The Right of Citizenship
October 13, 2024

The Right of Citizenship

Preacher:
Passage: Philippians 1:27-30
Service Type:

Brief Background to Philippians

If you’re joining us for the first time this morning, we’ve been working through a book of the Bible called Philippians. God produced this letter through one of his servants, a man named Paul. And though this letter was originally intended for the Christian church that Paul himself had started in Philippi, God ultimately supplied this letter for Christians throughout history, in every place – whether their earthly citizenship was in Ancient Rome, or is presently in America or India, or any other such country. And this means that God has given us these words to teach us as well as them – to correct us, to encourage us.

So if you haven’t already, please turn with me to Philippians Chapter 1. We’ll be reading verses 27 through 30. Philippians Chapter 1, starting at verse 27. But before I read our text, please pray with me:

[Pray and Read Text]

Who We Are Shapes How We Live

We recognize that there are certain characteristics that a member of the United States Marine Corp must have. They need to be competent and physically fit. They need to be self-disciplined, and willing to follow the chain of command. And they need to be brave. Who they are, as a United States Marine, means that there’s a certain manner of life they must lead.

This isn’t just true for U.S. Marines, though. There are certain responsibilities we have that are connected to the roles that we take on. Who we are informs how we should live. Students have a responsibility to study and learn. Parents have a responsibility to provide for and teach and protect their children. Boy scouts are bound by a specific code of conduct – to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Doctors are expected to provide ethical, honest healthcare in keeping with the ideals of the Hippocratic oath, or some similar statement.

In order to know how we should live, then, it’s important to know who we are in the most fundamental sense. And in order to find out who we are, we need to know the God who made us, and who he made us to be. The feelings and desires we have inside us don’t determine who we are. Instead, as intelligent, personal beings, we have a responsibility before God to bring our emotions and desires into alignment with our true identity.

When we know who God has made us to be – that’s when we’ll know how we should live. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen how Paul’s identity, as a servant of Christ, shapes his life. Paul is committed to love, and gospel partnership, and prayer, and joy in the midst of affliction, and confident hope in life and death – all because he knows who he is, in Christ. And Paul’s life is held up to the Philippian church as an example. He wants them to see what it looks like to live as a Christian – as a follower of Christ. Because that’s who Paul is.

But up until this point in the letter, Paul hasn’t given a single command to the Philippians. Not one. It isn’t until now, in our text this morning, that Paul comes right out and tells them how they need to live.

So as we work through the text, I want to explain two points here. First, the gospel – the good news about Christ – the gospel calls us to a certain way of life. And second, God grants us the opportunity to live that way.

The Gospel Calls Us to A Certain Way of Life

So first, the gospel calls us to a certain way of life. In verse 27 here is where Paul gives his first command to the church in Philippi. He says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

There aren’t too many words here – it’s a simple enough command – but there are a few things going on in this command that require a little bit of explanation. The reason he starts the command by saying, “Only do this,” isn’t his way of saying that this is the only command in his letter we should pay attention to. But he’s essentially saying here, “If there’s just one thing that you take away from this letter – if your mind is only able to keep track of one idea at a time – make it your aim to live in a way that’s worthy of the gospel of Christ.” So in some regard, this command is the summary of Paul’s other commands in his letter.

And this is an interesting command that Paul gives here. Because he uses a Greek word that’s only used one other time in the New Testament. The command Paul gives here, to live in a certain manner could also be translated live like a good citizen, or carry out your civil duties.

It’s significant that Paul uses this language here, because most people who lived in lands conquered by the Roman Empire weren’t considered to be Roman citizens. They didn’t have full rights or protections from the Roman government.

But Philippi was unique. Even though Philippi was a city in Greece, the people who lived there had been given the privilege of Roman citizenship. Because almost one hundred years earlier, after the assassination of Julius Caesar, a series of battles were fought to establish a new leader and new government in Rome. And the last of these battles took place at Philippi. And upon winning the battle, with the help of the Philippians, the new Caesar, Octavian – also known as Augustus Caesar – he made this Greek city, Philippi, into specially-designated Roman colony, and gave the Philippians the rights of citizenship.

So citizenship was something that the Philippians understood. It was something that they took seriously. Being a Roman citizen came with certain rights – they could hold government offices. If accused of a crime, they had the right to a trial; they could vote. But along with this, being a Roman citizen came with certain responsibilities. They were expected to participate in the census, and to be engaged in community projects, and to fight to protect the Roman Empire in case of an invasion. Being a citizen of Rome had implications for how they should live.

