St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church -- Watertown, WI
Pastor Mark Gartner
Sermon for Lent 2 -- March 7^th, 2004

Dear brothers and sisters in the faith,

When’s the last time that you sat down and really thought about what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America? As I asked myself that question, I realized that I haven’t ever really asked myself that question before. I have lived in the United States my whole life, but for the most part I haven’t ever really thought about what it means to be a citizen of this wonderful country. I guess I have taken this wonderful fact for granted. How about you? Have you taken the freedoms and privileges that we enjoy as citizens of this great country for granted. The freedom of free speech. The freedom of religion. The freedom of free elections as we vote in this democratic society, and the list could go on and on. Maybe all of us need to take a step outside of this country to countries that don’t have the wonderful benefits we have as citizens of the United States.

But as citizens of this country, we realize that there are some responsibilities that come along with this citizenship. We are to live on under the rules of the government whether that is local, state or federal. We can’t live as we please, especially if it breaks the law or hurts someone else. But we don’t need to look very far to find people who have abused their privileges as citizens of this country. They have lived only for themselves and have not taken their citizenship very seriously. This morning we are going to let the Apostle Paul guide us to look at our spiritual citizenship using the theme:

Theme: Our Citizenship Is In Heaven

1. Don’t get caught up by this world’s treasures
2. Focus on Jesus and heaven’s treasures

Some historians have referred to the city of Philippi as a "little Rome," because many of the Roman soldiers had made their homes in this city. It had the feel of living in Rome, even though it was quite a distance from Rome. The Roman soldiers and other Roman citizens that lived in this city had the full rights of Roman citizenship. Since Rome was the ruling power, it was quite a thing to have Roman citizenship. It meant that you were entitled to special benefits. It was into this setting that the Apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to start a Christian mission congregation. Paul had some close ties with these Christians, which is part of the reason that he wrote this letter to them. He had preached God’s Word to them and they had been led by the Holy Spirit to believe this gospel message, but their faith was being tested by the many influences of the world that they lived in.

That is why Paul encourages them to look to the examples of other Christians around them rather than the examples of the city in which they lived. Paul writes, "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." "Do as I say and as I do!" No, Paul wasn’t boasting, beating his own drum or tooting his own horn. Once again he was just speaking the truth in love. Since the Philippians were so dear to him, he couldn’t bear to see them walking down the wrong path in life. And he wouldn’t let them do so either, at least not without his strong encouragement and exhortation to follow good examples for living.

Of course, the apostle’s example was only "good" because of his relationship to the Lord Jesus. Paul didn’t want the people to think about how great he was, but to know how great God was in his life. It was the Lord who had so dramatically turned him around, just as it was God himself who now kept him headed in the proper direction.

So, instead of looking around at the world for examples, the apostle urges his readers, his "brothers," in the faith, to look within the family of faith for good guides to Christian living. It stands to reason that our role models and their living patterns will influence our thoughts, attitudes and purposes for living. As we look around us, this is something that we can all do. There are many people around us who can serve as examples for us, not because they are great people, but because the love of Christ is evident in their lives. In the same way, we all can be examples for other Christians by the way that we conduct ourselves. We can let the love of Jesus be evident to others in all that we say and do.

Why was this such an important topic for Paul? It was because some of those whom Paul had preached the gospel to were now falling away from the faith and were trading the truth of God’s Word for the lies of this world, "For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." The sad fact of the matter is that not everyone who claims to be a Christian is what he claims to be. Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them" (Mt 7:20). There were people in the congregation in Philippi who were living for their sinful nature and not for Christ, even to the point of becoming the very enemies of the cross. This made Paul very sad – even to the point of tears. He was sad at their terrible lives and at the fact that they were falling away from the one way to heaven. The cross makes impossible any compromise with sin.

As members of this congregation and more importantly members of God’s holy Church, does the sight of brothers and sisters in Christ who are living for this world make us sad? Their are people all around us in this small town and in our lives who are living for the "god of their stomach" and have traded God’s Word for the lies of the sinful world we live in. Look at the battle that is going on all around us and some are losing the battle. The world we live in caters to this very notion that we should live on this earth to satisfy our every desire -- "Eat, drink and be merry — tomorrow we’ll do it all over again!" "Grab for all the gusto!" "You deserve a break today!" "Have it your way!" "If it feels good, do it!" And so many of those who were children of God do follow this path of destruction.

But ultimately, an outward coating of Christian varnish does not and cannot cover up the many sinful desires hidden underneath. Thus, the apostle’s warning to the Philippians is a very good warning for all of us. All those who pay mere lip-service to God, but their hearts are chasing after the things and stuff of this world can and will fall away from God. Paul is correct when he writes this about all people who try to serve their sinful natures, "their destiny is destruction." Case closed. Their destruction is not just of the physical sort, either. Paul reminds us that eternal condemnation is what lies ahead; yes, everlasting damnation, should such lifestyles of, self-gratification and self-indulgence continue.

But what a sweet contrast Paul presents for those who trust in the Lord! "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." O, the blessed joys of remaining true to the Lord Jesus! This verse reminds us that, "As Christians we live in the world, but we don’t let the world live in us." As God’s people we have no permanent address here on this earth. Instead our names are written in heaven. Our homes are in the mansions of Paradise, prepared for us by none other than the Lord Jesus himself. Here is all the reason those Philippians, or we ourselves, need to keep the faith with Jesus. Everything that counts, everything that matters, everything that is going to last is in heaven. So our eyes look heavenward, expectantly, excitedly, eagerly, continually watching and waiting for the LORD to return so we can take our place right beside him.

This is the ultimate rags-to-riches, sinner-to-saint, earth-to-eternity story! Yes, Jesus will refashion and redo that which sin and death have corroded and corrupted. He will gloriously and miraculously transform us into the best we can be! No, we won’t be God (as every temptation from Eden to the end teases and tricks mankind into thinking), but we will be like Jesus in his perfect righteousness. His glories will become our own.

"Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!" There can be no mistaking how the apostle feels about the Philippian believers. "My brothers.., my joy and crown... dear friends!" They were all of that and more. They held a special place in Paul’s heart because the fruits of the Spirit were so clearly evident in their lives. May we have that same feeling for all of those around us who are fellow children in God’s family through the faith that is in our hearts.

Paul also urges the Philippians and Christians of all ages to "stand firm," to "hang in there," even in the face of all the opposition Satan and society can muster against them. How? Not by their own power or cunning, but with the Lord Jesus by their side. Why? Because heaven is their real home. It’s where our Savior is. It’s where, by grace through faith, you and I are going, too. As we continue along the path to Calvary, we want to focus the eyes of our faith on the blessed results of God’s marvelous Gift on the cross of Calvary. So we look to the cross and beyond. Beyond what is happening while we are on this earth -- to what will be as we look to our eternal home in heaven. All of this is ours thanks to Jesus’ sufferings and death. He came to take our place that we might have his peace; he came to take our sins that we would have his salvation. That is why with the Lord’s help we need to be on guard, to stand firm and to keep their faith focused straight ahead. The apostle, as well as the LORD Jesus, wants us to fight the good fight of faith, knowing that the final outcome is plenty worth fighting for! Then and then only will we be enjoying the full privileges of being citizens in God’s eternal Kingdom. Amen.