Philippians 1:27-30

A healthy, mature, honey bee hive typically contains 60,000 to 80,000 bees, though large colonies can exceed 100,000 individuals. The size is limited by the Queen’s ability to produce eggs (up to 2500 a day), available space, and the structural integrity of the honeycomb.

A typical hive can produce between 30 and 100 pounds of surplus honey annually, which can be harvested. Strong hives in ideal conditions with great forage can exceed 100-200 pounds of the fruit of their labor!

Thousands of bees, all one colony, traveling usually in a 1 to 2 mile radius to forage for food, capable of 5 miles, depending on need. All in sync. Building, feeding, and growing, all controlled by a Queen, which produces pheremones to direct her citizens. As long as she is protected, the scent prevails, the hive thrives, it is productive.

But hives face significant dangers. Parasites can ravage them. Diseases can wipe them out. Pesticide exposure disrupts the bee's ability to communicate, and other pests and predators attack and disorient the hind mind, leading to its demise.

If the Queen is lost, drones will stop working and will eventually die.

I wonder if there is something in this image of a beehive that suggests what the church could be. A church of one Spirit, one mind could be so productive, advancing the gospel, sweetly fruitful, following the scent of Jesus. Learning to avoid and overcome the dangers and opponents that attempt to disrupt and disorient.

We get something of this in these four verses to close out the first chapter of Philippians.

This begins the transition of the letter. So far Paul has shown his experience and not it is the church in Philippi’s turn to show theirs. The rest of the letter will convey what life looks like as a people of the way.

It starts with what is the “Citizenship Inclusio.” This is where the ESV is not as helpful. Where the translators of the “politeuesthe” as “let your manner of life be” it is really related to the actions of a citizen, the conduct of one’s life, to live as a citizen.

“Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,” Philippians 1:27 CSB

This is the first book end, followed by what comes all the way in chapter 3.

Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” (ESV) Politeuma

All that is between flows together, the script of life as citizens of heaven.

Not poetic language but very pointed to a church in an environment torn by the draw of citizenship to Rome and false teachers enticing with indulging in pleasures of the day or even works righteousness.

This is the entry into all the instruction to come. Three movements, from offense to confidence!

The Most Important Thing About You

On a call with Joel Leakey, who will be joining us this summer to go to school and do ministry, I was on time and he made mention of it. I responded that I was a midwesterner and we are punctual and not sure he would understand the reference. He said “we have Germans so I get it!” I almost jumped out of my chair, “I am German too!” So I am a Midwesterner of German descent who is punctual… but that is not the most important thing about me.

Paul is writing to the church in Philippi, as we know, given the name of the book. It’s an important Roman colony, the gateway to the East. There is something to the status of citizenship. Remember Paul’s own imprisonment there, and how the magistrates responded when they learned he and Silas were Roman citizens, pleading with them to leave the city so as not to create trouble.

This is a self-consciously prideful, elitist little colony that was so preoccupied with the coveted citizenship of Rome. Paul challenges the church to embrace their counter-citizenship.

He is not saying reject your earthly citizenship, but realize what is truer of you.

When you believe in Jesus for salvation, you become a citizen of heaven with him as Lord of your life, a life ordered around his priorities and values, and increasingly becoming a living reflection of the gospel.

It matters to God how we live our lives. Grace does not diminish our responsibility to the moral standards of what God requires. Grace does not lower the standard. Rather, grace enables us to meet it. Grace empowers us to fulfill what God requires.

But to get there, we have to realize what “polis,” meaning: a city or unique political and social entity with deep citizen loyalty, to which we belong.

Easy enough to think historically, “sure, Philippians don’t be so keen on being Roman, make being Christian the most important thing about you!”

But how does this call hit our context?

Now, you guys know we well enough to know I have strong views on civic engagement… but for the sake of unpacking the text, let me say some things and notice your visceral response, just to gauge if we should wrestle with this as much as the Philippians.

If there are no candidates of character on the ballot, you don’t have to vote.

Jesus is not interested in your constitutional rights.

The United States is not, nor has it ever been and explicitly Christian nation.

Christians have no duty to pledge allegiance to the flag.

Don’t get political!

Paul is literally using the word we get our word “political” from! He knows it is so central to life, how we live, what we value, who we value, what we call evil or good, how we see Jesus. And there is danger in getting things out of order.

So many are letting lesser things become the most important thing about them and are seemingly losing their souls, at least their witness, along the way.

