Philippians 3:17-4:1 - Citizenship 101

According to Cornell University, a citizen is a person who, by place of birth, nationality of one or both parents, or naturalization is granted full rights and responsibilities as a member of a nation or political community.

Each of us here is a citizen of a country. I would assume most, if not all of us, are citizens of the United States. We each have a social security card which lets people know that we are legitimate citizens of this country. When we apply for a driver’s license, we must present that card to prove our identity. Many jobs require us to show our social security card for employment as well. The card acts a government seal for us. It provides proof of true citizenship.

But how did we become citizens? Most of us were born here. We are citizens because we were born to citizens. This birth process gives us the full rights as provided under our constitution. Some of us were adopted into citizenship. Others may have come here as adult and went through classes to become a citizen.

However, today we are going to be discussing a different kind of citizenship. The citizenship we are talking about today isn’t one in which you can be born into or even work towards through human effort. Yes, being born into a Christian family is a tremendous blessing, but you do not get your citizenship seal for being in a Christian family. You also don’t receive citizenship just because you are a hard worker. The citizenship we are discussing is being a citizen of heaven. The blessings and protections provided by the city we are talking about today are far beyond anything we could expect on this side of eternity. But how do we attain the seal of citizenship of heaven? And how do we walk on earth once we have attained that seal?

Join me as we read Philippians 3:17-4:1

Philippians 3:17–4:1 ESV

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Prayer

Today we are going to discuss four different ways in which citizens of heaven should walk while on earth..

I. Heaven Bound Citizens Should...Follow Godly Examples (3:17)

Philippians 3:17 ESV

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Here we see that Paul continues talking to those who are believers as he calls them brothers, Greek being adelphos (a-dell-phose), again. In fact this is the third time he has used this word in this third chapter alone!

He then encourages them to imitate him as well as other mature believers. This word imitate can also mean mimic. And he uses the phrase “keep your eyes on” which is actually just one Greek word, skopeō (sko-pay-o). This word means to notice carefully or to fix your attention toward. It is a phrase that encourages diligence in action.

In other words, Paul is encouraging the believers in Philippi to find godly mentors in order that they might diligently study and imitate them.

There is a ton of application in regards to this one verse. The most obvious is at the heart of our church. Our church mission statement is (read all together)

A family of believers. Discipled to make disciples.

Obviously this first part of the mission statement goes right along with Paul’s affirmation that the people he is speaking to are brothers. This was a common term that stood for those who are believers in Christ. We are a family of believers.

The next part of our mission statement moves into what Paul is encouraging here. Discipled to make disciples.

We hear a lot of people throw around the term discipleship in churches. There are countless seminars and books that have been written about how to do quality discipleship. The key to quality discipleship is to have a quality family. And a quality family requires time, effort, communication, and diligence to grow closer together.

As believers, we need to always have people discipling us and always be discipling others.

The most applicable part of this Scripture today is being discipled by others. Paul encourages believers not to just attach to one person. He does encourage them to imitate him, but he also mentions other godly examples that they need to follow. Each believer has sin their life. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. It is of utmost importance that we find multiple people throughout our lives that we can learn from that can sharpen us in different ways.

And as we grow, we need to take that wisdom and disciple and evangelize to others. We need to share the Gospel and then help others grow in their knowledge of the Scriptures. We don’t have to have it all together in order to start discipling someone else. We just need to be ready and willing to invest time and energy into that person. We need to exercise humility when they bring up something we can’t answer and then we can go to someone who is discipling us to try to find the answer!

This first point is summarized in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 27:17

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

If we want to see growth in our church family, then we need to be sharpening one another. This sharpening occurs through doing life together through discipleship and mentoring. I challenge each of you to think of at least one or two people that you would like to spend some time with in order to be mentored by them and think of one or two people that you think you could invest into by mentoring them. Finally, I challenge you to step up and reach out to those people and attempt to meet soon. Sometimes it might not work out. Sometimes schedules don’t work out, or personalities don’t match up, or something else gets in the way. But we need to continue pursuing relationships with other believers so that we see spiritual growth in ourselves and others around us.

My final qualification here would be that these relationships should always be men with men and women with women. I find it unnecessary to expound upon that, but it is great wisdom to keep that boundary in discipleship.

Next we see that...

Scripture References: Proverbs 27:17

II. Heaven Bound Citizens Should…Flee from Ungodly Pretenders (3:18-19)

Philippians 3:18–19 ESV

18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Right after discussing who to follow and emulate, Paul jumps into who not to imitate. He says this with great emotion as well. He is reiterating to them a warning against false teachers and unbelievers. We see that it is a warning that he has given them many times since he uses the word ‘often’ here. Yet, it is one that brings him tears as he speaks of those who are doomed to destruction. He sees the eternal torment that these people will face if they never repent of their sins. And it breaks his heart that there are so many who oppose the good news of the Gospel.

