Dual Citizenship: Philipians 1:27-30(May 7 2006)
Dual Citizenship: Philippians 1:27-30 May 7 06
Some years ago, when the New York Yankees were the dominant team in major league baseball, the team manager would say to the rookies, "Boys, it's an honor just to put on the New York pinstripes. So when you put them on, play like world champions. Play like Yankees. Play proud."
In similar way, the apostle Paul is seeking to inspire the believers at Philippi by challenging them to walk worthy of the great God who has called.
Paul realizes that the church at Philippi would have some reasons to be discouraged.
Paul, himself, their friend and the number one messenger for the Christ movement has been thrown into prison because of proclamation of the Gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross absorbing our sins in his body on the cross so that we could forgiven and freed from them and God raised him from the dead 3 days later proving the Jesus Christ is Lord savior (not Caesar).
Paul seeks to encourage the church at Philippi by pointing out earlier in chapter one how his being thrown into prison for the Gospel is actually causing the Gospel. The Gospel is making headway in prison and even in Caesar’s household! He points out how more timid sisters and brothers are now being vocal about their faith and how while he is prison both his friends and rivals for different motivations proclaiming the Gospel
Earlier in chapter one Paul points out how his being in prison is causing the Gospel to advance, as the Gospel is making headway in the prison and in even Caesar’s household! and how timid sisters and brothers have become more vocal and by his friend and rivals have stepped in proclaiming the Gospel more vigorously.
Paul rejoices in his imprisonment, because through his imprisonment the Gospel is advancing.
Paul also know that the followers of Christ in Philippi would have been under considerable pressure to not say Jesus is Lord and savior and instead to acknowledge with everyone else that Caesar was lord and savior—if for no other reason to save themselves prison and persecution…
Philippi was a proud Roman military colony that felt indebted to Rome.
The first Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, had given the city of Philippi, in modern day Northern Greece, to the defeated troops he had defeated in at battle of Philippi as a gesture of good will. Many of it’s would have inhabitants of Philippi been Roman citizens and exempted from certain taxes. Because the inhabitants of Philippi had been favored by Rome they had a fierce loyalty to Rome so there would have been great social force for them to say to Caesar is Lord and Savior
In this context the apostle Paul writes about how to lives as follows of God in their world that’s to their faith in Christ, he talks about what it means to put on the uniform of Jesus Christ.
If you have your Bibles please turn to Philippians 1:27
27 Whatever happens, as citizens of heaven live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, cstriving together with one accord for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Paul here is teaching the church how to live in their citizens of both the city Philippi, but of heaven.
In text in vs. 27 the work live is word translated from the Greek text politeusthe, a political term can be translated “citizen.” Paul uses this word because he knows that people at Philippi would have proud of the fact that they a favored Roman colony. They weren’t merely part of the Roman Empire, but they had been singled out as a special, favored Roman military colony.
What Paul is saying to use New Testament scholar Gordon Fee’s paraphrase as citizens of Philippi live as worthy citizens of heaven.
The church at Philippi is being called to take seriously their responsibilities to care for the care for their city and lives as “good citizens” of Philippi.
I was talking to someone I know who when we’re talking about our respective lines of work, he and said in your line of work… you have the ultimate motivation, he just looked up a ceiling in the room were in….
He didn’t say this but he was thinking you work directly for God or as he puts it “the force…”
But when we give our lives to God whether we go into “vocational ministry” whatever we do is sacred: whether we work in the food industry, construction, home making, education, high tech, health care.
When I was about to leave work at certain multi-national I was working for to go theological seminary, my manager said, indirectly ugh, “Listen, uh if things don’t work out in the ministry for you always have a place here…” Around the same time the manager said not to me, but to my young sister who was visiting me in Tokyo, “Ken is the best person I have in the department we’re going to miss him.”
I’m remember I don’t that’s true, but I do know that because I’ve done my work in this secular company as an offering to God… I have been better worker, than I would have been otherwise.
When Paul would have said to me while in Japan would have been lives a citizens of Sony family and a citizen of heaven, live as a citizen of Tokyo and as citizen of heaven, he would to say to us, lives as a citizen of UBC and as a citizen of heaven, live as citizen of Vancouver General Hospital and a citizen of the Kingdom of God, lives citizens of Vancouver and the Kingdom….