And I think we have a basic understanding of this when we consider our own citizenship. As citizens of the United States, we recognize that there’s a certain code of conduct for how we should treat American flags. We have a duty to pay taxes, and we’re obligated in some respect to be loyal to our fellow citizens and our country. Our citizenship has implications for how we should live.

But when Paul tells the Philippians to live according to a certain manner of life – to live like citizens – the citizenship he’s concerned about isn’t the Philippians citizenship in the Roman Empire. Take just a moment, and look with me at Philippians, chapter 3, verse 20. Paul has just expressed his grief, that people of this world are “walking as enemies of the cross of Christ” and that they have their “…minds set on earthly things.” But then here in Chapter 3, verse 20, Paul reminds the Philippians, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

So if you turn back to Philippians Chapter 1, Paul is commanding the Philippians to live as citizens of heaven – in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Now when you and I hear the word “worthy” here, it may sound like Paul’s saying that we need to live in a manner that deserves the gospel of Christ, almost as though the gospel is something we earn. That’s not exactly how this word worthy is being used, though. Living in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, as citizens of heaven, simply means we must live in a manner that’s appropriate for and compatible with the gospel of Christ. Health and wellness coaches teach people to consume green vegetables – not Mountain Dew and marshmallows. The CEO of Ford will drive a Mustang, or an F-150, but he’s not going to drive a foreign car. And in a similar way, we’re simply being told here to align our manner of life so that it actually fits with the message we say we believe.

So as we continue to explore how the gospel calls us to a certain way of life, I want to drill down a little deeper here to explain how the gospel of Christ establishes our citizenship, and how the gospel of Christ informs our conduct.

The Gospel Establishes Our Citizenship

When we consider how the gospel establishes our citizenship, though, it’s important to first take a moment to explain or define what this gospel means – what this good news about Christ is.

Because our default position as human beings isn’t to have good news. You and I have to recognize – without Christ, all we would have is bad news. Because our hearts and minds aren’t right toward God. Ever since the first man rebelled against God, the whole human race has fallen into a condition of sinfulness and corruption. We aren’t on God’s team. We aren’t citizens under his protection. But we’re actually his enemies. We’re guilty of treason against his kingship. And we deserve punishment and death.

But there’s good news for us in Jesus Christ. God has acted in human history to save us from our sin and misery! God the Son, stooped down into our humanity. He lived a perfect, righteous life on our behalf. And he also carried the blame and the penalty for our crimes against God, by dying at the cross, in our place. And because of what Jesus has done, whoever trusts in him is cleansed from sin and credited with His righteousness. We’re no longer counted as guilty, as God’s enemies, but through Christ we’re brought near to have favor with God and a special relationship with him forever. Or to frame this another way, God has taken us from being foreign agents and criminals in the domain of darkness, and he has brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, to be citizens (cf. Colossians 1:13).

And I want to consider for a minute how God makes us citizens in his kingdom – because there are actually some really interesting tie-ins with how people became citizens of the Roman Empire. One path to citizenship was by being born into a Roman family. And so it’s no surprise that Jesus and his disciples emphasize the need to be born again – the need for spiritual rebirth in order to enter the family and the kingdom of God. John 3:3 – “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Also, John 1, verses 12 and 13 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

There was another path to full citizenship in Rome, though. Slaves could actually become full citizens, if they were released from slavery by a Roman family, and then adopted into a Roman family. But there was one restriction. Slaves who had fought against Rome – who had been enemies of Rome – couldn’t become citizens.

If we were to apply the same restriction here, none of us would have an opportunity for citizenship in heaven. Because we’ve all rebelled and fought against God. Paul himself, before Jesus called him, he was an adversary of the church and an enemy of God. But the incredible, good news of Christianity is that God has opened a way, even for us – even former enemies – to have full rights in the kingdom.

When Paul’s writing his letter to the church in Rome, in the first chapter he acknowledges how we were enemies of God. But then in Romans 3, he explains how God grants to us forgiveness and a right legal status through faith in Christ. But there’s more. Paul then talks us about us being set free from our slavery (to the law and to sin) in Romans 6 and 7, and then he talks about us being adopted into God’s own family. And what this means is that all the steps have been taken for us to gain full legal rights as a child of God, and as a citizen of his kingdom. So the gospel of Christ establishes that every wretched sinner and slave who receives Christ, by faith, has received the glorious honor of citizenship in his kingdom.

