SERIES: Philippians: Cheerful Sounds from a Jail Cell
Sound Advice for Resident Aliens
SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus
Introduction: I have never lived in a foreign country, but I have had the privilege of traveling extensively throughout North America, and also to Central America, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Visiting a foreign country for a few weeks is certainly not the same as living there for an extended period of time, but even my relatively brief visits have taught me some important survival principles that a traveler must keep in mind. Knowing the experiences of others who have been actual resident aliens has taught me even more.
First, there is a temptation for someone living away from home to compromise his values. I think, for example, of an 18-year-old Iranian student who came to the U.S. in 1978 to study at Wichita State University. We became his host family through the ministry of International Students Inc., and we have maintained a close relationship with him to this day, as he has never been able to return to his family, due to the revolution in Iran.
When we first met this student, he was a devout Muslim, praying to Mecca five times a day and dutifully following the other principles and practices of his faith. But it wasn’t long before the prayers were less frequent, then eventually non-existent. Frankly, this was a good thing for him because I believe his religion is false, and he has become very open to Christianity in recent years. But from the standpoint of his homeland and his family, his distance from home led him to compromise what he once valued and accepted as truth. That’s a frequent problem for resident aliens.
Then there is the issue of whom to trust. When a person is far from home, he begins to look for help in navigating new territory, but it’s possible to follow the wrong person. I recall vividly an incident when I was in Israel in 1983. I had a day off and was roaming around the old city of Jerusalem by myself. I decided late in the afternoon that I wanted to see Hezekiah’s Tunnel, so I set off in the general direction, which led me into the Arab sector. Unable to follow the map, I stopped a man and asked if he knew how to get to the Gihon Spring, which is where the tunnel started. “Follow me,” he said eagerly.
I did, without giving it much thought, and he led me to the entrance to the tunnel, which, unfortunately, was already closed for the day. However, he went to the home of the man in charge and arranged to have it opened for me. I began to wonder why he would do such a kind thing, but I wanted badly to see it, so I went along.
Hezekiah’s Tunnel is about six feet high, two feet wide, and about one-third filled with water, which is running briskly toward the Pool of Siloam. Carved out of solid rock and running about 1200 feet, it’s a little eerie, the only light being the flashlight you’re carrying. About half-way through the tunnel, this Arab started acting in an intimidating manner, and I began to imagine the headlines in the Jerusalem Post the next day, “Visiting Clergyman Found Drowned in Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Wallet and Camera Missing.” I took a knife out of my pocket and carried it hidden the rest of the way.
Well, to make a long story short, when we got to the Pool of Siloam, he demanded an exorbitant amount of money for being my tour guide, and after giving him far less than he asked (but more than I felt was fair), I ended up climbing a fence and running full speed through the slums of the Arab sector with this idiot screaming curses after me. I decided to be more careful whom I followed when away from my own country.
A third fact that is good to remember is, “Don’t forget where home is.” That’s generally not too hard for most Americans because we love our country so much that we always seem to be a little ill at ease until we set foot back on American soil. But if a person is stationed for a while in Switzerland, or the South Seas, or the Caribbean, it is possible to sort of forget where one’s roots are. And the result is that one can become a little too acclimated to his new surroundings, adopting its lifestyle, and even its speech patterns. To a certain extent this has happened to Ed Aulie, the remarkable missionary to Mexico who spoke to us the last Sunday of July. Ed has spent so much of his life in Mexico that he has a very hard time adjusting to life back here in the States. He is very laid back and pays very little attention to the clock. “Manana” is not an infrequent word in his vocabulary.
Finally, there’s a tendency to become discouraged when one is away from home for an extended period of time. My advice: “Stand Firm!” Hang in there, because your trip will be over one of these days. Don’t do something stupid that will ruin the joy of going home.
Now in our text for today it seems to me that the Apostle Paul is addressing the Philippian Christians as a group of resident aliens. Their ultimate citizenship is in heaven, but in the meantime, they are on a sojourn in the Roman colony of Philippi. The Roman colony is more immediate, visible and tangible to them than heaven is, so their attention is easily riveted on this world. So Paul reminds them of their “other citizenship” and offers some sound advice for them as resident aliens. Listen to the Word of the Lord as found in Philippians 3:15-4:1:
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
The first principle for resident aliens Paul offers is,
Don’t compromise the truth. (15-16)
In the previous section the Apostle has just shared with the Church some major truths about sanctification. By way of review, that is a big, long word with a rather simple meaning. It refers to the process of becoming all that God wants us to be. It answers the question, “How do I become holy?”
There are two major heresies in regard to sanctification. One is taught by those who believe that a person can become sinlessly perfect in this life. Their churches are called Holiness Churches (usually Pentecostal or Nazarene). I remember a young music professor at W.S.U. and his wife coming to faith in Christ in 1976. Both were very liberal, anti-Viet Nam war, etc., but they were baptized and grew rapidly in their faith. About a year later, however, while spending their summer in another state, they came under the influence of a Holiness church, and before long quit their teaching jobs at W.S.U. and became street preachers in Iowa City.
Now I wasn’t bothered by their becoming street preachers, but I was bothered by the theology they adopted. Shortly before they left Wichita, I invited him to my office and asked,
“Do you really believe you have quit sinning entirely.”
“Yes, I have.”
I responded, “As I recall, you used to have a tremendous problem with cursing. Do you never slip and take the Lord’s name in vain?”
He paused and then answered, “Yes, I have done it, but it’s unintentional and I’m immediately sorry for it.”
I continued, “I also recall you telling me that you used to have a tremendous problem with lust, especially at the University. When you see one of the female students dressed sensually, do you never have any thoughts of lust any more?”
