Sermon Idea: As citizens of heaven, we have true Christian hope and live in light of it.
Introduction: One of the great sources of encouragement in my Christan life and pastoral ministry has been the writings of D.A. Carson, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has written more books than I can count, ranging from technical academic works to edifying popular-level books for the church. He is quite a good preacher, too. Unfortunately, Dr. Carson is currently declining from Parkinson’s and has stopped all speaking engagements and writing commitments.
Upon seeing the announcement about Dr. Carson’s health, many began to quote one of his most famous statements online, “I’m not suffering from anything that a good resurrection can’t fix.”
Only the church can understand that statement because they know it is not rooted in make-believe but is the essence of true Christian hope.
When I found out about Dr. Carson’s condition, I was rereading my favorite of his books, Praying with Paul, to prepare to teach about prayer during our Wednesday evening gatherings. In it, Dr. Carson reminds us how important it is for Christians to set their minds and hearts on the world to come.
“If we do not aim for the new heaven and new earth, many of our values and decisions in this world will be myopic, unworthy, tarnished, fundamentally wrongheaded. To put the matter bluntly: Can biblical spirituality long survive where Christians are not oriented to the world to come?– D.A. Carson
What a question! Can biblical spirituality long survive where Christians are not oriented to the word to come?
Paul may not have used those exact words, but that is essentially what he is telling the Philippians in 3:17-4:1. They are citizens of heaven, and because they are citizens of heaven, they have true Christian hope.
They are not to set their minds on earthly things but to imitate the way of those who have oriented their minds and hearts to the world to come.
If you have been with us throughout our Philippians study, you may remember that we identified something important about verses 27 of chapter 1 and 20 of chapter 3. These verses serve as bookends for the main portion of the letter. Paul wants us to learn how to live as gospel citizens or as citizens of heaven. This is the thesis statement given in 1:27.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Php 1:27)
The phrase “let your manner of life be worthy” in verse 27 carries the connotation of citizenship and is better translated by the CSB in this way:Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Php 1:27)
This morning’s text concludes the main portion of the letter. It repeats the references to citizenship and the command to stand firm but does so in a way that is charged with hope.
Yes, we are to live as worthy citizens, but we do so oriented toward the world to come. One day, our Savior will return, and we will be transformed to be like him on that day. The return of Christ and the resurrection from the dead is the true nature of Christian hope.
That is in the future, but it changes everything about how we live today. As citizens of heaven, we have true Christian hope and live in light of it.
I want us to hear from the Lord by calling you to do three things this morning: imitate examples of Christian hope, remember the nature of Christian hope, and respond by living in light of Christian hope.
I.) Imitiate examples of Christian hope (Phil. 3:17-19)
A recurring theme in the Philippians is the contrasting of examples. Paul often puts forward himself, his co-laborers, and ultimately Christ over against the unfaithful examples of selfish people or those who put confidence in the flesh. That theme continues here in verses 17-19.
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 (Php 3:17–18)
Notice how Paul uses the word “walk” to describe both groups. We are called to imitate those who walk according to the example of Paul and his friends. We are to mark and avoid those who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Paul presents two ways of life. One way is shaped by the cross of Jesus Christ and lives in the hope of all that the cross has accomplished.
The other way of life is opposed to the cross of Christ, living as enemies of the cross and making little of all the cross accomplished by how they live.
This great contrast reminds me of the opening verse of the Didache, a very early piece of Christian writing that was essentially a discipleship book.
There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways. – Didache 1:1
Similar to the Didache’s appeal to life and death, Paul urges us to reflect on the end of these two visions of life. We already know how life is in Christ ends. That’s what we’ve discussed extensively over the past several weeks.
All who place their faith in Jesus Christ are counted righteous in God’s sight, share in the power of Christ’s resurrection, and will one day attain the resurrection from the dead. In other words, the end of the Christian life shaped by the cross is perfection in Christ Jesus.
The way of life that is opposed to the cross does not end in perfection and glory but in destruction.
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (Php 3:18–19)
Whoever these opponents are, they live in a way that opposes the cross. They are selfishly ambitious, driven by their desires, and even gory in things they should be ashamed of. In other words, their life is contrary to self-denial and so contrary to the cross. They pursue their own self-interest rather than share in the sufferings of Christ. They are earthly-minded people.
This is the path to destruction. Friends, as we hear the call to imitate those who live in Christian hope, we cannot afford to minimize the warning of judgment and destruction.
Did not Jesus warn us of this himself?
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (Mt 7:13)
If you could trace the trajectory of your life, where does it end? Paul gives two visions of life. One through the cross that leads to righteousness from God and resurrection life. The other is destruction. One is filled with hope, and the other is hopeless. What trajectory are you on this morning? What describes the state of your life before God?
As we hear the call to imitate Paul’s example of the cross, we should consider the importance of being those examples for one another. Let us be a people who are shaped by the cross of Jesus Christ. Let us be people who press on to the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus and hope for the resurrection from the dead.
Let’s talk in such a way, pray in such a way, worship in such a way, and live in such a way that no one can leave our presence with minds set on earthly things.
