Gospel Citizenship

David Franks

Gospel Citizenship

4/13/14

[27] Only let your manner of life [let your citizenship] be worthy of the gospel of Christ, 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. 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, [30] engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Summary

Paul now turns from explaining how God is using his suffering to advance the gospel, to how He is using the Philippians own struggles to do the same. Their suffering is a gift from God, as it is not only a sign of their salvation, but also the very means in which their union with Christ is manifest.

Points:

How to live as gospel citizen:

* [Stand] Firm

* [Strive] Side by Side

* [Suffer] for His Sake

Intro (explanation of v. 27a)

Our identity greatly matters. The desire to be known for something important is within us all. But we also desire to have a corporate identity. We need to be apart of a community that also shares our interests and goals. We see this in so many areas of our lives, sometimes in very important ways, but also in the mundane. Do you ever stop and think about why it is that when you’re out shopping on a Saturday and see someone wearing a t-shirt of your favorite sports team, you’re excited. Perhaps you stop at an intersection and hear the car next to you listening to one of your favorite musicians, and you think to yourself, “Hey, that’s really cool.” You have no idea who this person is but even in this common shared interest, it’s someone you like. I’ll let you in on a little secret about me. I am a dork when it comes to neat pens and notebooks. But I have met a couple of minsters in the OPC that for some crazy reason, also really like the same stuff that I do. To know that I have fellow fountain pen buddies, who I can talk to and “geek out” about our pens, is just fantastic. Very silly, but fantastic nonetheless.

But as interesting as these day to day shared interests are something far out weighs them all. As Paul continues to write to the church in Phillip, he reminds them of the single most important reality that identifies all Christians. He calls them to conduct their life in a manner worthy of the gospel. Literally in the Greek, Paul says, “Exercise your citizenship worthily of the gospel of Christ.” “As Philippi was a Roman colony, it belonged to them the legal position and privileges of Rome itself.” The idea of living as a worthy citizen was understood. They were proud of this citizenship. I have a good friend who jokingly says that he is from the great nation of Texas.

And while there certainly can be a right amount of pride in our home state, Paul writes to remind the believers of a far greater citizenship that every Christian has. The greatest thing that defines us is that we are citizens of the gospel, citizens of Heaven. I love how the Heidelberg Catechism answers the questions, “Why are you called a Christian?”, by saying “because I am a member of Christ by faith.” Remember this often.

If you are a Christian this is your identity. Being a member of Christ is what defines you.

Therefore, Paul is calling us to see how the grace of God has not only made us citizens of Heaven but also calls us to live out our lives as gospel citizens.

Our true and everlasting citizenship is not found on our driver’s license. Here in this world, you are a foreigner. This is not your true home. And because of this, each one of us are called by God to live as though we are not ultimately part of this world but of another. And Paul lists three things that enable us to show a watching world our gospel citizenship: stand firm, strive side by side, and suffer for the sake of Christ. [Stand] Firm

In order to stand firm we must be both for and against certain things. One way we stand firm is when Christ’s ways become our ways. Standing firm take resolve. This along with striving sound like military terms. It is an active, diligent work. Paul calls believers to be so committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, that absolutely nothing can turn them away from serving Him. As we stand firm in Christ, we continue to show how our citizenship is in heaven. We are able to resist the pressures of this world to be molded into the form of this present evil age. We can stand firm against those who call us to give our utmost loyalty to temporary, non-spiritual things. You will be tempted in your home and in your workplace to disregard the claims of Christ.

Yet we must be very careful here. So often we can think that whatever particular cause or interest we have must be held by all. And sadly what happens is that the church becomes filled with different “interest groups” who refuse to stand firm together. Everyone starts to be at odds with one another. Yet Paul instructs us to stand firm in the gospel. So this means that although we may have good personal opinions or preferences we do not have to push away our fellow brothers and sisters who love Christ and the gospel.