So belonging to the church – being under the kingship of Christ – it’s not something shameful that we should try to conceal. But it means that we belong to the best of all countries, with the strongest military, the wisest head of state, the most secure capital city, the highest value of total assets, the greatest number of territories and possessions, the purest laws and Constitution, the lowest rates of crime, the fairest judicial system – there’s no kingdom that even comes close. Our citizenship is something to be understood, and enjoyed, and acted upon.

The Gospel Informs Our Conduct

And as we think about acting in accordance with our citizenship, we should give some attention to how the Gospel informs our conduct. Paul identifies a variety of ways that the gospel informs our conduct, later on in verse 27 and in verse 28. This living in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ includes three things: “standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not being frightened in anything by your opponents.”

This isn’t an exhaustive list. Paul isn’t saying that these three things are the only defining characteristics for the citizens of heaven. But the Philippians were facing conflict and impurity in the church, and opposition from the culture around them, and frankly, it seems that they didn’t know how to handle it. So Paul lays out some marching orders.

You might notice that these three practical instructions are the sort of thing you’d probably expect a general to say to his troops: “Stand firm. Strive side by side. Don’t be frightened in anything by your opponents.” Part of this could be Paul acknowledging Philippi’s legacy as a military town. But the main reason this sort of language makes sense here is because Paul and the Philippians are engaged in a conflict. He states this in verse 30. And just as Roman soldiers were expected to fight with valor in a way that appropriately reflected their Roman citizenship, Paul is insisting here that Christians should strive ahead in a way that appropriately reflects their heavenly citizenship.

But you’ll see from Paul’s instructions that the conflict He’s talking about isn’t a physical war to determine the next leader of Rome. He’s talking about a conflict here which is spiritual.

Paul first says he wants to hear that the Philippians are “standing firm in one spirit,” which is to say, he wants them to persistently stay together with united commitments to God. This is an important command, because one of the most devastating things that can happen to an army is for fellow soldiers to turn on each other, and to kill each other. You may remember in Judges 7, when the kingdom of Midian is oppressing Israel, Gideon is able to defeat tens of thousands of the Midianites with an army of 300 men. And a big part of this is because God threw the Midianite soldiers into confusion so that they began to attack each other.

Now when this is happening to the bad guy, it doesn’t seem like so big of a problem. But remember, Paul’s concerned because people in the Philippian church were in conflict with one another! And he’s urging them here – stand firm together, being united in spiritual truth from the Word of God. Don’t lash out at each other. Don’t let your personal prejudices or preferences drive a wedge between you and your brother or sister. Put those things away. We are fellow citizens, united in the same cause, and we must put in effort to stand together – and to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy of that would try to divide us.

Paul also is convinced that citizens of heaven should be striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. Again, Paul is emphasizing here the importance of the church functioning in a united way. Paul’s already spoken of partnering together in the gospel, back in verse 5. But here Paul describes this work we’re doing together as striving for the faith of the gospel. The Greek work is connected to our English word athlete. And it means to exert ourselves and to make an effort for something. So Paul’s saying here, as citizens of heaven, we’re charged to defend, and preserve, and advance the good news of our King. And it’s understood here that it will require effort. It might mean setting aside focused time to plan for prayer, and to actually pray. It might mean initiating conversations, setting up a time to meet a friend for coffee, hosting people to our home, asking neighbors about starting a Bible study.

If we have any sense of patriotism for our heavenly country, we won’t just wait around to get drafted into combat – but we’ll go stand in line to enlist. And we’ll bring our friends. We won’t just hide in our tents, but we’ll take up our combat positions with diligence and watchfulness. We’re urged here to strive side by side for the faith of the gospel – so that the good news of God’s grace for sinners would be preserved and passed on and proclaimed.

But Christians are also urged to live out their citizenship here in a third way – by not being frightened in anything by [their] opponents. We’ve spoken over the last couple weeks that we can face life with confidence in Christ. Our trials can be turned into opportunities for the gospel to advance. Our hardships will turn out for our salvation. Whether we live or die, the future we have with Christ can’t be taken from us. With Christ as our king, securing our welfare, as his citizens, we don’t have to fear anything.

