Proof of Citizenship
Book of Joy: Book of Philippians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 18 viewsLiving with eyes set on the future helps us to beware and becareful now
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(insert a picture of a passport here= saved as passport on computer already)
As a Christian our citizenship is in heaven (Php3:20) and our life today should have proof, evidence of that. The contrast seen in our passage today is of one of heaven and one of the world.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
As a Christian we have a dual citizenship, one here and now, one set for the future for those who will inherit it because they have
Single mind - the mind of Christ
A submissive mind
A Spiritual mind - not set on the things of this world
(illustration/story; - proving citizenship here in Iowa)
Our walk today as Christians should prove that we are citizens’ of heaven and not enemies of the cross of Christ.
One whose citizenship is in heaven has a spiritual mind whose look at now, life now, with eyes from heaven’s point of view.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good - D.L. Moody
Our citizenship in heaven as a pilgrim here on earth should make us better people here on earth now.
Your heavenly passport gives you certain rights, proofs and responsibilities
Our name is written in the book of life (Rev20:15)
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Our name is written down in heaven (Lk10:20)
20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Our citizenship comes out in our speech too (Mt12:34-37)
34 “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
36 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Mt12:36-37
Citizens who are enemies of the cross speak as the world does and do not understand the things of the spirit
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
As citizens of heaven we adhere to laws of our citizenship (Php3:17; 1Cor11:1; 1Pt2:11)
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
We need to know, need to watch, need to follow the example of others who are citizens of heaven and walk in a manner worthy of that citizenship. Paul was not boasting of himself when saying follow his example, but of Christ for that is who he is following
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
And he was not alone, Peter offers and admonition to heavenly citizens too.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
There are many who claim citizenship in heaven but do not live as citizens of heaven, whose life does not prove their citizenship for the true citizen is one who is loyal to heaven’s cause.
Loyal to heaven’s cause (Rom5:8; Heb10:19-25, 10:1-14; Col2:10-13; Eph2:14-16; Gal5:24 and 6:14)
To the citizen of heaven he believes the Bible is the Word of God; Jesus is the Son of God and through Him all things are possible to be reconciled to the Father through the blood of the Son shed on the cross.
Loyal to the cross where Christ displayed His love for us
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The cross is the place where sin is condemned and judged and Christ took on the penalty of sin on our behalf. And through faith the barrier wall was broken down (Eph2:14-16) and we became one.
The cross ended Old Testament religion under the law for Christ fulfilled the law. and the veil was torn from heaven to earth because it was finished on the cross (Heb10:19-25) and the old sacrificial system was put away (Heb10:1-14)
Spiritual circumcision vs. fleshly one done by the Father in heaven
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
Citizens of heaven, with a passport crucify the flesh
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
and also crucify the things of this world
14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Paul weeps in our passage today not because of his circumstances, his imprisonment, his being chained but knowing the end result to those who are enemies of the cross
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
Php3:
As heavenly citizens we have eyes looking for Heaven’s Lord (Php3:20-21,3:1-11, 12-16; Heb11:13-16, 24:26, 12:2 and the exhortation found in (1Jn2:28-3-3)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
As the accountant, counting the cost (Php3:1-11) Paul displays the new discoveries found in Christ Jesus. As the athlete (Php3:12-16) we see the new zeal, the vigor displayed that brings the new motivation for the citizen of heaven.
The new motivation for Abraham was looking ahead to what God had promised he was content to live in a tent (Heb11:13-16); Moses was willing to forsake the fortunes of this world for the treasures and rewards of heaven (Heb11:24-26) and Jesus, well He was willing to endure the cross for the joy set before Him (Heb12:2)
So our new motivation should be like we see in 1Jn2:28-3:3
28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
May we live for the blessings and the things to come and not treasure the things of this world which will all pass away, even our body that is in humiliation now will be in glorification when He comes back for us.
