Christmas 1a

Living as Citizens of Heaven

Philippians 2:12–21 EHV

12 So then, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you, but also now much more in my absence, continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 In fact, it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish among a crooked and perverted generation. You shine among them like lights in the world, 16 as you hold on to the word of life. Then I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I continue to be glad and rejoice with you all. 18 In the same way, also be glad and rejoice with me. 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 To be sure, I have no one else like him, who will be genuinely concerned about your welfare. 21 For, the others all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

As the New Year—2022—is just a couple days away, I am praying that the New Year will be one of good health, happiness, and an abundance of God’s blessing for you and yours.

I, for one, am going to make Philippians chapter 2 my passage for the year, and I encourage you to do the same. In the text St. Paul has an interesting expression: “continue to work out your own salvation” (verse 12). He emphasizes that after our conversion we are actively involved in the battle. We may very well tremble with fear knowing that the devil is constantly at work seeking to destroy our faith (1 Peter 5:8). So, the work we need to do to resist him (1 Peter 5:9), by using the means of grace (the Word and Sacraments) because that is the way the Spirit has chosen to strengthen and keep us in our faith (Romans 10:17; Ephesians 3:16).

Ephesians 2:8–10 reminds us that God does all the work of saving us, yet provides opportunities for sanctified works to thank God for saving us. In fact, the words of Phil. 2:13, “God who is working in you,” explain that God is the one doing the work in us. God, the Holy Spirit, uses the means of grace (the Word and Sacraments) to bring us to faith and to keep us in the faith. St. Paul warns us not to put our trust and confidence in the world or in our works, but instead to rely on Jesus and His work for us. He directs our thoughts toward our journey toward heaven. He concentrates on the struggle of conforming our lives as Christians to the will of God.

Paul admits that he is not yet perfect, nor has he obtained all that he was writing about (Phil. 3:10, 11). But he is like a runner is continually trying to improve. He is pressing hard to attain his goal. He also points to the importance of priorities in a person’s life. “One thing I do.” Paul’s priority? He forgets what is behind and stretches and reaches for what is ahead, like athletes as they compete in a race.

People of God, we need to keep our eyes on the prize. It is so easy to get distracted by the events taking place in the world. Consider the example of Peter when he walked on the water. He was distracted by the storm and took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink (Mt 14:22–31). Paul urges “to press on” toward the goal. There is urgency here. God has called us to this goal, and He has promised to help us (John 15:5). Again, His Word and Sacraments are the means He has chosen to use in order to help us stay connected to Him.

Our Philippian text encourages us all to view things in a particular way. We are athletes racing to the finish line. We have a course to follow. If we leave the course and run our own way, we can expect to lose ground. Just as a runner needs self-control and has a rigid training program, so a Christian needs the same type of program in his/her life (see 1 Cor. 9:24–27; 2 Tim 2:5).

Paul also encourages us to follow his example. He says, “Look at my life and the pattern that I have been setting.” Look at others who are also living according to this pattern. The Apostle warns us not to imitate the wrong example set by those who are living for this world. We are pilgrims and strangers here on earth (1 Peter 2:11).

He now expands his warning by pointing out that there are many who claim to be religious, but are actually enemies of the cross of Christ (see, Philippians 3:1–6). Paul had been speaking about the Judaizers within the Christian church. They were people who wished to shackle believers with all the Old Testament ceremonial laws and regulations. All of these laws and regulations had been fulfilled and set aside by the death and resurrection of Jesus (Col 2:13–19).

The terrible consequences for these Judaizers and all who place rules and regulations at the heart of their relationship with God is destruction. Paul weeps for them. He is sorry to see so many claim to be followers of Christ, but by their actions deny Jesus and the way of salvation. He sums up their condition: they are earthly-minded. They are glorying in themselves, in their religion and in their own achievements.

Our citizenship however is in heaven. We are not earthly-minded. We know that we are merely passing through this world. We have a much better home awaiting us in heaven. The believers of old, Abraham and Moses, demonstrate the effect that this has on a person’s outlook and attitudes (Hebrews 11:13–16). Because Abraham was not earthbound, he was content to live in a tent although the land had been promised to him. Moses did not accept the glory that could have been his in this world (Hebrews 11:24–26). He knew of a greater glory that awaited him in the heavenly kingdom.

We are eagerly awaiting our Savior’s return. For he has promised us that he will return and take us, body and soul, to be with him forever (1 Thess. 4:13–17). The citizen of heaven, living on earth, is not discouraged going on in the world because he knows that one day his Savior will return.

When the Savior returns, exciting things will happen for the faithful. We will be glorified. We will become holy and perfect just as Jesus is right now (1 Cor. 15:51–53). Our Savior will bring everything under his control. He will set everything in its proper order.

So “continue to work out your own salvation” (verse 12). Make a commitment to join a Bible class here with your sisters and brothers. Turn up your devotional life by daily Bible reading. And come to receive the Sacrament often. All these are the means that the Holy Spirit has chosen to strengthen and keep us in the faith (Romans 10:17; Ephesians 3:16).

God’s Richest Blessings in this New Year,