The Word Heaven
Key Words of the Bible • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (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:
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Introduction
Introduction
Words are an important part of our lives. Without words, we would not be able to communicate. In our series on the Key Words of the Bible, we are looking to define these important words as we study the Word of God.
The ninth word in this series is the word heaven. The words “heaven”, “heavens”, “heavenly”, and “heaven’s” are found 739 times in the King James Version. We see the word heaven in the first book of the Bible. A description of heaven is found in the last several chapters of the book of Revelation. Heaven is the abode of God and is the place that the angelic beings inhabit. Do you want to go to heaven?
Webster tells us that:
heav•en \ˈhe-vən\ noun
[Middle English heven, from Old English heofon; akin to Old High German himil heaven] before 12th century
1: the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome: FIRMAMENT—usually used in plural.
2 a often capitalized: the dwelling place of the Deity and the blessed dead
b: a spiritual state of everlasting communion with God
3 capitalized: GOD 1
4: a place or condition of utmost happiness
5 Christian Science: a state of thought in which sin is absent and the harmony of divine Mind is manifest
What is heaven? Heaven is the abode of God. Heaven is the place that we long to be because it is without the curse of sin. Heaven is the place where those who are saved will live forever.
We saw last week that the garden of Eden in Genesis 1-2 was perfect almost like a heaven on earth. There were amazing trees to eat from. There was simple work to care for the place that God had provided. The first sin in Genesis 3 resulted in a loss of this heaven-like state and the expulsion of mankind. Adam and Eve left this perfect place for the cursed world outside.
Since that time, man has been looking for heaven. Man has created religion to make himself ready to go there. Man has tried to build it. Man has tried to organize it. Man has tried to legislate it. Man has tried to induce it through drugs or dark magic.
Think of how many people you have met in your life that will tell you that they “hope” they are going to heaven. People will say that this or that experience on earth was “like heaven”. In the world today, heaven is synonymous with our longing for what we lost in the garden of Eden, perfection.
The truth we find in Philippians 3 is the truth that only someone who is identified with the cross of Christ is a citizen of heaven. Only a person who has accepted the finished work of Christ for salvation is able to enter heaven. No amount of good works or good intentions will change this truth. The question for you today is “are you a citizen of heaven?”
In chapter three of the letter to the Philippians, we are reading at the point of the letter that is focusing on the practical application of the doctrine found in chapters 1-2. The central theme of the book is joy. We will see the impact of joy at the end of our sermon today. The central verse in the book is
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Paul is writing to the church at Philippi to instruct them to live lives of distinction. Why? Someone who is living like the world is going to be someone who blends in and is quick to compromise on the truth of the gospel and is easily distracted by the sin in the world.
This is the central idea of our passage this morning as well. There is no shortage of sin in the world as we saw last week. What makes Christians different from those who walk in the world and in their sin? How can we be sure that we are living as Christ would have us to live?
Declaration
Declaration
Paul is commanding us to imitate and stand fast in the world. There are other people who are focusing on the earthly things. We are citizens of heaven who are to be focused on heavenly things. Choose today to be faithful awaiting Christ's return. We see three mandates from the Apostle.
1. We must imitate our Examples
1. We must imitate our Examples
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Notice how the people are addressed here! Paul uses the word Brethren for the people in the city 7 times and beloved twice. He truly loved this church. Because of how much he loved the people here, he is penning this letter to show them the centrality of their walk with Christ.
Paul commands them to be followers of himself. Followers are those who walk like someone else. Though the word disciple is not often used in the later New Testament, the idea of the word follower is the same as disciple. This is a choice that effects the whole of our lives. We are choosing to imitate someone else. We are conducting a change in our life toward being more like Christ and those who are our fellow followers.
Paul says that we are to imitate him. This idea was important especially for the Philippians who may not have encountered another good example in the person of an Apostle. The word “ensample” refers to the truth that God has given us models of faith that it is our job to choose to follow. Morality is being modeled around us if we look for it. We have the advantage of having all of the New Testament to guide our imitation.
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
However, even as Paul calls us to follow him, he is still striving to be more like Christ. Paul is careful to practice the truths that he is preaching to the churches. A Christian leader who stops growing will terminate his effectiveness in leadership.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
He recenters the idea of following on how he is following Christ.
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
In addition to following him, Paul also commands the church to mark others who are following Christ as he is and to be imitators of them. “Watch”, Paul says. They were to pay attention to those who are good examples and be like them. Who around you is someone that you can imitate? What is something that you need to grow in? Who do you know that is strong in that area of spiritual life?
