Heaven Expatriates in this Nation (Phil 1:27-30)

Philippians 1:27-30

GBCCR 4/21/24

Introduction

Comments

Prayers

Hook: What does it mean to be a citizen?

There is a privilege of going around the world with an American passport that many nations do not have

Expatriates are those of citizens of one country living somewhere else

Missionary kids, business kids, or those living aboard

Americans are accepted and often noticed even without

As I visited Kazakhstan a group of people walked toward us and I knew they were also Americans by their dress and the volume with which they spoke before I even heard English

But, there is a responsibility of American citizenship too right?

Privileges of the passport abroad matter, but those people tell others what Americans are like

Voting is a responsibility, caring about your fellow citizens is a responsibility

And we can bemoan people not taking that responsibility seriously, but are we teaching the responsibility of being part of the kingdom of heaven, let alone the country of America?

As Christians we are those living in another land… we are aliens and strangers

And how often do we only think about my salvation but ignoring any responsibility

God wants us to rejoice in our salvation, but also live a certain way in response to itl.

Let’s remember where we are

Paul has been speaking about his life and relationship with the Philippians

Has discussed the trials he has gone through being unjustly imprisoned and maligned by even other believers

But no matter what happened to him, he is joyful, praising God, because Jesus will be glorified

the gospel was moving towards the lives of others*remember, he said nothing about people being saved, just that it was being proclaimed to all of them.

*remember, he said nothing about people being saved, just that it was being proclaimed to all of them.

Paul showed this ultimately in his example of living to die for Christ.

His ultimate goal was to be with his savior.

but he was willing to delay that for the sake of caring for the church.

But up to this point Paul has not told us to do anything

Sure, we learned from his example

But if you look over the chapter he states things about the Philippians, but never tells them to do anything

He’s thankful for them, praising God for them

But now, Paul brings out an imperative or command

Paul has shown them a life worthy living...now he tells them to live it.*done talking about himself and will focus on

*done talking about himself and will focus on them

The WWW address of citizenship life

Your wonder of citizenship lifestyle (27)

He starts this section with an adverb, which the Christian Standard Bible translates as, “Just one thing”

He’s saying if you only learn one thing from my letter here this is it

He is laying out something important here

The command is given (27a)

Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy

This is one Greek word that means to be a worthy citizen

THE CSB translates this, “As Citizens of heaven live your life worthy of the gospel”

Same word was used in Acts 23:1 as Paul defended himself before the Sanhedrin

Acts 23:1. “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

Paul was saying he had done all his duty as a jew before God and thus had nothing to be ashamed of or be in court for

Yes, Paul was a roman Citizen and he used the rights as a citizen of his nation

Acts 22:25- But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”

But like Jesus said

John 18:36- Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

The Christians true homeland is not their country, but the heavenly kingdom

It’s like an American passport overseas

It states that you are a citizen of the USA and thus have all the protection that come from belonging to the US.

Christian, you are a representative of your true country and your actions show which kingdom you belong to.

The gospel is the message of what Jesus has done

But then this calls us to live a certain way

IN holiness by grace by Bryan Chapel he writes

Thus, “the imperative [what we are to do] rests on the indicative [who we are by virtue of our union with Christ] and . . . this order is not reversible.”

Think of it like a mixing up the order of the foundation and the building on top of it

The foundation always comes first.. but a foundation in intended for something to be built upon it

The gospel message should bring about a response in those who truly believe

Titus 2:9–11- Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

And Paul makes clear that these lives encourage others

Paul here says that whether he sees them again or not he wants to hear a good report

=it is for their sake.he will not judge them, but God will

he will not judge them, but God will

So we must strive to live a life worthy of the glorious good news of Jesus christ

This heavenly citizenship stands in contrast with the world around us

The firm stance (27b)

Explanation

This was not an easy thing for the Philippians to do because as we will see, there was persecution

See, the citizens of Philipi also had a strong sense of identity and citizenship, and expected things of the Christian neighbors Review of History

Review of History

Philippi was founded around 365BC by greeks

Renamed after the great conqueror Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the great.

The city became rich and powerful, until it was conquered by the Romans in 168 bc

But then it became even more powerful and after the Romans wars many soldiers came to get land in Phillippi. *Because they had fought in the Roman

*Because they had fought in the Roman wars they received Roman citizenship and all the rights that came with it.

It was far from Rome

But they wanted Mini Romes spread across the land

And they were proud of it, you held yourself a little higher… your city had come back…been defeated by another but then became even more powerful..

And this new Christianity thing seemed weak and un-roman…it was this little Jewish sect…the hillbilly of the hillbillys.

The word stand

It was a military term used by the travelling armies as they spread across.

It could give the idea of holding a single point, but more means just continuing on when pressure is against you

So the Philippian Christians were called to give no ground to these attacks

The cultural pressure to have a respectable religion, to live up to their status

Illus??

