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Our Citizenship. Philippians 3:18-21. Our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:18-21. Their end is destruction.
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Our Citizenship Philippians 3:18-21
Their end is destruction. • Jesus will come again “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thess 1:8-9).
Paul describes these enemies: • Their god is the belly—They care about fleshly desires.. • Their glory is in their shame—They were proud about things of which they should have been ashamed. • They mind earthly things—They give no thought to the things of eternity.
Roman citizenship was a big deal to Philippians. • “These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans” (Acts 16:20-21). • Roman males had a great deal of privileges with citizenship, and people would save to buy Roman citizenship.
“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Phil 4:1). • Two dimensions of standing fast.
One: We stand fast in the face of the enemies of the cross. • We must guard our friendships carefully. • “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’” (1 Cor15:33, ESV). • Churches cannot shy away from discipline. • “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Cor 5:6).
We must stand fast in light of the Second Coming. • We stand fast by refusing to stand still—We must grow. • How do we grow? • We feast on the meat of Scripture. • Heb 5:12-14. • We trust God when we’re tempted. • 1 Cor 10:13. • Spend considerable time in prayer. • “He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Lk 5:16).
Our citizenship is in heaven. Are you acting like it?