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Discipleship, Need For
One weekend, three young fellows decided to take a bicycle trip into the countryside. Although inexperienced, they covered forty miles in three and a half hours and congratulated themselves on their good time. The next morning, as they prepared to head back to their starting point, they were met by a good friend, who had just cycled the forty-mile trip that morning and was ready to head back. He was an excellent cyclist, and with him pacing the young cyclists back to town, they made the return trip in just two and a half hours.
In the same way, young Christians need the “pacing” of older believers as they take their first “rides” in Christ if they are to progress as far in the Christian life as they should and as quickly as they can.344
Imitate our Examples
2. We must invest in our Citizenship
2. We must invest in our Citizenship
(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: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
The word citizenship here is another aspect of our discipleship.
A. The Enemies of the Cross v. 18-19
A. The Enemies of the Cross v. 18-19
We watch and follow good examples because there are many bad examples in the world as well. We see here that the chapter turns now to these that are called enemies of the cross.. There are many people that we could imitate in the world, but not all are good.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Listen to the sorrow in the voice of Paul as he warns the Philippians. He is telling them of these enemies even as he is crying and weeping. This is a loud crying that we can hear more than just see. He has told them many times before of these enemies. Now he warns them again.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Why would Paul be tearful as he warns the church? Perhaps, it is because these were people that he had met and interacted directly with. Maybe, these people were formerly of the church and had gone off into sin and Paul is saddened to think of them. It definitely seems that these were people who lived sinful and unregenerate lives.
These were called enemies of the cross. They hated the cross. They were actively working to undermine and follow the opposite of the commands that Christ had given. Perhaps these were carnal Christians who were disobedient to the truths that they had been taught. I feel that it is more likely that they were those who closely interacted with the saved people of the church at Philippi but were not saved. They were in opposition to what God was doing in this city to reach the lost with the Gospel.
Paul says that they were enemies of the cross. The cross represents more to the Christians than just a Christians symbol or the place of Christ’s death. For the Christian, the cross contains the entire life of the disciple. Because of the new life that we have in the death of Christ, we are able to serve Him. Many of the early Christians were ridiculed for worshipping someone who had been crucified. The world only saw His death on Calvary. For the Christian, we know that He is a living Saviour. We see the cross and the empty tomb. That is the message that we must make known to the world.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
What are the four characteristics of those who walk as enemies of the cross?
They are destined for destruction. When the time that is allotted for their lives ends, they will be destroyed. This is the ruin of all that they have sought to build and have spent their lives setting up. Their entire life and all that they value will only come to ruin. This word for end is often found in the nature of last things. In eternity, the enemies of the cross will spend eternity in a place called hell.
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
There is now a three-fold description of the values of these enemies of the cross. First, they worship their stomach. They look to fulfill their baser desires. This would encapsulates the entire system of digestion. This is the area of our hunger and thirst. This is the place that our sensual desires originate. For the enemies of the cross, the sinful nature of man is allowed to feed its evil desires.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
The second description is that they glory in shame. These enemies of the cross are proud of what they should instead be sad about. Instead of hiding what they are doing, they are showing if forth everywhere. The focus of this word “shame” is more about the pain than it is on the results. Pain comes from the judgment of God. While here on earth, these enemies may receive honor or privilege, but there is coming a day that God will judge their sin for what it is.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
The final description is that they focus on the things of the world. This is the idea of thoughtfully focusing on things that are only physical. These are things that are affected and filled with sin. Instead of things that will last forever, the enemies of the cross focus on that which will surely pass away. This sinful world will one day be destroyed.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
B. The Entrance by the Cross v. 20
B. The Entrance by the Cross v. 20
Paul uses a phrase here that is packed with meaning. He says that “our conversation is in heaven.”
The word conversation is also the word commonwealth. It has the idea of citizenship in it. This was a colony of people that were somewhere other than where they were citizens.
The word “is” carries the meaning of being the same as. This verb in the Greek shows that the citizen is identified with the place that he is a citizen of. We are truly people of heaven.
Paul uses the word heaven to show that our citizenship is in the same place that Christ is. He is there preparing a place for us. This is the place that Christ is going to return from to bring us to be with Him.
These Philippians who lived in the imperial colony were citizens of Rome. Roman citizenship originated with the Valerian law in 509 BC. For the Philippians specifically, the extension of their citizenship was an act that took place in the 30s BC. As a result of forming a Roman colony, the citizens of the city had the same rights as those people born in Rome itself. Roman citizenship was a great privilege and only a few possessed these rights.
Though many had never been to the imperial city, the Philippians were able to experience the same privileges of citizenship as the native born Romans. The Roman citizen could only be tried in the court of Rome. They were not subject to any law but those specific to the imperial city that they were citizens of.