A Christian is duel citizen, and that means this is not our home ad when we get that wrong, and try to make the American nation do the work of the kingdom of God, we do it poorly

Obadiah Holmes (spelled the same as Amanda) moved to the Plymoth Colony in 1645 but commited the great crime of beocming a Baptist in 1650, so was convincted and he moved his family to Newport, Rhode Island, where he joined the Baptist Church pastored by John Clarke

In 1651 Holmes, Clarke and John Crandall traveled to Massachusetts Bay Colony to help a blind and aged fellow Baptist. But they were promptly arrested in Lynn, then put on trial in Boston for promoting Anabaptism. The trio was fined and ordered to leave the colony, but when Holmes refused to comply,.

On 5 September 1651, Obadiah Holmes received 30 lashes with a three-cord whip as punishment in place of his fine. Obadiah was stripped to the waist, taken to the town’s whipping post and publicly flogged

He said “Though my flesh should fail, yet God would not fail. So it pleased the Lord to come in and fill my heart and tongue, and with an audible voice I broke forth praying unto the Lord not to lay this sin to their charge”

Confusing our citizenship usually ends in someone else getting hurt

App:

So how do we stand as Americans who are also citizens of heaven?

We must think that we fight differently because we know that the issues you’re hear on the news are only symptoms of deeper problems that have existed since the garden of Eden

There have been murders, theft, slavery, abuse of women, children, racialism, wars, holocausts

And these come from Sin… people saying to God, I don’t want your ways, I want to decide what is right and wrong…

All of us, like Eve in the garden think it would be nice to be like God, deciding the difference between good and evil ourselves

It is easy to say, let’s live for heaven, but who rules heaven?

The gospel good news is that the king died

Our greatest concern is people fighting against God and how Jesus came to reconcile us

2 Corinthians 5:18–20- Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

So, we do not lose perepctive

But your enemy is not people, nor counties, or armies

The Christians’s enemy is false ideas held up in front of our god… an idol that demands worship

2 Corinthians 10:4–5- For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

So as ambassadors in a foreign country, you recognize that your love, your livestyle, and your words all need to be worthy of the gospels

Trans: So if we’re supposed to walk as a citizen of heaveny, what does that look like?

Your way of citizenship lifestyle (27b-28)

Your worthy life will Realign with his people (27c)

Explanation

Paul is very clear on this. These guys are not by themselves, they are not alone

One spirit, one mind, one goal

Spirit refers to your attitude, your goals, your focus, your heart

ie: what do you want the most, what are you passionate about

Mind is your thoughts, your way of doing things,

The Philippians had lived this way with Paul…supporting his ministry with finances and Ephaphroditus

but as we’ve discussed before, they had a conflict among them, they were allowing things to get the best of them.

So Paul is going to explain to them how they can be one, by caring for each other and consider others more important than yourself and your needs just as Paul did…and as we shall see, Jesus did.

Illustration

We align with others not by going with the crowd, but by following the savior together

AW Tozer said it well

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified.

App: But how do be of one mind?

This church is blessed with people from different generations groups, different types of jobs, your grew up in different areas… some down the road, at least one on the other side of a continent and ocean

But we are all united around the worship of God and goal of becoming more like Jesus

Yet all of us at some time feel like belong? Or maybe someone else doesn’t belong with you?

These people don’t share my interests, they’re not like me?we have different family priorities

we have different family priorities

Or another one I hear often… they don’t really care about me….well, guys, that is why this is a military term, a sports term….

well, guys, that is why this is a military term, a sports term…. Its hard work

Speaking to myself*There are some that are easy to connect with, yes, but as a Christian I am called to love everyone around me, and that means

*There are some that are easy to connect with, yes, but as a Christian I am called to love everyone around me, and that means actually caring enough about them to ask about what they care about.

Trans: To be one, we need a playbook, we need a central gathering point, we need a plan…

You will strive to obey him together (27d-28)

Explanation

The word strive

= (athleō) "to engage in an athletic contest."

carrying the sense of "engaging side by side" or "helping one another," in this case in the struggle for the gospel in Philippi.

They had to see themselves as that team to serve God

And we know what to obey by coming around the truth of God’s word.*I don’t get to decide what we’re about, instead

*I don’t get to decide what we’re about, instead, it says we come around the faith which is the gospel growth

Their goal was gospel growth

=people hearing of the gospel for the first time

=But also, seeing how the gospel should change their life now… this itself is that effect.

It is easy to run the ball down the field when there is no opposing team

The Philippians had those opponents.

The people warned of in ch 3:2…the dogs, evil workers, and the false circumcision.

Most likely this included Roman citizens in this colony who again, had their expectations. They would honor the emperor at every public gathering and declare Cesar Lord…maybe even God in some places.

They would honor the emperor at every public gathering and declare Cesar Lord…maybe even God in some places.

Imagine, how easy it would be to go to a event, like a baseball game, and instead of singing the national athem, they would sing Cesar is God…--A believer couldn’t do that, and then someone would ask, and maybe even have to suffer for their faith

--A believer couldn’t do that, and then someone would ask, and maybe even have to suffer for their faith

But Paul warns them to not be frightened by their opponents

means “to be startled.” Not terrified of what them, but surprised by

Not terrified of what them, but surprised by someone

It is when you are pushed back because of what someone does.