If we do better work and we live with greater integrity…
And when we live this way, we help create the conditions for other people to come to know God… So many people come to know God because of someone who knows God who they respect… (Conversely, many people don’t know God, because some claims to know God, but don’t live like it… and even totally non-religious person has an intuitive understanding of what a person who God lives like… by the way, last week I said, if you know Christ, talk about your faith when it naturally as would any friend really important friend or something you like music or snowboarding… but let say if you’re not commit to seek to live out with God’s help, God’s way—don’t advertise that you’re Christian…)
Paul says as citizens of Philippi live as citizens of heaven…. As citizens of Vancouver live as citizens of heaven….
And greatest message ever, the Gospel will advance…
He goes to unpack what this will look like…
In 27 b Paul says so that whether I come to and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together with one accord for the faith of Gospel without being frightened (idea being spooked) by those who oppose you.
Philippi is a Roman military colony and Paul uses a military metaphor here as he calls to stand should stand in unity, should by shoulder as one, striving in one accord of the Gospel.
Paul is concerned as we know in early part of the letter for the advance of Gospel. We also know he’s troubled that 2 leaders in the church Euodia and Syntyche have been fighting and part of Paul is saying part of the way you lives as a citizen of Philippi and of heaven is by living--a life of unity as children of God.
Paul knows that if the church a Philippi is divided by infighting and gossip that outsiders will not want to be part of the Christ movement.
Part of what it means to life worthy as citizens of Vancouver and heaven is to be united with our sisters and brothers. And when that unity is broken to seek to repair it….
There are times when I will hurt people. I don’t to it intentionally, just for the sake of doing—but it happens and will happen again. When it happens, I am committed to doing what I can build a bridge to that person.
I have friend not religious, but has said in my hearing and to others, he’s really impressed by the fact that if something to hurt something, I’ll try to make it right, he understands the reason I do this is because of my Christian faith. I think in some small way this fact has made him this a little more open to Christ…
When we seek to live out our relationships in manner worthy of not only our citizen of Vancouver, but of heaven by relating as Christ would people will be drawn closer to Christ.
A pastor of a church I used to attend, has a friend, a Jewish attorney, who he’s cynic when it comes to Christianity.
One of things thing that fascinates this attorney about this pastor this pastor relationship with a group of Christian brothers that he walks with deeply and who hold each other accountable. He tells him about the highlight of his year. He says, we borrow a friend's boat and sail for five or six hours a day, then tuck behind an island somewhere. We cook dinner and sit from seven till eleven or twelve at night and open up our lives to each other.
It's a place where we feel safe to discuss our failures and our faults and our shortcomings and our deep frustrations. We talk about our marriages and our businesses and our schedules and our finances. We challenge each other, and we work each other over if somebody's out of line a little bit. We pray for each other and cheer each other on.
He says never forget telling him about that, which created an awkward moment, because this hardened, cynical, attorney asked vulnerably, "You think I could come along with you guys some year?"
That man has never known the kind of love…He'd give anything if he could be a part of a fellowship like that, a community like that. Some of us just take that kind of thing for granted.
Seeing this kind of community has made this attorney a little more open to Christ.
Paul when it comes to living out your faith in their in Philippi, in Vancouver, live also as citizens of heaven, be like Christ, be united, be as one in the Holy Spirit.
But Paul also to live as citizen of Philippi and heaven, means you’ll suffer…
Paul says… 27b striving together with one accord for the faith of Gospel without being frightened (Greek word meaning spooked) by those who oppose you…
This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf for Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
If they are in the city and living out their faith in the city, but also living as citizens of heaven, Paul points out they will be granted (the idea here it a kind of gift) the right to suffer on behalf of Christ.
As I said in the Roman Empire, it was Caesar who was called Lord (Kurios) and Savior (Sotere), but Paul had proclaimed Jesus Christ was Lord and Savior and as a result he had been thrown into prison and if the people here confessed the same they might suffer the same fate as Paul.