Paul is saying, know who you are in Christ, a citizen of heaven, live that out.

Like citizenship on your school report card, it judged your manner of life, your politeuomai.

““Only” means they must exclusively live in a manner consistent with the gospel. There is no latitude for them to live in any other manner. They must conduct themselves in a way that honors the gospel and, thus, live distinctly and differently than the world. They must model the message they have now embraced. They entered the kingdom with the surrender of their lives to Jesus Christ. This is precisely how they must live out the reality of their faith.” Steven J. Lawson

Immersed in the word, for Philippi it was the Apostle’s teaching and OT, for us the whole of Scripture. In community, prayerfully walking out what we are learning.

As Gordon Fee explains, “Paul now uses the verb metaphorically, not meaning ‘live as citizens of Rome’—although that is not irrelevant—but rather ‘live in the Roman colony of Philippi as worthy citizens of your heavenly homeland.’” Fee adds, “As Philippi was a colony of Rome in Macedonia, so the church was a ‘colony of heaven’ in Philippi, whose members were to live as its citizens in Philippi.”

When they, and we, live out this citizenship, this is what you see:

United and Fearless

While studying this week for some reason I was transported back to my freshman football season. Still Junior High, one of two schools with ninth grade, and the Lewis and Clark Trailblazers were on the bus pulling up to Norris Junior High… and we rolled into the parking lot, there was this dude, and he was huge. I remember vividly the response on the bus… the “whoas,” it was disorienting. But it was the play that mattered! We crushed those guys.

Philippians 1:27b–28a “so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, [28] and not frightened in anything by your opponents.”(ESV)

“When Paul speaks of their unity in the Spirit, he is directing attention to the blessings bestowed upon them by the Spirit who has incorporated them into the church, regenerated them into new life,5 and indwells them in the fullness of divine power. Their unity is thus something which God has accomplished. It is a given fact about Christians, and as they view a hostile world and wonder about their ability—singly or together—to meet its assaults, Paul counsels: ‘Remember what God has done for you; live and grow together in the good things which are your common possession in Christ.’” J. A. Motyer

The church with a settled collective identity will stand strong against the prevailing winds of the day, empowered by the Spirit, striving, contending for the faith of the gospel.

“The Philippians’ ability to stand firm was supernaturally based on the Holy Spirit’s work in giving them new life, indwelling them, and incorporating them into the church (cf. Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Titus 3:5). The Philippians were called to stand firm against attacks on the gospel as they drew on the inner work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. There is nothing here of bootstrap resolve. The Philippians were not asked to reach down deep in their inner person and will to pull themselves together. Their “No!” to Roman culture’s demands to compromise the gospel rested in what God had accomplished in their lives.” Hughes

That leads to action, striving side by side, pursuing the faith together, advancing the gospel, going on preaching, being good citizens, neighbors, brothers, and sisters. Serving the least in their city. Sending support to the likes of Paul. Doing it with more than a togetherness, unity of place, but of thinking.

The word translated ‘mind’ here (psychē) refers to the sphere of the affections and moral energies. It points to what we feel about things and how we react to them. It raises the question of what things we consider valuable and what constitutes a worth-while objective in life. The church’s are aligned as they are are united.

Only so by faithfully honing in on the scent of Jesus.

“The gospel is the “gold standard” for the Christian life, and as such, its worth and weight govern the Christian life. The gospel becomes the shared story that unites all Christians and provides a reference point for all of their thinking and living. D. A. Carson says it well: “Conduct worthy of the gospel is above all conduct that promotes the gospel.” Benjamin L. Merkle

Rooted in the gospel, united, we become fearless. Not frightened in anything by your opponents.

The little Roman polis declared war on Paul and his converts from day one when the Roman lictors beat him and Silas (cf. Acts 16:22). The battle was cosmic. Those believers, as citizens of Heaven and subjects of the Lord of lords, were engaged in mortal combat. And their weapons were the good news—the preaching of Christ—and lives that proved “worthy of the gospel.”

What is the polis of our day? Who are the opponents that shoot their arrows our way? Voices that claim our identity must be in anything other than Jesus. Nationalism. Greed of secular culture. Pursuit of more. Often, it is the most subtle of opposition that seeks to taint the message or simply lull the church to sleep, preventing us from proclaiming the excellencies of Christ. Even when it is overt and angry, we have nothing to fear.

We have nothing to lose. Like Paul, we are convinced that to live is Christ and to die is gain.

When we have the most important thing about us settled and are surrounded by a team of players who know their roles and have our backs, we can be fearless.

