2019-01-20 PHILIPPIANS 4:20-23 SAINTHOOD

SAINTHOOD (Phil. 4:20-23) January 20, 2019 Read Phil 4:20-23 – An interesting phenomenon used to occur at St. John’s Cathedral in Albuquerque. John Middleton was the sexton there and he used to answer the phone when the secretary was out: “St. John’s Cathedral, John speaking.” Humorous. But it exposes a point of great misunderstanding. We think of saints as impossibly holy people – elite status not reachable by a common person. This idea has been encouraged by the RC Church which has a canonization ritual by which it confers sainthood on a select few individuals already in heaven (so, not in purgatory). The process requires a local bishop to document a worthy life and submit a request to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints who may accept or reject the application. If accepted, it must be determined that at least one indisputable miracle (confirmed by docs and theologians) is attributable to the individual – after death. After death because that would show the person has intercessory pull with God. That makes a person “blessed.” A 2nd miracle allows conferring of sainthood. For example, on April 27, 2014, Pope Francis presided over a ceremony at the Vatican by which both Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII were canonized. The documentation for Pope John XXIII exceeded 2,000 pages, and yet he was canonized with only one miracle to his credit due to papal waiver by Pope Francis. You can see why people get confused. But here’s a news bulletin. It is not the church that confers sainthood; it is God. It is done, not based on the holiness of the individual, but on the holiness of Jesus Christ. It is, in fact, conferred on every single believer. So John asks that we call him St. John from now on! But you can claim the same title in return if you are in Christ. In Christ we are all saints. Paul addressed this letter to “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi.” At the end, he uses the title again. So, what’s the Bible teach about our status as saints? I. The Personage of Saints Who exactly are saints? Paul addresses all who are “in Christ Jesus” that way. It is not an elite few, who have been thru a rigorous canonization process. It’s all who are “in Christ.” Most of Paul’s letters address saints, including one to one of the most confused, carnal, churches of all time. I Cor 1:2: “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to 1 be saints.” Hardly a mature believer among them, let alone one of elite status. Yet Paul calls them saints, just before he lowers the boom on failure after failure. “Saint” is Paul’s favorite title for believers, used over 40 times by him. “Saint” (αγιος) is the noun form of holy, meaning separated or set apart. OT tabernacle implements are called “the most holy things” (Num 4:4). Aaron’s headdress, Exod 39:30 had an inscription: “Holy to the LORD.” An ordinary man -- designated as holy – set apart to God. That’s every believer. Saints have by faith been set apart from sin to God. Across the believer’s spiritual forehead is the engraving “Holy to the Lord” – set for His use. We don’t always live like it – but that is our exalted standing before the universe. Now -- some Latin? During the Reformation, Martin Luther said believers are simul Justus et peccator. Fantastic phrase. Simul – simultaneous – “at one and the same time.” Justus – just what it sounds like, just. Et – not the past tense of eat (!) but Latin for “and” as in et tu Brutei? (Caesar’s dying words to his friend – “And you too, Brutus?”). Peccator – we get impeccable or peccadillo from it – Latin for sinner. Put it together – Simul Justus et peccator – Simultaneously just and sinner. What sweet words. Still a sinner, but at the same time, just in God’s eyes bc the righteousness of Christ covers my unrighteousness. That’s being in Christ. Better in Christ than in Dave, right? But I’m a saint in Christ. Vernon McGee says: “There are only two kinds of people today: the saints and the ain’ts. If you are a saint, then you are not an ain’t. If you ain’t an ain’t, then you are a saint.” So a woman trying to call St. Elizabeth Hospital got the wrong number. A voice answered, “Hello.” The caller asked, “St. Elizabeth?” There was a pause then, “Well, yes. But most everyone calls me Betty.” I don’t know if she was a believer or not, but if she was, she got it right. She was a saint – just one who normally went by her ordinary name. So are all who are in Christ. II. The Priority of Saints 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.” Saints are not people to be worshiped; they are people who give worship. They know the highest human act is to glorify God. Not just singing hymns and praise choruses. That’s one way to glorify God, but the main way we glorify God is by reflecting His character in daily life. That is the