Now Paul was in prison for his declaration that Jesus Christ, not Nero, was Lord and Savior. And the same fate behalf the people at church at Philippi, a city very supportive of the emperor, if they declared this Jesus was “Kurois” Lord and “sotere” savior through what they said or through the way they lived…
In Vancouver if declare that Jesus is Kurios and Sotere, we won’t be thrown into prison or killed, but at some point along the way we too will suffer…
Remember 2 and half years ago, when 3 woman few years were named TIME persons of the year: whistleblower at Ernon Sherron Watkins, Worldcom Cynthia Cooper, and the FBI Colleen Rowley…
It meant being meant being demonized. It means losing friends at the company who preferred to live a lie then to lose their jobs.
It meant putting their own family’s financial picture in great jeopardy.
Each of these women were the chief breadwinners in their families. 2 of them had husbands who are full-time, stay-at-home dads.
For every one of them, the decision to confront the higher-ups meant jeopardizing a paycheck their families truly depended on.
Each all blew the whistle on corruption because of their Christian faith would not allow them to remain silent.
There will be times when the culture of company will clash with the culture of the Kingdom of God, when that happens if choose Jesus’ way and likes Watkins, Cooper, Rowley did as Jesus is Lord and savior and the company then we will too suffer.
I know people in this community who have come to know God and their families some of whom are nominal Christians, i.e. Christians in name are expressing…disfavor over that decision… It’s one thing to attend to church, it’s another let affect the way you live… it’s subtle but real suffering we can experience…
When we suffer for our faith Paul says, it’s a sign we belong to God vs. 28.
Vs. 29 Paul implies it’s actually a gift to be able to suffer on behalf of Christ…
When we are willing to suffer on behalf, Paul says God uses our lives to advance the Gospel.
How do become who inspired to live as worthy of Vancouver and heaven? To live in unity? Even to suffer for our trust in Christ?
By looking to Jesus Christ on the cross and his death on our behalf.
The Bible we are able to love God, because he first loved us…
The night before Jesus went to the cross, he took bread, broke it and said… this is my body broken for you….
(The sermon can be heard online at: http://www.tenth.ca/audio.htm)
Some years ago, when the New York Yankees were the dominant team in major league baseball, the team manager would say to the rookies, "Boys, it's an honor just to put on the New York pinstripes. So when you put them on, play like world champions. Play like Yankees. Play proud."
In similar way, the apostle Paul is seeking to inspire the believers at Philippi by challenging them to walk worthy of the great God who has called.
Paul realizes that the church at Philippi would have some reasons to be discouraged.
Paul, himself, their friend and the number one messenger for the Christ movement has been thrown into prison because of proclamation of the Gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross absorbing our sins in his body on the cross so that we could forgiven and freed from them and God raised him from the dead 3 days later proving the Jesus Christ is Lord savior (not Caesar).
Paul seeks to encourage the church at Philippi by pointing out earlier in chapter one how his being thrown into prison for the Gospel is actually causing the Gospel. The Gospel is making headway in prison and even in Caesar’s household! He points out how more timid sisters and brothers are now being vocal about their faith and how while he is prison both his friends and rivals for different motivations proclaiming the Gospel
Earlier in chapter one Paul points out how his being in prison is causing the Gospel to advance, as the Gospel is making headway in the prison and in even Caesar’s household! and how timid sisters and brothers have become more vocal and by his friend and rivals have stepped in proclaiming the Gospel more vigorously.
Paul rejoices in his imprisonment, because through his imprisonment the Gospel is advancing.
Paul also know that the followers of Christ in Philippi would have been under considerable pressure to not say Jesus is Lord and savior and instead to acknowledge with everyone else that Caesar was lord and savior—if for no other reason to save themselves prison and persecution…
Philippi was a proud Roman military colony that felt indebted to Rome.
The first Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, had given the city of Philippi, in modern day Northern Greece, to the defeated troops he had defeated in at battle of Philippi as a gesture of good will. Many of it’s would have inhabitants of Philippi been Roman citizens and exempted from certain taxes. Because the inhabitants of Philippi had been favored by Rome they had a fierce loyalty to Rome so there would have been great social force for them to say to Caesar is Lord and Savior
In this context the apostle Paul writes about how to lives as follows of God in their world that’s to their faith in Christ, he talks about what it means to put on the uniform of Jesus Christ.