Instead the church’s refusal to give in to the religious or irreligious, but stays focused on obeying God will stand on the conviction

God will destroy those who persecute his people. As Paul says in a different context, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple” (1 Cor. 3:17).

Illustration

Strive together means do not retreat, but move forward in holiness against the world, together

I had an impressive 8th degree (out of 10) blackbelt sensei (or teacher) in karate

He was one of those guys who was always knew what to expect…he wsa a master

And when someone attacked him, he never backed up.

Backing up just allows someone to take one more step towards you, so they can strike again.

He would step to the side and towards them, closing the distance and allowing him to attack better and quicker.

We need to work hard together against

Application

So, church, let’s be honest… we have opponents.

We need to see properly who they are

There are are some very moral Muslims in some of your lives

They bring up questions and challenges to the faith

Yet you all do not give up at their answers put try to speak the gospel about Jesus Christ

Others of you, the opponents are in your own home

Your children might not even know why, but they push back on the commands of God

They do not like what God expects when it goes against what theyw ant

And we are to do this together

You are not supposed to have to do it on the own… if you need help answering, you ask your church.

1 Peter 3:15- but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

If you need help loving… ask your church

We help each other to best respond

Trans: and at times, our help looks more like bandages than battles plans.

Your wages of citizenship lifestyle (29-30)

You will trust Him like others (29a)

Explanation

God has granted it

Salvation and faith is a gift from God, so that no man can boast (says Paul in Romans)

The salvation of v 28 is like the deliverance of v19, which Paul received, From Christ…that final judgment

And ultimately it is for Christ’s sake

Just as God created mankind in His image… he saves us to show how amazing he is

The best thing that can happen to us is for His sake

If that is true, then we can trust when he calls us to the second part of being a citzen

You will suffer for Him like others (29-30)

He too has granted for believers to suffer for him.

Suffering is not easy, as we will talk about in ch 3

But suffering does have a way of stripping everything else that we hold onto and put faith in

Its easy to believe god when he gives you everything…said satan about Job

But suffering is a grace because it shows that when all the world crashes around us, what is a truly firm foundation

Suffering tends to loosen our ties with the present world and fertilizes our desire to be home with the lord

Every bit of suffering gives us an idea of Paul went through, what the apostles went through, what countless believers and ultimately what Jesus went through.

Philippians 3:10- that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

But it will all be worth itgo back to end of v

go back to end of v 28

This is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you.=this is your passport, it shows you really do believe this and will not back away

=this is your passport, it shows you really do believe this and will not back away

The sign of destruction though is for them to see

Illustration

Trust leads to following, and while following Christ leads to suffering, it also leads to changing others

Obadiah Holmes suffered for what he believed in

The suffering wasn’t wasted. The whipping of Obadiah Holmes deeply impacted Henry Dunster, president of Harvard, and led to the organization of Boston’s first Baptist church.

But Dunster was powerfully affected by the imprisonment

the first president of Harvard, a man of extraordinary learning, became a Baptist, and like a Christian man, despising financial losses and stripes and imprisonment, he boldly preached against infant sprinkling in the church at Cambridge, to the great indignation of its friends there and elsewhere.

Contrary to contemporary wisdom, the wages of suffering pays as we follow our savior

Application

Some of you have those people around you all the time

They live in your homes, the work in your offices… you feel the pressure of the unbelieving world

Many of your christian parents have unbelieving children you want to be saved

Others have neighbors

So we must remember that we are willing to suffer

There are many people around us living for their best life now, who want people to love them, respect them, entertain them

And as Christians we can sometimes think that having these things will draw people

But the message of the cross says it is suffering that wins over sin…

Christian, you willing to sacrifice for you enemy, that speaks to the gospel being realWhen you love those who cannot love you

When you love those who cannot love you back

Conclusion

Cohesion

We have a passport brothers and sisters

Give no advance to evil world system

Realign yourself with fellow soldiers

Obey God’s battle plan

Suffer for the sake of the gospel

Resolution:

The great church father Augustine of Hippo wrote the book the City of God in the 5th century largely in response to the accusation that Christianity has destroyed the roman empire

Rome had done well for centuries with its Pagan system, conquering other nations and brgining their gods in as well

But then christians became dominant under Constantine in 325 AD and the empire started to diminish

It was ravaged by foreigners by Augustine’s time

He said there are two “cities” (kingdoms), the city of God and the city of man. These two cities have two different origins (God and Satan), two different natures (love for God and love of oneself, pride), and two different destinies (heaven and hell).

While we live in both, Christians are living for the one that is eternal

The many cities of man, the nations will rise and fall independent of the city of God which will last forever

So, you can be free to love this American nation better because your joy doesn’t depend on how well it goes, you will be happy whether it succeeds or fails just like whether you live or die