priority of every true saint. We glorify God when we function properly in our universe. Ward Kimball was a Disney animator. While making Snow White he worked for a full year 2 on a 4-1/2 minute sequence in which the dwarves make soup for Snow White and almost destroy the kitchen in the process. Disney loved it – found the finished scene very funny. But he also realized the scene stopped the flow of the picture – so out it went – a full year’s work. It was good, but it wasn’t best. So, as saints, we’re all making our own life movie. We decide what gets in and what gets out. And the ultimate question isn’t is it good or bad, but does it magnify God – show Him off to best advantage. Obviously sin has to go, but sometimes good has to give way to best – to make Him shine. Whatever our life’s calling, that’s the priority of true saints – God’s glory. III. The Partnership of Saints 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you.” Isn’t that good? Paul’s got every saint greeting every other saint from Rome to Philippi. What a community. Like no other. Every single saint has God as Father, and every other saint a brother or sister in Christ. Even the greatest earthly family can’t compare to the family of God. 22 Who are the brothers with Paul? Well, they probably included some of the greatest names in the early church. Timothy was there – and Epaphroditus. Tychicus, who took the letters to the Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon was there – perhaps Aristarchus, a long-time companion, and Onesimus, the converted runaway slave. And very likely Mark and Luke. Prominent people, yes! But nevertheless, just brothers. Fellow-saints. Part of the family. This all shows us there is to be no favoritism in the church because there is “no partiality with God” (Rom 2:11). To rank people would do damage to His character rather than reflect it in its proper, glorious light. No one is more important than anyone else – in Christ! There were no backward collars or elaborate titles or spiritual elites here. Paul called himself “the least of the apostles” (I Cor 15:9) and as the “foremost of sinners” (I Tim 1:15-16). They not only got what Jesus said in Matt 23:8-12; they were living it: “But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Naturally, we’ll like some people more than others. But that must not govern how we act toward one another. During WWI a few miles behind the Western 3 front was a hut named Talbot House. It was a meeting place for men going up to the trenches and men coming back. Communion was served in the loft – truly an upper room and literally a last supper for many men. Over the door were these words: “Abandon rank all ye who enter here.” Such words belong over every place where saints gather, commune and live. In common we’re all sinners confessing our sins at the foot of the cross. That common experience of forgiveness and cleansing binds us together as brothers and sisters in Christ. It is that common experience that needs to inform our life together as saints. IV. Privilege of the Saints 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.” Isn’t this amazing! The gospel had penetrated that most pagan of earthly environments, and some among Nero’s administration had come to faith in Christ because of Paul’s imprisonment. No doubt some were the praetorian guards, but there were likely others as well. The 19th century scholar J. B. Lightfoot found some striking parallels between names in Paul’s extensive greetings at the end of Romans and contemporary names of members of Nero’s household lists. But why did Paul specifically mention Caesar’s household. I think there would have been at least two reasons. First, this shows that the gospel can go anywhere and reach any person. No one is too high or too low, too good or too bad, too important or too insignificant to need the gospel. Anyone can be a saint! You don’t need to be canonized; you just need to be “in Christ.” One young woman fresh from Norway chose to live in NYC rather than with relatives in MN. A visiting cousin asked why someone used to fjords and vast open spaces would want to live in such a crowded urban setting. Her answer? “Well, you see, in Norway, we only have Norwegians. But in America you have everybody!” I love that. I wish it for every church. The gospel embraces everybody. The more diverse, the more we reflect the character of our heavenly Father. From the gutter to Caesar’s household – saints everywhere! But I think there’s a 2nd reason Paul mentioned Caesar’s household. These had found their place among the elite of their day. They were in the palace – among the most privileged people on earth. But how did they see themselves now? As saints, anxious to greet other brothers and sisters in Philippi. Their greatest identity had been, “I’m part of the household of Caesar.” But they’d found an infinitely higher identity: “I’m part of the family of God.” The bar had been raised. Caesar had earthly status. Saints have heavenly status. 