our lives together reflect a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Christ Example
Christ Example
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 4 Pastoral Perspective
We are called to be imitators of Christ, to live in a way that allows other people to see Christ in us. What is an imitator? There is a great difference between an impersonator and an imitator. Impersonators take great pains to make people believe they are who they are not. On the other hand, imitators are clearly aware that they strive to live up to the challenge of being a reflection of the person they look up to.
Paul begins his challenge with a series of questions. Philippians 2:1
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then Paul lays out how they should live. In verse 5 he challenges them to have the same mind or as the NLT puts it same attitude Christ had.
God Came Down
-John 1:14-16
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Though he was God…
God, in Christ became human. God gave up his divine priviledges and lived and breathed as one of us. He fully experienced life. He experienced pain, heartache, betrayal. He experienced suffering.
Jesus, humbled himself in obedience to God, and was faithful even when obedience cost him his life.
42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.”
God, the word made flesh, who said let there be light. Gave up his divine privilege to die a criminals death on the cross. God, through Christ was showing what it means to put Philippians 2:4 in action.
One of my favorite lines from the hymn it is well with my soul explains it well. “Christ has regarded my helpless estate and has shed his own blood for my soul”
Jesus was faithfulness to death and rising to life means we can live like him.
Paul uses the life of Christ as his main illustration of how to live a life worthy of the gospel. How to live as citizens of Heaven.
Therefore
After this popular passage in Philippians, I like to refer to as a mic drop moment, Paul in verse 12 says therefore. The there for is Christ’s example. Because Christ was faithful we also need to be faithful in working out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
The your here is not singular but plural. While yes there is a personal responsibility to work with God at work in us, we the body are here for each other to encourage one another to look more like Christ to others.
Verse 13 reminds us this is a work of God.
How are we to live?
How are we to live?
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
One thing Gahndi’s quote misses, or the greatest cause of atheism doesn’t take into consideration, is God is still at work in and through us. While Gahndi and others may not extend grace for our failures thankfully God does and his work of grace in not done in any of us.
What is our response? How are we to live? Paul challenges the philippians to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. God’s work of grace goes on, God is at work in you, we have a responsibility to work with him. This is how we live as citizens of Heaven. This is how we live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. This is how we have the same mind or attitude that was in Christ Jesus.