And only Christ can enable us to stand firm in the gospel as our hearts are changed to treasure Him above all things. If we love Jesus and stand amazed at the work He has done to save us, we will rejoice with others who also truly love Him. And as one pastor has written, “First of all Paul tells us that the gospel sets us free not to do whatever we jolly well please, but to pursue God. In other words, the gospel sets us free not to do what we want to do in the sense of being our own standard, following our own laws, making it up as we go along: the gospel sets us free to be what God created us to be in the first place, that is, the blessed recipients of an offer of an everlasting relationship with Him. We were made to pursue the enjoyment of God forever, and the gospel sets us free to do that.”[Strive] Side by Side

But Paul calls us not only to stand firm but to stand firm by striving together.

The Greek word here for striving is συναθλέω and is where we get the word athlete. And like athletes, we are to endeavor, to press on, towards the goal. I imagine the picture of marathon runners who give everything they can to cross the finish line, and upon reaching it collapses from exhaustion. But in this race it is not a competition of who can come in first, but rather striving to ensure that the whole team completes the race.

Paul helps us to see that we also cannot let fear cause us not to strive. Sinclair Ferguson helpfully reminds us by writing, “If we are opposed for the sake of Christ, it means that we belong to Christ.” Is it not true that often times we can let fear keep us from striving as gospel citizens? We fear the unknown, we fear failure and not being good enough, and perhaps even more than anything else, we fear rejection. And our Savior tells us in : “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” Don’t let the fear of rejection from others keep you from striving and serving Christ.

We can be fearful of the opposition we face as Christians, but could it not be that we are also fearful of those who even run in the same race with us? People who are different from us and who come from very different backgrounds can make us uncomfortable. But I think we need to be challenged here once again by what Paul has previously said. When we are fearful of persecution or even of the difficulties of serving with others who seem so different, we still have failed to see our heavenly citizenship. Although it may not seem like it, you have more in common with your brothers and sisters in Christ than any unbeliever. Your identity as a Christian is a bond that holds you much tighter with other Christians than anything else can.

[Suffer] for His Sake

So far what Paul tell us is difficult, but something I hope each of us as Christians desire. We love the gospel and by His grace, endeavor to stand firm, side by side. Yet Paul continues to challenge us. He calls us to see even those who oppose us and the gospel as a gift from God.

Suffering is a privilege, a special right, even an advantage for the Christian. Oh how difficult it is for us to truly believe this. This is apparent as we have seen how so many churches no longer speak about sin or suffering. To declare that God has granted to me to suffer in this world, seems so foreign. It is not a message that will attract many and in our flesh is resisted. So often we fail to believe that the sufferings we face, are actually gifts from God.

What is so remarkable is that Paul does not say that we simply must endure suffering, as if it were some unavoidable power. Paul doesn't call us to be indifferent towards our suffering but rather calls us to see it for what it truly is. When we suffer for the sake of Christ, it is a gift from our loving Father. But how can suffering be seen as a gift?

it shows us that we belong to Jesus

As suffering for the sake of Christ is a gift from God, we know that our Father only gives gifts to His children. And we should marvel that we, who were once enemies of God, are now able to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ sake. For in this suffering we join the pattern of death and resurrection that even our Lord entered in for our salvation. If we are to be conformed more and more to the image of Christ, the pattern is both suffering and exultation.

it shows others that our citizenship is not of this world

Perhaps nothing shows the world that our citizenship is in heaven more than how we suffer. As we face the hardships of an economic downturn and layoffs, yet are able to trust that God will provide for all of our needs, the world notices. Leaving the doctor’s office upon receiving the news that cancer has returned, yet proclaiming that God is sufficient for all of our needs, shows the greatness of our God.

But Paul focuses not just upon how we are to respond to suffering in general but how we are to view suffering as Christians. Suffering for Christ’s sake brings with it its own difficulties and questions. To live out our lives with the desire to bring glory to God, in seeking to share the gospel with our family, friends, and co-workers, yet only to be personally attacked and mocked, is very hard. In suffering for Christ’s sake, we may be tempted to question God’s way. Why will God not defend us as we seek to follow and obey?

