Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and may our Lord and Savior sanctify you in the truth, for His word is truth. Amen

The Second Sunday in Lent (2010)

Citizens of heaven are Aliens in the World Rev. Toby Byrd

Philip. 3:17-4:1 (ESV)

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.

[4:1] Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

This letter to the Philippians reveals St. Paul’s intense love and admiration for the congregation at Philippi. This is one of his mission congregations. Made up mostly of retired Roman soldiers and their families, the congregation at Philippi remained orthodox to the teachings of St. Paul. They were unified in doctrine and practice, a true family of believers unswayed by the world. St. Paul reminds them to stay that way by doing, “all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philip. 2:14-15 ESV). Yes, they were children of God not children of the world, as such they stood in contrast to the world and its ways, they were Citizens of heaven and therefore Aliens in the World.

St. Paul is aware of the influence of the world upon the church. He is aware of the strain this influence causes within the church; therefore the closing remarks of his letter are aimed at encouraging the congregation at Philippi to strain toward the Goal of heavenly citizenship. He says, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (v. 17).

Who did St. Paul imitate, none other than our Lord, Jesus Christ. Thus, St. Paul is encouraging the Philippians to imitate Christ. To be of one mind with our Lord who humiliated Himself in becoming a man so He could be our servant and in total obedience to His heavenly Father, gave His life so that we could be freed from the consequence of our sins. St. Paul became a servant of Christ’ and thus a servant of men, braving all manner of worldly assaults in order to proclaim the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Moreover, St. Paul reminds the Philippians not only to imitate him, but to watch for those who walk according to his example. Thus, like the Berean’s (Acts 17:11), who judged St. Paul according to Holy Scripture, the Philippians were to judge all who followed St. Paul according to Holy Scripture and the teachings of the apostles. St. Paul warns them to beware of those whose appetites are their god. To beware of those who live for pleasure and not for Christ; sound advice for every congregation who calls themselves “Christian.”

Moreover, St. Paul warns them, “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ” (v. 18). Oh, so true. St. Paul warns the Philippians, and us, to beware of those who mind earthly things only. True, they wear the Christian label, but they lack the Christian spirit. They desire to go the way of the world while in this life, but when the end comes; their desire is to be with the saints in heaven. You know the type; they’re the ones who quickly compromise the Word of God in favor of political correctness or personal feelings. They are guided by the world, led by a desire to go along to get along or by the fickleness of emotion. Oh they are unified, but not in God’s Word but in the ways of the world.

So often we witness those who boast of their accomplishments in the name of Christ; who boast of their efforts to earn salvation or their efforts to save others. We even witness those who boast of their worldliness, their indifference to doctrine, even to their quarreling; pointing to all of this as their God granted liberty in the Gospel. Such as these reject their citizenship in heaven and become content to live as citizens in this crooked and twisted generation. As happy as they appear, we do not envy them, instead, we pray for them. We pray that they will be led by the Holy Spirit to come to the true knowledge of God’s Saving Grace in Christ, turning from the world; becoming true citizens of heaven. Otherwise, St. Paul warning takes on an ominous future for such as these. He says, “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things” (v. 19). How terrible to come to such an end, for, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31 ESV).

However, St. Paul reminds his readers and ourselves, if we remain firm in the doctrine that he and our Lord teaches, we will not walk as enemies of the cross of Christ nor come to a dreadful end. Instead he reminds us, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ’ (v. 20).

St. Paul urges you to hold fast to Christ. Hold fast to your heavenly citizenship, remain aliens to the world. St. Peter makes it clear, “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 ESV). Moreover, our Lord Jesus makes it clear, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 ESV). Christ is the way, He is the key, He is the door through which all must pass to enter into His heavenly Kingdom. You cannot enter through that door based on the emotions of men or the ways of the world. You cannot enter through that door following those who would teach, Holy Scripture is not infallible; nor by those who teach that only one man is the sole arbiter of God’s Word; nor will that door open to those who teach man is the means for his salvation. These, and so many others, are the false doctrines St. Paul warns his readers against. Such who teach in this manner are not imitating him because they are enemies of Christ.

Our Lord Jesus is coming again and only those who are His own will share in His heavenly glory. In fact, St. Paul reminds us that it is Jesus, “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” (v. 21). On that blessed day we will be transformed into glorious bodies, just like our Lord’s resurrected body, with all the characteristics and blessings of His risen body. No longer will our bodies be subjected to the weaknesses it exhibits in this life. No longer will disease, accident, or age have an effect on our bodies. Instead, they shall be perfect, unblemished, and incorruptible for eternity. What a marvelous truth the Christian holds to. What a marvelous future waits.

Strengthened by this truth, you are led to reject earthly things from your hearts and minds. They are truly worthless, for when your body runs it course in this life; death shakes all earthly possessions from your hands. This truth leads you to delight in being Aliens in this World and to revel in being Citizens of heaven.

St. Paul exhorts his readers by writing, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved’ (v. 4:1). Stand firm in the Lord. This encouragement by St. Paul points the Philippians toward the specific goal of obtaining that Citizenship in heaven.

We live in a world that is bewitching, enticing, and alluring. The prince of this world is cunning and never tires of placing temptation in our way. Many try to put themselves onto the scale of life, trying to balance their life’s account with what the world considers good and righteous. They attempt to look at their lives and ask questions, such as; “What are my aims in life? Where do I pin my hopes today? What are my obsessions?” In and by themselves, these are not unreasonable questions. However, the manner in which one goes about answering them will have the greatest impact in their lives.

If, in answering each of these questions the answer is based solely on the individual’s efforts to control the outcome at life’s end, they will be sorely disappointed. When man places all his trust in himself he is lost forever. However, when the answer to these questions is Christ, the end result for the person is eternal life, an eternal Citizenship in heaven.

What should be your aim in life? “To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and to, “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39 ESV). Moreover, you should want to live this kind of life so that, “you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus” (Philip. 1:26 ESV).

Where should you pin your hopes today? In Jesus Christ your Lord! You were once an Alien of the World, living without the benefit of Citizenship in heaven. However, St. Paul reminds you, you are no longer in that category. Rather, He says, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister” (Col. 1:21-23 ESV). Where do you pin your hopes; squarely on the only begotten Son of God, our Lord, Jesus Christ?

What are your obsessions? To live your life led by the Holy Spirit; a life of contrition and repentance constantly turning to your Lord seeking His forgiveness while praying for His constant presence in your life leading you to do all things to His glory and praise and for your neighbors good.

Citizens of heaven are indeed Aliens in the World because these citizens live for Christ. Moreover, they live in Christ with the hope that they will die in Christ to be raised by Him on the Last Day. Amen.

May the Peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen