Skip to main content

Philippians 3:17-4:1/Our Heavenly Citizenship

Philippians 3:17-21: Our Heavenly Citizenship
I.                   Context
a.     Paul is warning the Philippians about false teachers--the Judaizers--who put confidence in the flesh by demanding that the Gentiles be circumcised
b.    Paul sarcastically lists reasons he could be confidence in the flesh
c.     Paul insists that righteousness that is by faith in Christ, but makes sure they understand that pursuing righteousness is the goal of the Christian life
II.                 Verse 17
a.     Paul implores the Philippians to follow his example—leaning on Christ but striving for holiness
b.    He calls on them to take note of those who are serving Christ and to follow their example
III.              Verses 18-21
a.     Paul gives us describes the difference between the citizens of Christ’s Kingdom and the enemies of the cross
b.    The enemies of the cross are defined by:
1.    Their end is destruction
2.    Their god is their belly
3.    The take glory in their shame (Matthew Henry: “Sin is the sinner’s shame, especially when it is gloried in.”)
4.    They mind earthly things
c.     By contrast, the citizens of Christ’s Kingdom are defined by:
                                                             i.      Heavenly priorities
                                                           ii.      Hope of the Resurrection
IV.             Application
a.     Where are our priorities?  Are we focused on money, sex, and entertainment?  Or are we focused on God's Kingdom and serving Christ?  MH: “Christ came by his cross to crucify the world to us and us to the world; and those who mind earthly things act directly contrary to the cross of Christ, and this great design of it.” 
b.    Are we choosing the right people to emulate?  Are we following the servants of Christ or the enemies of His cross?  MH: “It is good having fellowship with those who have fellowship with Christ, and conversation with those whose conversation is in heaven.”
c.     Are we looking for the Resurrection by living as citizens of Heaven now?  If I, an American, went to China, they would know that I was from a foreign country because of my clothes, speech, and actions.  Does the world recognize that we are citizens of another country/Kingdom?  MH: “There is good reason to have our conversation in heaven, not only because Christ is now there, but because we hope to be there shortly.”



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

4 Reasons I Affirm Paedocommunion

If you have interacted with me on social media, you know that I have always been outspoken on the issue of Paedocommunion .  It is a theological position and a liturgical practice about which I am passionate.  Having been raised, and having raised my children, at the Table, I cannot imagine attending a church that didn't allow PC.  I hope that when I am old and gray, I will still be an advocate for bringing little children to the Sacrament. Throughout the 12 years that I have had this blog, I have written scattered thoughts on the topic, but it appears that I have never written a concise summary of my reasons for affirming PC.  I was thoroughly convinced that I had, but I can't seem to locate it, so I guess I never did.  So, to rectify the omission, here are four reasons I hold to PC. 1) Paedocommunion is Biblical.   Any discussion of the topic should start here, and I would hope that both sides of the debate would make this assertion.  However, let me clarify what I mean when
Post a Comment
Read more

1 Corinthians, the Covenant Hermeneutic, & Paedocommunion

As an adherent to Paedocommunion  (hereafter PC), I have always found it painfully ironic that Credocommunionists use 1 Corinthians 11 to withhold children (among others) from the Table.  One can imagine St. Paul shaking his head as he watches theologians using his discussion of unity at the Table to divide the body at the Table.  You're missing the point! he would say in exasperation.  Not only does 1 Corinthians 11 not forbid PC; I would go so far as to say that there is no better defense of PC in the New Testament than the epistle of 1 Corinthians. Credocommunionist logic is pretty straightforward.  1 Corinthians 11:28 says, "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup."  If, they argue, one is unable to fulfill the exhortation to examine himself, then he may not eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  This is a pretty logical deduction, right? Credobaptists would adamantly agree.  Acts 2:38 says, "Repent and be baptized...&quo
Post a Comment
Read more

Why do you go to church on Sunday?

Why do you go to church on Sunday?  I would assume there are many reasons, but what is the primary reason that you get up on a cold, snowy Sunday morning and get your butt to church?  Further, why has the Church of Jesus Christ consistently gathered together on Sundays (among other days) for the last 2000 years? Throughout my 34 years of church attendance I would have proffered a variety of answers to that question.  As a child I'm sure I went to church because I had to, to see my cousins (who happened to be my best friends), to get bread and wine (weekly communion for the win), etc.  As my faith matured in adulthood these reasons remained, hopefully deepening, but to them were added concepts like rest and theological training. As I moved into Anglicanism I was struck by the deliberate focus on worship .  Why do Christians gather on Sunday morning?  To worship God!  Are teaching and fellowship important?  Absolutely!  Are they aspects of worship?  Certainly!  Is either the primary
Post a Comment
Read more