But we need to be convinced that:

“In choosing to follow Christ in the way He directs, we choose all that this path includes under His sovereign providence. Thus, all suffering that comes in the path of obedience is suffering with Christ and for Christ. Whether it's cancer or conflict, all experiences of suffering in the path of Christian obedience, whether it's from persecution or sickness or accident, have this in common: they all threaten our faith in the goodness of God, and they tempt us to leave the path of obedience. Therefore, every triumph of faith and all perseverance and obedience are testimonies to the goodness of God and the preciousness of Christ, whether the enemy is sickness, Satan, sin, or sabotage.”

“Suffering is the friction which polishes our graces.” The struggles which we face are just instruments in the hand of a loving God, conforming us more and more into citizens of heaven. Suffering is the small sharp scalpel used to cut away our cancerous sins. And the surgeon is our loving Father who desires nothing but our health.

The author to the Hebrews reminds us that, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” The suffering endured is for our good that we may share in His holiness. The purpose of Christian suffering is to yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness. And the very next thing that he says is, “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

I believe this exhortation echoes what Paul is teaching us: let your citizenship be worthy of the gospel. Stand firm and strive side by side, for it has been granted to you, from your loving Father, that you should suffer with and for the Lord Jesus Christ. But brothers and sisters, if you are anything like me, you desire to be obedient to your Father. You want all of your thoughts, every word, and even your hidden thoughts to reflect your heavenly citizenship. You do not want to be conformed to this evil age, but you want to be renewed by the Spirit of God, to reflect the age to come.

Yet as each one of us hear Paul’s call to stand, strive, and even suffer for Christ, we know that we so often have failed to obey. We have crumbled under the temptation of our class mate or co-worker. We refused to stand firm and gave in to what others around us were doing. And rather than seeing our difficulties and suffering as a gift from a loving Father, who desires nothing but our good, we grumbled and complained. And in those moments of failures we have wondered if we truly are citizens of heaven.

Believe, look up at me. Who is it that has perfectly stood firm against temptation? Our perfect Savior, was tried and tested in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. The devil offered him food in his starvation, protection from suffering, and a kingdom that cost nothing. Jesus remained steadfast for you and for me in the wilderness. We, like the nation of Israel, complain in our wilderness wanderings. But Jesus stands firm to save a people who so easily crumble under temptation.

Who is it that looked into the hate filled eyes of His enemies but never gave up?Jesus alone ran the race that was before Him perfectly, and even counted it a joy. Because He knew that at the completion of this race, He would reconcile sinful man to God. His love for us, enabled Him to strive.

The Apostle Paul was one who knew tremendous suffering and still could write that suffering has been granted to us by a loving God. But he would not have us stay focused on his own personal suffering. Rather Paul calls us to fix our eyes upon the suffering of Christ, who endured unspeakable pain in order to save us. Think of the estate that we would be left in if our Savior choose not to suffer. Congregation if that were true we would all be going to hell. If our salvation was left up to our striving and standing, we have no hope.

But praise be to God, that Jesus knew the cost and still for the joy set before Him He did not seek to run away from being obedient to His Father. No, His love for His own and the desire to remain obedient to the Father was too great. He underwent the curse and shame of the cross to pay the penalty of our sin. He suffered so that we may be saved from the coming wrath against all ungodliness.

And Jesus loves us so much, that He not only died so that we may be saved from this coming wrath but He loves us to much to leave us unchanged. He has promised to change us so that we will more and more be like Him. That is what should fill us with tremendous joy. Not only am I safe from judgement, I have God’s promise that I will be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. I have the Holy Spirit within, helping me each and every day to stand, strive, and suffer. Jesus’ perfect life and death not only saves me from hell but enables me to live as a citizen of Heaven.