Gospel Bible Baptist Church

Phil. 3:20 – 21
Introduction

Some countries like Philippines, Canada, New Zealand, allow people to have dual citizenship. Super rich people I heard has more than two passports and they can stay in country of their choice and sometimes they cannot even make up their mind as to which place they are going to stay permanently. Such a privilege which belongs only to few people makes us sometimes jealous. We Christians however are better.

I. Meaning of the word conversation (Phi. 3:20a)
A. In Greek is politeuma. It means a community, i.e. (abstractly) citizenship (figuratively heavenly citizenship, or citizen of the heavenly world, in contradistinction from a worldly community
B. It does not mean oral discourse or oral communication.

II. Christians or saved people are aliens here
A. We are living here on earth but the truth is we are heavenly citizen. We belong to heaven, and that’s the most wonderful thing to know. We have dual citizenship also. One earthly and one heavenly which is better than any other.
B. During the time of Paul, Roman citizenship makes somebody more privileged than any other people. It’s just like a US citizen now. I read the other day that Singapore passport is the most powerful passport at present. Second is Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain. Third is South Korea, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands. Fourth is United Kingdom, New Zealand, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland. Fifth is Australia, Portugal. Philippines is #67. US is just #10.
C. We have an amazing future no matter what misfortune we have now in this life, because heavenly home gives us a bright hope of eternal happiness beyond our wildest dream and imagination.
D. Peter writes that we are strangers and pilgrims here (1 Pet. 2:11). Paul tells us that we are to set our affections to things above not on things here on the earth (Col. 3:2). No wonder he tells us also that God made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 2:6).
E. My Thompson Chain Reference Bible gives several advantages of having heavenly citizenship.

1. A Source of Real Joy – Lk. 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
2. Assures Future Exaltation. Lk. 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
3. Promises a place of Permanent Residence. Jn. 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
4. Furnishes an Undying Hope. Phil. 3:20
5. Provides a Glorious Inheritance. 1 Pet. 1:41 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
6. A Register is kept of the Names of the Citizens. Rev. 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Illustration/Application
As heavenly citizens we represent heaven not only after death but now. We are in world but not of the world. Our values are not worldly as compared to the false teachers and their followers whose god is their belly and who mind earthly things (Phil. 3:19). It’s a shameful thing for a Christian to be seen on the streets drinking, gambling, and womanizing. We let our light shine for them to see. We must obey heavenly laws like abstaining from fleshy lusts, which war against the soul (1 Pet. 2:11). Contrast Galatians 5:19-21 with Gal. 5:22-24.

III. We look for the Saviour (Phi. 3:20b)
A. Look here means wait. Other expositors write “eagerly await”. Why?

1. We don’t know when Christ our Lord is coming. Mt. 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
2. The Imminence of His return. Rev. 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
3. The Children of Light will not Sleep. 1Th 5:5-6. Be watchful. Always alert in spiritual things, live righteous lives according to the Word of God.
4. Reward Promised to those who patiently waits. Lu 12:37, Rev. 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
5. Do you eagerly wait and anticipate seeing Jesus? Are you really in love with the Lord Jesus? Do you long to see Him? Is he just a nuisance that disturbs your plans in your life and activities? Jesus should be the most important person and the center of our life.

Illustration: Christ’s Second Coming
Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the OT is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the Second Coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ—an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second! Our wait will not be in vain.

Illustration/application: Accurate Prophecies
Dr. Charles Ryrie says that according to the laws of chance, it would require two hundred billion earths, populated with four billion people each, to come up with one person whose life could fulfill one hundred accurate prophecies without any errors in sequence. Yet the Scriptures record not one hundred, but over three hundred prophecies that were fulfilled in Christ’s first coming alone.
Today in the Word, MBI, December, 1989, p. 7

IV. Glorification (Phil. 3:21)
A. The Lord Jesus Christ will complete our salvation in its future sense of glorification.
B. This involves changing our outward appearance, i.e., our present physical body that is still subject to sin, fatigue, age, sickness, and death.
C. This transforming will result in a “glorified body” which is like the resurrection body of our Lord (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor. 15:52, Lk. 24:39).
D. It will be a deathless, disease less, sinless, indestructible, heavenly and for spiritual world.
E. The change will be affected by Christ’s omnipotence.
F. At the Rapture of the church, Christ will transform (metaschematizo , “change the outward form of”) our lowly bodies (Phil. 3:17-21)
G. This humble body (“vile” means “body of humiliation”) so that they will be like ( symmorphon , “identical in essential character”; cf. the participle symmorphizomenos in Phil 3:10) His glorious body. Then every child of God will be made like the Son of God (1 John 3:2), that is, all Christians will receive glorified bodies like His. No more will they have the limitations they now experience in their “lowly” bodies, which are humbled by disease and sin. Their resurrected bodies will be like Christ’s, and their sanctification will be completed.

V. Conclusion:
Truly, real Christians are citizens of heaven. We must wait patiently for the coming of the Lord who will change our vile body into a glorious body like His. Trust in Christ now and be a citizen of heaven.