He refers to these ungodly pretenders - those who claim to know the way to live but yet live in direct opposition to God and his commands - as:

Enemies of the Cross of Christ

Who are the enemies of the cross of Christ in which Paul was referring to? We are not entirely sure. Commentators make plenty of speculations. One of the most obvious may be the dogs mentioned in Philippians 3:3. These were the Judaizers who tried to add works into salvation and thus were enemies of the cross of Christ. However, this does not seem to be limited to them only. It seems to refer to all of those who deny the power of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. The cross of Christ as mentioned here isn’t just those who are opposed to two boards that are arranged in a cross-like pattern. Those who are enemies of the cross of Christ are those who are opposed to the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have many enemies of the cross of Christ today my friends. We must be keenly aware of these people and avoid their cunning and deceptive teaching that can creep into our workplaces, our schools, and even our churches. This false teaching is nothing more than the false gospels peddled by those who are enemies of the cross of Christ.

Following this intense and direct name for those who oppose the Gospel, Paul gives four different descriptions of these people:

1. Their Destruction - Their end is destruction (19a)

This destruction is further described in another letter from Paul -

2 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Paul pulls no punches as he discusses the eternal state of those who are enemies of the cross of Christ. They will suffer eternal punishment in Hell. A literal place of torment. Many would think this would be the last point he would make about these people as a sort of climax. However, he wants to make sure the Philippians understand the severity of the sins of these people who oppose Christ from the onset of his description.

2. Their Deification - Their god is their belly (19b)

This statement about their god being their belly is much like what Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:1-3.

2 Timothy 3:1–3 ESV

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

Those who are enemies of the Cross of Christ are self-deifiers. They worship the god of self. When Paul states their god is their belly, he means that they follow all of their earthly and sensual desires. Whether it is gluttony, adultery, or luxury. They are fascinated and bent on filling their fleshly desires. They refuse to obey God and instead glorify and exalt themselves alone.

3. Their Demonstration - They glory in their shame (19c)

It isn’t enough that they self-deify and follow their own ways instead of God’s. They also glory in their shame. They are proud of their wicked ways.

Their glory days on earth will have a destructive end. Paul warns those who disregard the commands of the Lord and revel in their sinful lifestyles.

Finally we get to...

4. Their Determination - With minds set on earthly things (19d)

These enemies of the Cross of Christ are only set on doing things that exalt themselves on earth. They have no thought of the days to come in eternity.

Brothers and sisters, Flee from ungodly pretenders. Those who seem to have an answer for everything but deny the cross of Christ. Destruction is coming for them. Do not walk in the way of these men and women. Flee.

Next we see...

Scripture References: Philippians 3:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, 2 Timothy 3:1-3

III. Heaven Bound Citizens Should...Fasten to Their Savior (3:20-21)

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Translators have rightly translated this Greek word, gar, as the transition word ‘but’ to start this particular sentence off. However, it is most often translated ‘for’ or ‘because.’ We see this as the same word in which verse 18 was started and it was translated as ‘for.’ In fact, out of the 1009 times this word is used in the New Testament, it is only translated as the transition word ‘but’ twice (1 Peter 4:15)!

Philippians 3:17–20 (ESV)

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom.....19..... set on earthly things. 20 (But) For our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:17-20 ESV ) Underlined added by me for explanation*

Paul wanted to insert the warning that he placed in verses 18-19 but verse 20 actually reflects back to verse 17. As we see on this slide: Verse 17 says....We need to imitate godly examples…and moving into verse 20 says...for our citizenship is heaven.

Yet in English, it makes much more sense to use the transition word ‘but’ to start off verse 20 because of the change in content in verses 18-19.

After comparing and contrasting our examples of godly believers and the examples of ungodly pretenders, we come to a wonderful word in this Scripture today. In fact, it is the reason I entitled the message what I entitled it! Citizenship 101. Here we see the basics of what it means to be a citizen of heaven.

Philippians 3:20 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

We see that we are already citizens in heaven. We might be on earth, but once we have placed our trust and faith in Jesus Christ and been saved, we are officially citizens of heaven immediately! And we are given the seal of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our citizenship. And that seal is much more sure than any social security card! And the benefits from it are much more sure than the benefits of our future social security system as well!

