TEXT: Philippians 3:20-21 (CSB) – “ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.”
As we stated yesterday, Paul is writing an epistle of practicality. Not “seated in the heavenlies” as in Ephesians. Not a great theological exposition as in Romans. But “Rubber hits the Road” Christianity for us to follow.
Remember, he is writing to the Saints in Christ at Philippi. This is a message of Joy and Hope in the midst of adverse circumstances.
So far in this letter, we have viewed the philosophy on our purpose in life – “To Live Christ.” We have viewed the pattern for living – “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” We are now viewing the prize of living as Paul summarizes its meaning in his life. Now, we are being urged by Paul to PRESS to the mark – the prize. But to get there, he leads us down a couple of sideroads.
We have taken the sideroads that spoke to us about “Mark and Walk” as Paul charged them to imitate him as he imitated Christ, and the one that warned them and us to “Mark the negative example.”
So, today, we will take the last of the sideroads with Paul and consider the concepts of citizenship, rapture, and renewal.
The old hymn tells us that this world is not my home ….
I am only traveling through. Paul is telling us this truth in the following way –
“ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.”
We have changed our citizenship from an earthly one to that of a heavenly one. And, if we have changed our citizenship then –
We should ACT like kingdom citizens.
We should THINK like kingdom citizens.
We should WALK & TALK like kingdom citizens.
We have exchanged –
The weak for the strong,
The bad for the good,
The temporal for the eternal.
I’d say we made a good deal.
Our hope is in Christ’s return – the Rapture. It could come at any moment ----
Make us new – change us inside and out.
· No more limitations.
· No more pain
· No more sickness
· No more death
We will be like HIM! We will not be worn out, but brand new. No more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more suffering, no more struggles, no more ------
Completely renewed into the fullness of the likeness of Jesus Christ. That takes us to Paul’s next point – the meat of this passage – Pressing to the mark. We will ponder this tomorrow – if Jesus doesn’t come back first. Are you ready?
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