Heavenly Colonies in Earthly Countries

Do you remember back in elementary and middle school when the teacher would leave the classroom and the class would break loose? Or when, in high school, your teacher showed up late to class so you were able to waste time and goof around? I always remember the one time my parents went out on a date and left a baby sitter with a friend and I and we decided to play football in the house. Do you remember those times when the authority was gone and you just cut loose?

Well, I think Paul had a little of that teacher/parent feeling going on here with regard to the Philippian church. In his absence there is disagreement, there’s division, there’s selfishness, and there’s question about whether or not the gospel would thrive should Paul not make it out alive and during his absence there is this kind of loose headedness going on. And so, as Paul writes to the church at Philippi he spends all of the first chapter really giving an autobiography of all that is going on with him and how they have been impacted by grace and now, in verses 27-30, we find where position meets action as Paul calls this church to live as a Heavenly Colony in an Earthly Country.

A Summons to Combative Unity (v27)

Our Conduct

To Conduct ourselves as Citizens

(Acts 16:12, 21, 37, 38) Philippi was a proud Roman colony, as a matter of fact, it what famous for being considered a miniature Rome. These colonies were noted for their fanatic loyalty to Rome. The citizens kept and adored Roman culture, the Roman language, titles, customs, affair, and dress. They would not allow any other culture to influence them at all. They were Romans that just happened to be in another environment.

As Paul says, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ...” He is doing a very interesting play on words. The Word that he uses for conversation, which means your walk or behavior, is a word only used twice in the whole NT. And it means “To conduct and behave as a citizen.” These Philippians grew up with great pride of their Roman heritage but when God saved them they became citizens of a greater country and Paul is encouraging them to live their lives worthily of their heavenly identity, to live in a way that well represents their heavenly homeland.

These colonies became Roman because Rome would send retiring soldiers to go in and to unwavering evangelize Roman culture without changing and their influence was so strong that instead of them becoming Philippian in culture, Philippi became Roman in culture. These new believers understood that we are to be representatives of a Heavenly country, uncontrolled by the things of this world. They are to be light, ambassadors, and representatives of their true Home. Paul hones in on this attitude when he uses the word, “only” at the beginning of the verse. That word gives prominence to this advice and shows that he is singling out what they are to focus on.

To Conduct ourselves as Worshipers

Alexander the Great once met a lazy soldier in his army. While approaching the soldier he said, “What is your name, soldier?” to which he replied, “My name is Alexander.” Alexander the Great looked at him and said, “Well then, change your name or change your ways!”

Paul, in this verse, says, “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” The word becometh comes from the word “axios” which could mean having the weight of another object of like value which could give off the illustration of a balanced scale. To look at someone and to say, “That is a very becoming outfit.” Would be to say that it is very flattering or complementary to you. In like fashion, if we have accepted the gospel, put on the coat of Christ’s righteousness, and put on the New Man, then we are to obviously be seen as wearing the gospel!

Our lives are to be seen as striving to walk worthy of the message we preach. I understand that this statement may be in reference to ones conduct corrupting the power of their message. So the question should be asked, “Do I live this message?” A man once said, “If we don’t live it, we don’t believe it!” And, Oh, how convicting and true that statement is! Friends, do we believe the value of this message!? If so, are we living like it?

The Bohemian reformer John Hus was a man who believed the Scriptures to be the infallible and supreme authority in all matters. He died at the stake for that belief in Constance, Germany, on his forty-second birthday. As he refused a final plea to renounce his faith, Hus's last words were, "What I taught with my lips, I seal with my blood."

A quick idea of this worthy walk is seen in Colossians 1:9-10

This walk is one striving to please God in all respects

This walk is a fruitful one.

This walk is one of increase in the knowledge of God

This walk is one where we are strengthened with all power… why?

For the attaining of steadfastness and patience

That we might joyously live in giving thanks to the Father.

Our Cohesive Mindset

The Mindset of a Warrior

Perhaps you’ve read about the famous battle of Thermopylae (or saw one of the movies about it). In 480 BC an alliance of Greek-city states, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, fought against the mighty Persian army. The battle took place at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the Persians for three days in one of history’s most famous last stands. A small force led by King Leonidas, including his famous group of 300 Spartans, blocked the only road through which the massive army of Persia’s Xerxes the Great could pass. Likewise, the Philippian congregation may have felt vastly outnumbered, but they were called to stand courageously against hostile forces. And they were to do this together, under the kingship of Jesus, who has already won the ultimate battle.

Paul calls on these believers to “Stand firm in one spirit” even in his absence that he might hear of their well doing. This is the desire of any leader, just as John said in 3 John, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Paul made it obvious that this church could stand and fight on for the Lord with, or without him being there. And so, as he instructs them of their conduct around the Gospel, he now calls them to have a cohesive mindset and that of a warrior.

When Paul says one spirit we don’t have to do much to know that this is congregation that has been marvelously redeemed by God and are now indwelt and empower by the Spirit. Within this flock there is to be a spirit, or atmosphere, with a steadfast mindset set.

The word steadfast is “steko” and it means to be firmly committed to your belief, to stand firm in your faith and duty, and to persevere. This was a word that was used in the context of military battles to refer to a soldier who determined to never leave his post no matter how bad the battle raged. This is the man who has decided to stand his ground no matter the severity of battle.