4 I had some friends one time who were given tickets to an Angel game that included a free parking pass. Great, but it didn’t register beyond that. They got in, bought a hot dog and coke and headed for their seats – only to find that the tickets were to a luxury suite – all air conditioned and supplied with every kind of food and drink imaginable – free of charge. In a very small way, that’s the difference between being of the household of Caesar and being of the household of God. Saints are, indeed, privileged people. V. The Power of Saints 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Isn’t that a beautiful sentiment? But it’s more than a sentiment, Beloved. Remember how Paul started this epistle? 1:2: “Grace to you.” Now he’s come full circle. Everything he’s advised is powered by grace. So he prays, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Your spirit won’t get you very far on your own. But the grace of God poured out by the Holy Spirit into your spirit will change your life. That’s what Paul wanted. Grace-empowered saints. In my elementary school an eye-examiner came every year to check us out. If we needed glasses, they’d send a note home. In 5th grace, I got the note. No surprise. I couldn’t see the board from the back of the room. But I didn’t give the note to my parents! Made the mature decision that we didn’t have enough money for glasses and I could just move up a couple of rows. Next year – same exam. But this time, knowing something fishy as going on, they posted the note to my parents, and I shortly found myself at the optometrist’s office being fitted. Two weeks later glasses arrived. I’ll never forget riding down the street and everything was so clear. I could read signs blocks away. So since that day, if I want to see the world, I need glasses – first thing in the morning til last thing at night – my way of seeing the reality of the physical world. The point is we all see ultimate reality through some kind of lenses. For most of us, it’s the lens of fairness. We want everything to be fair – for ourselves and for others. I call a help line and I’m fine with a one minute wait. But after that it’s how could they be so insensitive as to keep me waiting. It’s not fair. After waiting a half hour for the doctor, I’m seething that he thinks his time is more important than mine. Every day in every way, I’m looking for fair. And I treat others from that perspective. That guy cut me off – he’s getting a mean look. That person done me wrong – never doing anything nice for them again. She took credit for my idea – that’s it, she’s out of my will. Fairness drives us. 5 But saints see thru a different lens: “If I got fair; what I deserve, I’d have been vaporized a long time ago. Instead of fair, my heavenly Father gave me grace. So now—I want that same principle to characterize and empower my life. I want to be grace-driven, not fairness-driven because that will show off my Father to best advantage.” So when the neighbor’s leaves fall in my yard, I’ll rake them up – and maybe his too. When they reject my suggestion for beige carpet at church, I’ll help them lay the blue. Oh, Beloved, grace living is so much better. It’s the power of saints that the rest of the world do not have. Watchman Nee used to tell of a Chinese Xn, a poor rice farmer. Every day he would fill his rice patties with water only to have his neighbor drain the water into his own rice patties on lower ground. He ignored this offense for a time, but soon realize it would be his financial ruin. He prayed for a solution; God pointed him to grace. Early next morning he filled his neighbor’s field first and then filled his own. Is it any surprise that his neighbor soon became a Xn as well. A saint, empowered by grace. Many of us here this morning need to take off the fairness glasses, examine our troubles through the lenses of grace and watch the power of God at work. Great challenge. Conc – Dr. Harry Ironside was on a 4-day trip from Chicago to LA. In his car was a party of nuns. As he read his Bible daily, they began to engage him in conversation about spiritual things, and soon they realized what a great student of the Word and teacher he was. On the 3rd day, he engaged them in this way. He asked if any of them had ever seen a saint. Coming from their Catholic background they all acknowledged they never had. So he asked, “Well, would you like to see one?” “Oh, yes,” was the answer. So Harry Ironside told them, “Well, you’re looking at one. I’m St. Harry.” And then he showed them from the Bible some of the truths we’ve been studying this morning. Who’s a saint? Anyone who by faith is “in Christ.” All who have trusted Him as Savior and Lord. All saints! So, let’s live like it. Let’s pray. 6