There was young man in England, in 1555, named William Hunter, who was just 19 years old. He was convinced from Scripture that the formal teachings of the Roman Catholic church obscured the truth. And when his convictions were found out, he was captured and shipped to London, to be interrogated. But even though they bribed him, and gaslighted him, and threatened him with death, William Hunter didn’t back down. So they tied him to a stake, to burn him to death. And as the flames were being lit, he said, “I am not afraid of death! Lord, receive my spirit!” This young man knew who he was, he knew how to live, and he knew how to die.

Don’t forget Paul’s words in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Psalm 56, verses 3 and 4 say something similar: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

As citizens of the kingdom of heaven, we’re called to live in a way that’s honorable, and valiant. It just isn’t right that we’d be characterized by infighting, apathy, or cowardice. The gospel should inform our conduct.

God Grants to Us the Opportunity to Live That Way (In Accordance with Our Citizenship)

And we need to understand, God is calling us to endurance and unity and exertion and bravery for a reason. It’s because God intends to grant us the opportunity to live that way on the battlefield. This is my second point – God grants us the opportunity to live that way. God brings us into trials and conflicts in this life, to give us the opportunity to live like a citizen of heaven – in a manner that’s noble, and faithful, and honoring to Christ.

This is what Paul seems to be getting at in verses 29 and 30: “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

So don’t miss what Paul’s saying here. He says something has been granted to the Philippians – granted by God. And this word granted means that God has graciously given something to them, as an unearned gift. He has granted not only that they would believe in him – although this has been granted to them – God has given the Philippians the gift of faith. But it has also been granted to them to suffer.

Now to say that God graciously gives suffering to people – that’s pretty hard for us to understand. Because suffering doesn’t feel like a gift. Suffering is generally what happens when things are being taken away from us. Our health. Our relationships or social status. Our property. To say that suffering is a gift sounds kind of crazy.

But Paul is making a point here about what our faith, as Christians, is for. God has given us the armor and equipment of faith to make us strong in him against opposition and conflict and suffering. This is reflected in 1 John 5, verse 4: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” So God doesn’t just give us faith to be private, and hidden away, unused, in our closets. He gives us faith to be strapped on, and exercised. And God brings us into battle – he grants us suffering –  with the expectation that we aren’t going to be weak, shriveled, little worms crushed under the boots of our opponents and anxieties. But he has granted suffering to his people, so they’d remember what country they’re a citizen of – so they’d remember who their king is – and so they’d contend for the faith with valor for the sake of Christ.

Paul wanted to make sure the Philippians remembered who their suffering was for – for Christ. “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” And suffering for Christ like this is an honor. It’s a gift granted by God. This is how the other apostles saw it, too. After Peter, John, and the rest were physically beaten and threatened for teaching about Jesus, Acts 5:41 says that they were “… rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” – for the name of Jesus.

And we should understand suffering for Christ in the same light. Suffering for Christ isn’t loss. It’s not wasted effort. But it’s an honorable thing. It’s an expression of worship. It’s a manner of life that accurately reflects the greatness of our citizenship, and the supreme worthiness of Jesus.

And notice in 28 – when we’re standing firm, striving, without fear – for the sake of Christ, the firmness of our faith communicates something powerful to our opponents. “This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.” When Christians withstand pressure and pain, by the faith God grants to us, it makes a powerful declaration to the world. It announces that Christianity isn’t just a myth, or a manmade opinion, but it’s legitimate! It’s from God! There is, in fact, a God in heaven, who will destroy the ungodly, but who will save those who trust in him.

Suffering for Our Citizenship

So when God grants it to you, to suffer for Christ’s sake, lift up your chin. Hold your ground. Don’t be deceived by the enemy, or intimidated, or overwhelmed. The same God who has granted the suffering, is the same God who supplies faith to stand firm, and to strive ahead with boldness. By suffering with dignity and courage, as a citizen of heaven, you’re making a statement about the worth and honor and glory of Jesus.

Some of the opponents of the Christian faith will keep on opposing. But as you and I insist on the truth of Christianity, not belligerently, but with directness and decency and humility before God – I expect that some people who are opposing Jesus right now will be brought to repentance and faith. They’ll see that our manner of life fits with our message. It’ll become unavoidable to them that what we’re saying is real and it’s right and it’s relevant. So live with the courage and hope that belongs to the citizens of heaven. Let’s pray, that we would live, and even suffer, in a manner worthy of the gospel, for the sake of Jesus our King.