During the time of Jesus and the writing of the New Testament, the dominant world power was the Roman Empire. Being a citizen of Rome gave one many privileges within the Empire, and loyalty to Caesar was something to which every noble Roman would hold firmly. Yet, we know from the book of Acts, the book of Revelation, and the writings of Christians during and shortly after the time of the New Testament, that the Roman Empire was hostile toward the Christian faith. Which led Christians to consider issues, such as: Who is the real king to whom we owe loyalty—Caesar or Jesus? How can we be faithful to Christ in a culture which is hostile to our Christian message? How can our local church express loyalty to the Christian movement in a hostile Roman world?

 

Two thousand year later, the church is still wrestling with these same issues. Like the early church, our loyalty is to be to God above that of our country. The early church was to focus on the values of Jesus over Caesar, and so our loyalty is to be to Jesus over the President. Just as local congregations immediately following Jesus’ resurrection were to be visible witnesses of God to both one another and to their community, so it is today.

 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, taught how that congregation then and our local churches today can be faithful to our King, Jesus, and His values as citizens of His kingdom. In Philippians 3:17-4:1, we find four insights into being faithful citizens to our King, Jesus Christ, in our local churches and within the world-wide kingdom of God.

 

First, by following the right example of faithful Christians we will be able to be faithful citizens in the kingdom of God. Philippians 3:17 states, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” The words, “my example” come from the Greek word mimatai, from which we get the word “mimic.” The idea of imitating a teacher had its roots in Paul’s Jewish background, where the student learned not simply by receiving instruction but to “put into practice” the example of his teacher.

 

Paul urges others to follow his example in other places in the New Testament, as well. 2 Timothy 3:10-11a states, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings.” In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul commands, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” The word disciple means “learner.” Jesus’ disciples learned from the example and teaching of Jesus. So, because Paul had followed the example and teaching of Jesus, and because he was an apostle and church leader, those who followed Paul knew they were following Jesus.

 

The need for church leaders to be an example for others to follow and for people in the congregation to imitate, is just as important today as it was in Paul’s day. The people in our churches not only need to hear the message preached from their pulpits by their pastors, but they should see the message lived out in the lives of their pastors and leaders. It is important that Christian leaders not only teach in words the truth of the Christian message, but the message also needs to be taught by the example of those leaders modeling the life of Christ.

                

Second, Christians can be faithful citizens of the kingdom of God by avoiding the wrong example.  Paul continues in Philippians 3:18, “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” This warning against people who are enemies of the Christian message tells us to stay away from the wrong example, lest we go down the same path. Paul reveals the destination of those who are living contrary to God: “their destiny is destruction” (Philippians 3:19a). This revelation that their destination is hell heightens the warning.

 

Paul tells us that sensual appetites drive such people: “their god is their stomach, and their glory is their shame” (Philippians 3:19b).  Paul’s statement is intriguing, “their god is their stomach.” Such people’s fleshly appetites actually guide their way of life, being their god. But the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” They have exchanged the one true God for the false god of self. “And their glory is their shame.” Instead of their minds being set being on spiritual things, Paul states in Philippians 3:19c that, “Their mind is on earthly things.”

 

After these warnings Paul reveals our hope in heaven being the basis of the appeal. The Christian’s true identity is revealed in Philippians 3:20a, “But our citizenship is in heaven.” When first century Christians in the Roman Empire heard the word “citizenship,” they were instantly reminded of all of the perks that went with being a citizen of Rome, which is where their minds would naturally go. But Paul was not speaking of Roman citizenship, but heavenly citizenship. Paul was reminding the Philippians of their identity, not with Rome, but with God, who reigns from heaven.

 

It was through understanding that the Philippians were in Christ that they would live out their true identity. Since the Christians in the church of Philippi knew their identity was with heaven and not Rome, then the Leader they were trying to please was not Caesar, but Jesus. As Philippians 3:20b expresses it, “And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” In Rome, the “savior” was Caesar. In the Christmas narrative from Luke’s gospel we are told about Caesar Augustus. Luke 2:1 states, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” Clearly, it was Caesar Augustus who was making decisions that would influence the entire Roman Empire. Yet, Caesar was more than someone who led the Roman Empire, he was also perceived as a god. Notice how Augustus was venerated as a god in this Myrian inscription: “Divine Augustus Caesar, son of god, imperator of land and sea, the benefactor and savior of the whole world.”

 

Yet, Paul was writing for Christians then and today, about another Lord than Caesar in Rome; a different, heavenly Savior; a different King; who is the Lord Jesus Christ! And unlike Caesar, who would only rule for a limited time on earth, Christ reigns forever with His people. As Paul expressed it in Philippians 3:21, “who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Isn’t it wonderful that, through Christ’s power, our heavenly citizenship requires a new body when we will go to our eternal home in heaven! We will have eternal, heavenly bodies that will not get sick, or grow old and die. We will be in heaven instead of on earth. We will have a heavenly body not an earthly one.

 

This leads to the fourth and final insight: to be faithful citizens of the kingdom of God we are to remain faithful to the Lord by standing firm in the Lord. Paul continues in Philippians 4:1, “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!” Notice the affection Paul has for the Philippians—“you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown.” He is overflowing with affection for these Christians whom he loves. To be faithful to Christ, “you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!” Instead of giving up, throwing in the towel, losing heart, we are to stand firm in the Lord. Paul uses similar words in I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

 

Paul’s words from Philippians 3:17-4:1, I believe have given us good words of instruction and encouragement concerning how the local church is a “colony of the King”—words that were good both for the church of Philippi and for our local churches today. What a privilege you and I have to be accepted by our King, Jesus Christ, by His grace, and to be citizens of His kingdom!

 

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Thoughts on Our Unity with Other Christians

By H. M. Riggle

 

Since all the saved of earth are fellow members of the universal church and family of God, if we make a distinction, we are sectish and become denominational. “The hand of fellowship we reach to every blood washed one” is a beautiful theory to talk and sing about, but unless we actually do it and show the same love, warmth, courtesy, and accord with the very same Christian fellowship to all true Christians alike without the least discrimination, we make a sect of ourselves, and fall under the judgment of the Almighty. Rom. 2:3,19-21.

From The Cream of My Life’s Work, p. 59