The Christian has these same rights. For us, we are first citizens of heaven. We have been tried and declared righteous in the courtroom of heaven. Our standing is in heaven. We are declared righteous in God’s courtroom.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
What is the job of the citizen in a foreign land? The citizen is to focus on the things of the place where he is a citizen of. We are to be occupied with the business of heaven and we are tasked with the job of inviting others to come with us there.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
A British poet who fought in the First World War took this view of his citizenship even as he faced the shells and bullets of the trenches of France. The areas around him were destroyed. They often times looked more like the moon than the earth. In the midst of these horrible scenes, he wrote this poem:
The Soldier
BY RUPERT BROOKE
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
For the citizen of heaven, our focus is on the things that are happening there. What is the next even that will happen in heaven? The return of Christ the Saviour is the answer. Are you looking for the Return of Christ? Are you living with the future in mind? Christ has a plan for us here as faithful citizens of heaven. We are looking forward to seeing the land that we have not yet seen and will one day see by faith.
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Philippians 3:20–21
the body is destined for eternity. It should be treated accordingly,
Imitate our Examples
Invest in our Citizenship
3. We will illustrate His Authority
3. We will illustrate His Authority
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
A. There will be a Change v. 21
A. There will be a Change v. 21
When Christ returns, He will change our bodies into a body like His. The word for change here shows us that there will be a transformation. No longer will we have sin. No longer will we have pain or sickness. Instead, we will have perfect bodies that are made to live forever with Him. We are going to have the same form of glorification as He does after His Resurrection.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
This transformation is found throughout the New Testament. We see it often in the letters to the Corinthian church. What kind of body do we have now? We have a vile body. We have a body that is humble and is not of eternal good until Christ makes it glorified.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
How will Christ give us this new body? He is going to bring everything under His authority. He has the capability to do this because He is God. We see here the use of the Old Testament in the New.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;
Thou hast put all things under his feet:
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
B. There will be a Crown v. 1
B. There will be a Crown v. 1
“Therefore”, Paul says. This is a transition word that connects the statements to follow with the truth that went before. What action must we take as a result of these truths about Christ’s coming work? Paul is going to give us these application for the disciples in the church. Again Paul uses words that show the true love that he had for the people in this church. He calls them “dearly beloved” twice. This shows that they were very important to him. He placed a high value on them as converts to the Gospel and as followers of Christ.
Paul tells the people in the church at Philippi that they are his joy and crown. Joy is happiness and the feeling that causes someone to dance. The Philippians were joy in the present that is truly experienced in the future. The crown was a piece of apparel that reflected leaves and showed that someone had been victorious in the athletic games of the time. Paul says that the church at Philippi shows to others that he has won the victory for faithfulness and following God’s calling.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
Paul says be the people that he can rejoice in and that are bringing glory to God and joy to his heart. We need to live up to the encouragement and hope of those who have influenced us for Christ.
Paul tells the church to continue. They need to stand fast in the Lord. Are you continuing with all of your heart? Or do you have doubts? Is something weakening your resolve? Faith is Christ is what will give us the power to stand fast. Where is your faith at? What are you putting your faith in?
Imitate our Examples
2. Invest in our Citizenship
3. Illustrate His Authority
Conclusion
Conclusion
One of the most important scientist of history is best known for a piece of fruit that fell on his head. Perhaps you have heard about the prism that he used to show the colors found in light. Maybe you are familiar with his physics of motion. Regardless, Sir Isaac Newton has been important to the history of civilization. He was a Christian and took his faith seriously.
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (4605 Seeing More of Heaven on Knees)
Said the great and devout scientist, Sir Isaac Newton: “I can take my telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space, but I can lay it aside and go into my room, shut the door, get down on my knees in earnest prayer, and see more of heaven and get closer to God than I can assisted by all the telescopes and material agencies on earth.”
He knew the truth that what is more real than anything else is what is occuring right now in heaven. God is real. Heaven is real. For the Christian, we are waiting for the Return of Christ so that we can join Him in that wonderful place. Our conversation, our citizenship is in heaven.
Paul is commanding us to imitate and stand fast in the world. There are other people who are focusing on the earthly things. We are citizens of heaven who are to be focused on heavenly things. Choose today to be faithful awaiting Christ's return.
The life of the disciple is one of walking the path that Christ has tread before us. That path leads to heaven.
What path are you are on? If you are not on the path to heaven, you can get on it today. You have been seeking for perfection your whole life. You long for a place without sin. Heaven is the place. But God only allows those who are clothed in Christ’s righteousness to enter. Choose that righteousness today!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.