If you have your Bibles please turn to Philippians 1:27
27 Whatever happens, as citizens of heaven live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, cstriving together with one accord for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Paul here is teaching the church how to live in their citizens of both the city Philippi, but of heaven.
In text in vs. 27 the work live is word translated from the Greek text politeusthe, a political term can be translated “citizen.” Paul uses this word because he knows that people at Philippi would have proud of the fact that they a favored Roman colony. They weren’t merely part of the Roman Empire, but they had been singled out as a special, favored Roman military colony.
What Paul is saying to use New Testament scholar Gordon Fee’s paraphrase as citizens of Philippi live as worthy citizens of heaven.
The church at Philippi is being called to take seriously their responsibilities to care for the care for their city and lives as “good citizens” of Philippi.
I was talking to someone I know who when we’re talking about our respective lines of work, he and said in your line of work… you have the ultimate motivation, he just looked up a ceiling in the room were in….
He didn’t say this but he was thinking you work directly for God or as he puts it “the force…”
But when we give our lives to God whether we go into “vocational ministry” whatever we do is sacred: whether we work in the food industry, construction, home making, education, high tech, health care.
When I was about to leave work at certain multi-national I was working for to go theological seminary, my manager said, indirectly ugh, “Listen, uh if things don’t work out in the ministry for you always have a place here…” Around the same time the manager said not to me, but to my young sister who was visiting me in Tokyo, “Ken is the best person I have in the department we’re going to miss him.”
I’m remember I don’t that’s true, but I do know that because I’ve done my work in this secular company as an offering to God… I have been better worker, than I would have been otherwise.
When Paul would have said to me while in Japan would have been lives a citizens of Sony family and a citizen of heaven, live as a citizen of Tokyo and as citizen of heaven, he would to say to us, lives as a citizen of UBC and as a citizen of heaven, live as citizen of Vancouver General Hospital and a citizen of the Kingdom of God, lives citizens of Vancouver and the Kingdom….
If we do better work and we live with greater integrity…
And when we live this way, we help create the conditions for other people to come to know God… So many people come to know God because of someone who knows God who they respect… (Conversely, many people don’t know God, because some claims to know God, but don’t live like it… and even totally non-religious person has an intuitive understanding of what a person who God lives like… by the way, last week I said, if you know Christ, talk about your faith when it naturally as would any friend really important friend or something you like music or snowboarding… but let say if you’re not commit to seek to live out with God’s help, God’s way—don’t advertise that you’re Christian…)
Paul says as citizens of Philippi live as citizens of heaven…. As citizens of Vancouver live as citizens of heaven….
And greatest message ever, the Gospel will advance…
He goes to unpack what this will look like…
In 27 b Paul says so that whether I come to and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together with one accord for the faith of Gospel without being frightened (idea being spooked) by those who oppose you.
Philippi is a Roman military colony and Paul uses a military metaphor here as he calls to stand should stand in unity, should by shoulder as one, striving in one accord of the Gospel.
Paul is concerned as we know in early part of the letter for the advance of Gospel. We also know he’s troubled that 2 leaders in the church Euodia and Syntyche have been fighting and part of Paul is saying part of the way you lives as a citizen of Philippi and of heaven is by living--a life of unity as children of God.
Paul knows that if the church a Philippi is divided by infighting and gossip that outsiders will not want to be part of the Christ movement.
Part of what it means to life worthy as citizens of Vancouver and heaven is to be united with our sisters and brothers. And when that unity is broken to seek to repair it….
There are times when I will hurt people. I don’t to it intentionally, just for the sake of doing—but it happens and will happen again. When it happens, I am committed to doing what I can build a bridge to that person.
I have friend not religious, but has said in my hearing and to others, he’s really impressed by the fact that if something to hurt something, I’ll try to make it right, he understands the reason I do this is because of my Christian faith. I think in some small way this fact has made him this a little more open to Christ…
When we seek to live out our relationships in manner worthy of not only our citizen of Vancouver, but of heaven by relating as Christ would people will be drawn closer to Christ.