The Roman army was known to form what was called “The Testudo” or “The Tortoise”. This would be an army formation where a square formation of men would take their shields and the front line would have their shields in front of them while those behind them would cover their heads from enemy fire. This was a formation that was highly effective but only achieved with skill and unity among the soldiers. In short, it took total commitment

What Paul is calling the Philippians, and ourselves to today, is to have a mindset that we know Christ, we know the truth, we know His gospel and we aren’t backing down. We aren’t giving up or giving in, but we are going to stand for His glory no matter how hard it gets. This wasn’t merely the mindset of one leader, but the heartfelt passion of the whole church!

Is this your heart today as you gather with fellow believers? Do you desire to hold firm your position in the fight for truth and what is right?

The Mindset of an Athlete

Remember the Titans is one of my favorite sports movies. It’s the story of a high school football team in Virginia in their first season as an ethnically integrated unit. They had to overcome some serious internal strife before they could win games against their opponents. They resolved many of the tensions at a two-week training camp at Gettysburg. Before they could win, they had to become a unit. Don’t spend your energy on foolish debates and on things that don’t center on advancing the gospel. We have a mission field to engage; we don’t need fighting in the barracks and in the locker room!

Paul uses the term “pysche” here for the word mind. This is his call for all believers to be set upon the same purpose. They must be focused on their goal, the gospel. In the midst of a divide world, there must be a united church!

The word that Paul uses for striving together is “sunathleo”. This suggests a group of athletes cooperating together as a team working toward a desired goal.

Psalm 133:3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

And this goal is not merely one of a sizeable wallet or a famous name but one for the value of the gospel of Christ!

Yet, in both war and in athletics there is always opposition in striving for the goal before you and this is what Paul notes next in v28

Our Struggle, seen Properly

There will be persecutors in this life

Have you ever faced opposition for your belief in Christ? Christ said “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake.” In the face of struggle and conflict with the World it is important to remember that Christ did not get along with everyone. I believe we have a wrong view of what a good Christian is. In our mind the good Christian man is one who is moral, popular, loved by all and well known. But this was not the case with our Lord who they crucified. Yes, He was moral, but they did not admire Him for it, they killed Him. And when you and I face the animosity of this world for our faith, it is not you and I they dislike, but the One who we have been sent to represent! But, both Paul and Christ have things to encourage us with in the face of persecution or hate. Christ says we are blessed, and here in our text, Paul says we are not to be terrified.

Diodorus Siculus, speaking of chariot-horses of Darius at battle of Issus "Frightened (pturomenoi) by reason of the multitude of the dead heaped round them, they shook off their reins."

Paul is saying that the Philippians are not to be startled, frightened or terrified like an uncontrollable stampede of horses. God wants fearless fighters with undaunted courage, who will not be startled or intimidated by anything. Such holy boldness is note natural but supernatural, produced by the Holy Spirit

Driving through Texas, a New Yorker collided with a truck carrying a horse. A few months later he tried to collect damages for his injuries. "How can you now claim to have all these injuries?" asked the insurance company's lawyer. "According to the police report, at the time you said you were not hurt." "Look," replied the New Yorker. "I was lying on the road in a lot of pain, and I heard someone say the horse had a broken leg. The next thing I know this Texas Ranger pulls out his gun and shoots the horse. Then he turns to me and asks, "Are you okay?'" There are times where we find ourselves in the middle of suffering and we take the events around us the wrong way. You may remember a few weeks ago I told you all about the older man who looked to his younger friend in the midst of their trial and said, “Let there be something for the glory of Christ in this.” This is certainly how we want to be and here Paul is going to show us four ways to see persecution.

And so, let us look at four ways Paul calls us to see these problems:

Persecution reveals the reality of their souls condition

The word evident token comes from a word that is a legal term meaning “to lay out information against someone, to expose with proof.” It is an indicator pointing to something coming. In short, Paul is saying that if they persecute your because of the gospel, then it is visibly apparent to you that they are condemned before God.

Persecution reminds you of your salvation

Not only does this suffering show you that they are dead in sin, but the believers deep commitment to the gospel no matter what is a sure sign of our salvation. That no matter the consequence we look to Christ who, Philippians 2:8 tells us, “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Persecution gives reason to rejoice

The word for “given” there is charizomai. This means that both the gift of faith to believe the gospel and the gift of suffering are undeserved, gracious gifts of God’s favor to us. But this is not suffering for any purpose, but suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Acts 5:41 “41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”

1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

Romans 5:3  “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”

When you suffer for the sake of the name of Christ you can count yourself as standing in company with Paul, Peter, the rest of the Apostles, the early Church, and most of all Christ Himself. Though it is uncomfortable, the Scriptures speak of it as being a gift to the good of yourself and the glory of God!

Persecution causes us to recall the example of Paul and those gone before us.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we come to understand that Paul’s call is that our entire lives: our joy, our devotion, our friendships, our labor, etc. is concerned around the gospel. Take this nutshell version of the text: The Gospel of Christ is at the Center of my Cause.

Here are four take-aways from this text for you as you live as a heavenly colony in an earthy country:

When the enemy comes, stand firmly

Since the charge is given, striving forward in the fight

In the midst of battle, continue fearlessly

In all of this, do it in unity.

Take note of the unifying notes in v27 and Philippians 2:1-2