The adversities faced by believers should not be met with fear but rather with a spirit of courage and solidarity, signaling the presence of Christ within us.

In 1984, Mehdi Dibaj was imprisoned by the government of Iran on charges of “apostasy” for converting from Islam to Christianity. He languished in prison for ten years until his case was tried in 1994. Some of the last lines of his written defense read:

[Jesus Christ] is our Saviour and He is the Son of God. To know Him means to know eternal life. I, a useless sinner, have believed in His beloved person and all His words and miracles recorded in the Gospel, and I have committed my life into His hands. Life for me is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is a better opportunity to be with Christ. Therefore I am not only satisfied to be in prison for the honour of His Holy Name, but am ready to give my life for the sake of Jesus my Lord. . . .

In Philippi, they had false teachers spouting heresy, cultural realities luring the people toward Roman excess. It was hard. They had their opponents. Paul is reminding, calling the church to live in light of, in the manner of their citizenship, for their good and the advance of the gospel, the mission, contending for the faith of the gospel, ours and someon elses.

We live differently for a reason.

Why should people believe our defence of the cause of Christ if they cannot see Christ in us, or take any notice of our offer of a saving Christ if they do not see the fruits of salvation in the beauty of holy living?

“They must stand firm in the faith. They must be anchored in the truth of the apostles’ teaching. When confronted by error and sin, they must not be swayed or back down. When persecuted and oppressed, they must not turn and run from their Christian witness. In the midst of spiritual warfare, they must remain immovable in the gospel.” Steven J. Lawson

We don’t have to stress it; we are not alone in it, we are given the Spirit for it.

“Opponents should fear, because they are actually fighting God, and they will lose. God’s power preserves our faith. He who began the good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Christ (Phil. 1:6), and nothing in all creation will be able to separate believers from his almighty grip of grace.” Benjamin L. Merkle

It is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation.

And this gives us:

Anchored Confidence

Philippians 1:28b–29 “This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. [29] For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,” (ESV)

God has graciously given two gifts to the Philippians: faith and persecution.

Faith is an exceedingly precious gift of God that enables us to receive the free gift of salvation. In other words, faith is the free gift that receives the free gift of salvation!

Anchoring confidence because this most important thing about us is not earned or maintained by us, but by God, it is from God.

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (ESV)

Persecution is also a gracious gift of God. The pleasure of God in persecution is a startling concept, but a biblical one.

Paul writes: “You should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, Philippians 1:30 “engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” (ESV)

This shows that God has written a story of persecution for his people. The Philippian church was born in the throes of persecution, and now the story of persecution is shared by Paul and the Philippians.

While our experience may not exactly match, suffering for the gospel is experienced by citizens of heaven.

1 Peter 4:12–14 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. [14] If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (ESV)

2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (ESV)

But we take heart — confidence — because it, like salvation, is from God

God writes a persecution story for his church so that mankind will be pointed back to the greatest story: the death and resurrection of Christ. Persecution is a parable that puts the death and resurrection of Christ on display again and again.” Benjamin L. Merkle

Citizens of heaven live with confident unity in the gospel in the face of opposition.

“The gospel is good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and is the greatest announcement that this world has ever heard. It is the glad tidings that this fallen human race may find salvation from the wrath of God through the sinless life and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Jesus obtained perfect righteousness by living the perfect life that we could never live. Further, he purchased our pardon from sin by his death upon the cross, through the shedding of his blood and the giving of his life, and by this sin-bearing, substitutionary act Jesus redeemed all those whom he came to save. Forgiveness of sin is offered to all as a free gift that is received by faith alone apart from any good works.

For those who receive this gospel, though, it always comes at a high price. When anyone believes in Jesus Christ and receives his righteousness and the forgiveness of sin, this act of saving faith requires deep soul-searching and radical self-denial. This step of faith necessitates a supreme commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ. For those who embrace the gospel, it will cost them everything.”

And you gain more than you can imagine in return.

Let your manner of life be worthy — Get squared away on what the most important thing about you is - citizenship in heaven. Repent of misplaced allegiance. Jesus is gracious. Get on with contending for the faith of the gospel.

Go with confidence — Strive for unity, face the opposition that comes, standing firm in the gospel, it is from God, and he will be glorified; he has won the victory.

We may not produce the record amount of honey given the size of the hive, but our citizenship is clear, and as we follow the scent of our King, and flourish in his way, what comes will be sweet indeed.