We are to imitate examples of Christian hope because we are citizens of heaven. As such, we have true Christian hope. Let’s look at verses 20-21 to remember the true nature of Christian hope.
II.) Remember the true nature of Christian hope (Phil. 3:20-21)
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. (Php 3:20–21)
The church is a people whose citizenship is in heaven. This means that our hope is not in any earthly person, thing, or power. When Paul describes Jesus as a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, he clearly states that Jesus Christ is the source of the Christians’ hope, not any earthly power.
Paul is writing to a people who are citizens of a Roman colony. One of the monikers of Caesar was that he was the “savior of the world” because “he restored order and peace not only in Italy but also throughout the provinces and regions under sovereign rule.” To be a Roman citizen was to worship the Ceaser, “the savior of the world.”
Paul redirects the Philippians to their true Savior from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian hope for the future is in the Savior from heaven and not any earthly thing, person, or power.
What is this hope, then? If we are citizens of heaven and have true hope, what is our hope? There are two primary aspects of Christian hope that are mentioned in these verses: the return of Christ and the resurrection from the dead.
The Return of Christ
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”
Core to our faith is the belief that just as Christ came, he will come again. The book of Revelation ends with this way, 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Re 22:20)
In Philippians, Paul does not spend time on the when and how of Christ’s return but on its reality to bring Christan hope.
The language used to describe Christ’s return goes far beyond a confession of belief. Christian hope is not less than confessing his return, but it is much more. Notice the language: “…We await.”
The idea is more than passing the time like you’re waiting in line at the DMV, but like eager anticipation, a longing. Chrisitan hope eagerly awaits the return of Christ Jesus from heaven. This is how Christian waiting is typically described in the Bible.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Ro 8:23)
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Heb 9:28)
I want you to think with me for a moment about something you eagerly waited for. It can be big or small. It can be trivial or serious.
Like a student completing all their classes and anticipating graduation, like a groom eagerly awaiting to see his bride walk down the aisle; like parents eagerly waiting for a child to be born, we know and understand what it means to wait for something eagerly. We know the difference between passing the time and waiting for something with eager anticipation.
The church is to set its eyes on the hope that is coming and eagerly wait for him.
It is certainly worth asking if our churches are often so unfruitful because we don’t eagerly await his coming. Our minds might be too often preoccupied with earthly things, so we lack the drive to press on and pursue the heavenly, eternal things that matter the most.
Beloved, our hope is a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, who is coming from heaven. So, let’s eagerly await him. This is the true nature of Christian hope.
When Christ returns, he will also transform us into being like him.
The resurrection from the dead
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.
When Jesus returns, every believer in Christ will be transformed into the likeness of Christ. All those who have died in Christ will be raised and transformed into the likeness of Christ.
When Jesus was raised from the dead, he became the first fruit of bodily resurrection.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Co 15:20–22)
It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to see that what is transformed is our physical bodies. Our lowly bodies, our humble mortal bodies, will be gloriously transformed by the one who once humbled himself by taking the form of a servant, was born in the likeness of men, and humbled himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. The glorious Son of God humbled himself in the form of a lowly servant so that are lowly bodies could be transformed into the likeness of his glory.
Christian hope is not a bodiless, spiritual existence but an eternity in a redeemed and glorified body that has been transformed by the power of Christ.
So much of this is a mystery, but how amazing is it that we are transformed into the likeness of Christ’s glory? We will be perfect as he is perfect, and we will be incorruptible as he is incorruptible.
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (1 Co 15:51–53)
We simply don’t know what awaits us, and we must be content with what God has revealed to us in Scripture, being careful not to speculate beyond what is written.
We will be transformed into being like him. That, my friends, is enough.
As citizens of heaven, we have true Christian hope. We have the promised return of Christ and future resurrection from the dead. You’re “…not suffering from anything that a good resurrection can’t fix.
To properly understand Christian hope is not only to believe in the hope we have but to live in light of it. That is the point of 4:1
III.) Respond by living in light of Christian hope (Phil. 4:1)
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved (Php 4:1)
Future hope is the fuel for the Christian life in the present. Note the words Therefore…stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. The hope we have leads us to action, not apathy. What might Paul mean by “stand firm?”
It means to obey all the commands Paul has given to us in the main body of the letter.
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Php 2:2–3)
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Php 2:12–13)
16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain (Php 2:15–16)
We do all of these in joyful obedience to Christ because of our great hope in him.
As citizens, we have true Christian hope and live in light of it. For most of you this morning, my encouragement is to reflect on the return of Christ and the promised resurrection from the dead. One day, you will be transformed to be made like him. Reflect, rejoice, and meditate on how the promise of the resurrection might change how you might live today.
For the rest of you, I want to revisit my previous question.
If you could trace the trajectory of your life, where does it lead? Paul presents two visions of life: one through the cross that leads to righteousness from God and resurrection life, and the other to destruction. One is filled with hope, while the other is hopeless. What trajectory are you on this morning? How would you describe the state of your life before God?
Nathaniel R. Martin 