May our motivation because of our passport that shows our citizenship be proven out by doing the will of God
17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
In our passage, in context there are a few more things we can get fro it.
The admonition to walk like Paul and others (v.17)
The warning about enemies of the cross (vv.18-19)
The reason to walk like Paul and others (vv.20-21)
I. Admonition to Walk like Paul (and others)
I. Admonition to Walk like Paul (and others)
We are products of our environment, those things that set examples around us, or in whom we read and believe and then apply to our lives. (Php3:17, 4:9, 1Cor4:16 and 11:1; then others 1The1:5-9)
(insert illustration/story about products of our environment here)
Paul used himself as an illustration because Christ was his illustartion
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
It was not just the church at Philippi that he lived out the example and spoke of it.
16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Then there was the church at Thessolinica that took Paul literally
6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
We have Paul’s example that lead others to follow the example like in Thessalonica
Examples are great and can be very beneficial to us (Ps37:37)
37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
when applied can bring good outcome due to conduct (Heb13:7)
7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
So, not only are we to be good imitators we in turn should be good examples to others. (1Tim4:12; Tit2:7-8)
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
Speech, conduct, love, faith, purity showing yourself to be an example! You don’t have to be a preacher, you don’t have to be an evangelist to be an example of those who believe, of those whose citizenship is in heaven and have the passport to show it and a life to prove it.
7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
Deeds, purity, doctrine, dignified, sound speech, beyond reproach!
For we need to know our citizenship for there are those our there whose citizenship is enemies of the cross.
II.Enemies of the Cross
II.Enemies of the Cross
Many walk in wants contrary to the cross of Christ, it, in Paul’s heart brings tears to him, he is weeping because he knows the end for them. Do we now people who are enemies of the cross?
18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
Php3:1
Paul speaks of these people several times, and don’t we need the reminder so as to be a protector of our walk (Gal1:8-9; 5:21; Php3:1-2)
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
The enemies of the cross are trying to preach something contrary to the truth of the gospel, to the church at Philippi it was Judizers trying to add to grace of God through faith by obedience to Jewish law and tradition.
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Enemies of the cross still dwell think it is ok to have ways of the world in them, but in reality it keeps the out of the kingdom of God.
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;
It was not hard for Paul to repeat himself, it should not be hard for us to either for it can be a safeguard to others! and even to ourselves.
Sometimes the words maybe harsh, hard to swallow but still need to be said with love. and compassion
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
Jesus even spoke of many who would not enter, so we are not talking about just a few (Mt7:13-14)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
(expand on this, time permitting)
we know the end for them (2The1:7-9)
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
2the1:9
Those whose
God is their belly
Live for their own
Make mind of the earthly things.
All of these things are not anything new, not anything that is not active today, when we have people who preach a different gospel about health wealth, name it and claim it that is contrary to the Truth.
Solomon even tried all these things and in the end said this
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
May our mindset be on the things about, on our citizenship which is in heaven and may we not be enemies of the cross. For then Paul goes on to talk about why to walk like him and others.
III. Reasons to walk like Paul (and others)
III. Reasons to walk like Paul (and others)
Our motivation, our heart, our mindset matters and here are some good reminders to help us.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Our citizenship is in heaven (v.20)
I think we have discussed that quiet a bit already, and the reminder here is that our true loyalty, our true home needs to be on that which is above not that which is on this earth.
Our inheritances is reserved for us (1Pt1:3-4)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Born again to a living hop! So as to obtain an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled!
Our inheritance comes with responsibilities too (2Pt2:9-12)
9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
11 whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,
2pt2:11-12
Another reason is the transformation from the lowly to the boy of His glory. (Jn14:1-6; Act1:9-11)
2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
If the Father has prepared a place, and the Son has prepared a way, we should have the mindset that
Has a singleness of mind
That is submissive
That is spiritual
(Lead to invitation) - know your citizenship, live it out!
(insert invitation slide)
(insert exit slide)