We are given an eternal security system! I know that term has been misused and misapplied many times in the past. Frankly, I used to be very turned off by it because I would hear preachers say that people were eternally secure because they had made a head decision or intellectual decision to follow Christ. But what I have come to understand is that the reason the teaching of eternal security can be dangerous and falsely taught is that salvation is not taught correctly.

Brothers and sisters - in order for us to be citizens of heaven we have to fasten ourselves to Christ. That means that we are to die to ourselves.

To become a true citizen of heaven, you need to believe that Jesus Christ is God-made flesh. That He died on the cross for your sins and rose three days later. And that He has paid the penalty for your sins. But you must also repent or turn away from your own sins and fasten yourself to Christ. No longer do you walk the path and road that you want to walk. You walk where Christ wants you to walk.

Only when we truly submit to the Lordship of Christ, can we be born again. The theological term here is regeneration. We are made new.

Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

When we truly lay our lives down at the foot of the cross and give up control over our lives and submit to Christ - He promises to make us a new person. He fills us with the Holy Spirit and we have a new heart! The Holy Spirit is given as a guarantee of our eternal salvation with Jesus Christ. It is a guarantee of our citizenship in heaven. We have a new homeland! We are heaven bound!

Brothers and sisters - are you heaven bound? Are you regenerated? Have you been born again and made new? I pray if you aren’t sure, that you speak with me or another believer after the service. I’d love to walk you through what it means to be a born-again believer.

Time fails me to expound as much as I would like about one of the wonderful rewards of being a citizen of heaven as seen in verse 21:

Philippians 3:21 ESV

21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

But just know that we will be given a body that never fails. A body that never ages. A resurrected glorified body given to us from Christ, Himself. No more arthritis. No more cancer. No more pain. No more sin. We will be perfected and glorified with Christ for all eternity. How beautiful is that promise for those who are heaven bound!

Lastly we see that...

Scripture References: 1 Peter 4:15, Ezekiel 36:26

IV. Heaven Bound Citizens Should…Be Founded with Firmness (4:1)

Philippians 4:1 ESV

1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Paul loves his transition words as we have seen thus far in this book. He starts verse 1 out with therefore - meaning in light of what I have just told you - in light of the fact that you are citizens of heaven - in light of the command to imitate mature believers - in light of his warning to avoid false pretenders - in light of the glorious promise of a glorified body and eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Stand firm thus in the Lord.

This exhortation to stand firm comes with some wonderful praise as well. He lets the believers of Philippi know twice in this verse that he loves them (‘whom I love’ and ‘my beloved’). He calls them his joy. What a kind word of encouragement to these believers. He lets them know that he is blessed with joy as he considers the blessing that they are to him. This joy is from a personal relationship that he has with them.

We can have joy when we disciple others as well. When we spend time doing life with other people, God can give us incredible joy as we see them take steps of faith toward God.

I heard this joy this past week as Rylee (the daughter of Brother David Atwell who has filled the pulpit for me a couple of times this year) spoke with my wife and I this past week. She discussed a friend of hers who she has been seeing take giant leaps of faith as of late which is causing tremendous growth in her life. This is bringing Rylee joy as she watches her friend grow in her relationship with Christ. And that joy is evident in Rylee as she speaks about the spiritual growth of her friend.

Paul then refers to these believers as his crown. This reference is twofold in nature. It shows that he is proud of these believers for standing firm and standing strong in the faith. And it also likely references the reward he has in heaven through his work as an Apostle. We all will be given rewards based on our work on earth. Our works do not gain us salvation or keep salvation for us. However, our works will be judged in the end. This judgment will be based moreso on our humility and heart for God rather than the fruitfulness of our labor. We plant and it is God who gives the growth (1 Cor 3:5-9).

Now let’s refer back to his exhortation to stand firm - which is the Greek word, stēkō (stay-co). If you remember earlier in this series we discussed this word in great detail. This Greek word translated standing firm was a military word which meant to stand firm despite any opposition or danger that was coming. It may even mean the sacrifice of one’s life. When placed in this context, it is an exhortation to not compromise on your faith or belief no matter what the cost.

We are to be founded with firmness. Our foundation is a firm and sure foundation my friends. It is on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. As we have discussed time and time again, there is no greater place to build your life than on the solid rock of Jesus.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Conclusion:

As we come to a close, I pray that you have a greater understanding of your heavenly citizenship. May you follow godly examples and flee from ungodly pretenders. May you always stay fastened to your savior being founded with firmness on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

As the beautiful old hymn states:

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sand

Let us pray.

Prayer

If you would like to learn more about salvation through Jesus Christ or want to obey Jesus by obeying the first commandment of a believer in going through the waters of baptism - please let me know.