A pastor of a church I used to attend, has a friend, a Jewish attorney, who he’s cynic when it comes to Christianity.
One of things thing that fascinates this attorney about this pastor this pastor relationship with a group of Christian brothers that he walks with deeply and who hold each other accountable. He tells him about the highlight of his year. He says, we borrow a friend's boat and sail for five or six hours a day, then tuck behind an island somewhere. We cook dinner and sit from seven till eleven or twelve at night and open up our lives to each other.
It's a place where we feel safe to discuss our failures and our faults and our shortcomings and our deep frustrations. We talk about our marriages and our businesses and our schedules and our finances. We challenge each other, and we work each other over if somebody's out of line a little bit. We pray for each other and cheer each other on.
He says never forget telling him about that, which created an awkward moment, because this hardened, cynical, attorney asked vulnerably, "You think I could come along with you guys some year?"
That man has never known the kind of love…He'd give anything if he could be a part of a fellowship like that, a community like that. Some of us just take that kind of thing for granted.
Seeing this kind of community has made this attorney a little more open to Christ.
Paul when it comes to living out your faith in their in Philippi, in Vancouver, live also as citizens of heaven, be like Christ, be united, be as one in the Holy Spirit.
But Paul also to live as citizen of Philippi and heaven, means you’ll suffer…
Paul says… 27b striving together with one accord for the faith of Gospel without being frightened (Greek word meaning spooked) by those who oppose you…
This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf for Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
If they are in the city and living out their faith in the city, but also living as citizens of heaven, Paul points out they will be granted (the idea here it a kind of gift) the right to suffer on behalf of Christ.
As I said in the Roman Empire, it was Caesar who was called Lord (Kurios) and Savior (Sotere), but Paul had proclaimed Jesus Christ was Lord and Savior and as a result he had been thrown into prison and if the people here confessed the same they might suffer the same fate as Paul.
Now Paul was in prison for his declaration that Jesus Christ, not Nero, was Lord and Savior. And the same fate behalf the people at church at Philippi, a city very supportive of the emperor, if they declared this Jesus was “Kurois” Lord and “sotere” savior through what they said or through the way they lived…
In Vancouver if declare that Jesus is Kurios and Sotere, we won’t be thrown into prison or killed, but at some point along the way we too will suffer…
Remember 2 and half years ago, when 3 woman few years were named TIME persons of the year: whistleblower at Ernon Sherron Watkins, Worldcom Cynthia Cooper, and the FBI Colleen Rowley…
It meant being meant being demonized. It means losing friends at the company who preferred to live a lie then to lose their jobs.
It meant putting their own family’s financial picture in great jeopardy.
Each of these women were the chief breadwinners in their families. 2 of them had husbands who are full-time, stay-at-home dads.
For every one of them, the decision to confront the higher-ups meant jeopardizing a paycheck their families truly depended on.
Each all blew the whistle on corruption because of their Christian faith would not allow them to remain silent.
There will be times when the culture of company will clash with the culture of the Kingdom of God, when that happens if choose Jesus’ way and likes Watkins, Cooper, Rowley did as Jesus is Lord and savior and the company then we will too suffer.
I know people in this community who have come to know God and their families some of whom are nominal Christians, i.e. Christians in name are expressing…disfavor over that decision… It’s one thing to attend to church, it’s another let affect the way you live… it’s subtle but real suffering we can experience…
When we suffer for our faith Paul says, it’s a sign we belong to God vs. 28.
Vs. 29 Paul implies it’s actually a gift to be able to suffer on behalf of Christ…
When we are willing to suffer on behalf, Paul says God uses our lives to advance the Gospel.
How do become who inspired to live as worthy of Vancouver and heaven? To live in unity? Even to suffer for our trust in Christ?
By looking to Jesus Christ on the cross and his death on our behalf.
The Bible we are able to love God, because he first loved us…
The night before Jesus went to the cross, he took bread, broke it and said… this is my body broken for you….
(The sermon can be heard online at: http://www.tenth.ca/audio.htm)
posted by Shigematsu at 2:07 PM
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