Again he paused, “Yes, on occasion I do, but I dismiss those thoughts right away. I used to encourage fantasies in my mind, but now I don’t.”
“Well,” I said, “I think you have made some significant progress in sanctification, but I think you have a way to go before claiming sinless perfection. What you have really done is to redefine sin so that it doesn’t apply to you. ‘A curse that is unintentional is not sin, and a lustful thought that lasts less than 15 seconds is not sin.’ The real question is, ‘How does God define it?”
This holiness position is a major heresy regarding sanctification. But a second heresy, at least as damaging, is the view that since to err is human, and since we will never be perfect, there’s no point sweating a little sin in one’s life. After all, God is gracious and forgiving; just confess it and try to do better next time. Someone has called this “sin management.”
These two heresies are as common today as they were in Paul’s day, and his answer is just as relevant. To the first he offered his own personal experience in Phil. 3:12-13: “Not that I have already been made perfect,” and “I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold.” Friends, if the greatest missionary in the history of Christianity couldn’t achieve sinless perfection by the end of his life, it is unlikely that any of us are going to achieve it either. But at the same time the Apostle refuses to be satisfied with sin and spiritual failure. Maybe he will never reach perfect holiness, but he will never quit striving for it. Twice he says, “I press on.”
Now all that is background to verse 15, which opens with the reminder that …
There is a correct way to view the sanctification process. The Christian doctrine of sancitification is not really up for grabs. It’s not OK to just establish one’s own philosophy of holiness. According to the text, “All of us who are mature should take just such a view of things,”i.e., the view that Paul has just taught. When you meet someone on your travels who has a secret formula for holiness or someone who is overly optimistic or overly pessimistic about the prospects of becoming holy, remember what Paul has taught: “I haven’t arrived, but I’m still running the race.”
He recognizes, of course, that not everyone is going to see it his way immediately. And I want you to notice how he handles that. He doesn’t say, “And if you disagree with my view of sanctification, you should leave the church” or “God will judge you severely.” No, rather he says, “And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” Paul believed that …
God is able to change differing viewpoints. Now let me stop here and make sure that we understand what he is and is not saying. He is not teaching a spirit of tolerance toward all manner of false teaching in the church. There is no way Paul would take this attitude toward someone in the church who denied the deity of Christ or taught a different way of salvation. But in areas not essential to the Christian faith we can exercise patience with people. We don’t need to force our views down the throats of others, even when we are pretty sure we’re in the right.
The other day I had lunch with a person who has been attending our church for many months now. It’s obvious that we have some rather strong differences in our views of baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and a few other areas. Years ago I would probably have said to such a person, “Look, this is not the place for you. You can attend services if you want, but we can’t let you serve. You’d probably be happier elsewhere.” But I don’t take that attitude anymore. I still believe I understand those issues rightly, but now I’m more willing to let God work on the other person. I ask myself, “Where is a better place for him to be exposed to the truth than right here?”
I see Paul saying here, “Don’t force the issue. If a person is sincerely seeking after the truth, God is able to change his mind.” And you know something, that’s a pretty wise approach, because once in a while you may be surprised that God will change your mind instead of the other guy’s!
Meanwhile, all of us must live up to what we do understand. Look at verse 16: “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” Sometimes we use theological arguments as a substitute for right living. I have seen people get angry, and even nasty, arguing over sanctification, all the while overlooking the fact that such attitudes are themselves contradictory to every doctrine of sanctification. At the very least we must live up to the knowledge we have.
So much for our first piece of advice for resident aliens: Don’t compromise the truth. The second is …
Be careful whom you follow. (17-19)
Everyone is following someone. Even the person who is leading you is following someone else. So, this exhortation in verse 17 is practical for all of us: “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” In other words, …
There are good examples whose lives are consistent with sound teaching. It’s not unusual to hear someone say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Not Paul. He is not ashamed to ask others to follow his example. Yet at the same time, he knows he is not alone as an example of holy living. There are others also who are striving to be obedient while acknowledging they haven’t yet arrived. Unfortunately, there are also many in the church who should not be followed.
There are bad examples whose lives belie the truth. Verse 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. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” This is not the first time Paul has warned about these false teachers, and as he does so again, he is overwhelmed by emotion, perhaps because he knows some of them personally and regrets the judgment they will face, or perhaps because he recalls some of his parishoners who have been tripped up by their teaching.
I think it most likely that the individuals he speaks of here are “antinomians.” An antinomian by the way, is the opposite of a legalist. The word means “against the law,” and specifies an attitude that says, “I can do what I want and it’s none of your business.” It’s not uncommon to find such an attitude, even in the Christian church at large. It’s not even uncommon to find clergy supporting all manner of immoral behavior, from homosexuality to pornography to blasphemy. We have seen just in the last several weeks that some of the strongest support for the blasphemous movie, “The Last Temptation of Christ,” has come from mainline clergy.
Paul’s attitude toward these people is very different from his attitude toward those who differ in their view of sanctification, as mentioned in verse 15. You can see it in the five-fold description Paul offers of these pathetic examples:
They live as enemies of the cross. Since the NT teaches clearly that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, anyone who encourages others to sin is an enemy of the cross.
Their destiny is destruction. In other words, they are facing inevitable judgment from God. By the way, the term “destruction” does not mean “annihilation.” On the contrary it means “everlasting punishment,” as is evident in Matt. 25:46 and 2 Thess. 1:9. It begins in the present life but comes to fruition after death.
Their god is their stomach. I don’t think this is an apostolic broadside at people who eat more than they should and have a weight problem. Instead, it describes an entire way of life. Instead of striving to keep their physical appetites under control, realizing their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and in which God should be glorified, these people surrender themselves to unbridled sensuality. St. Augustine in his Confessions, tells of a prayer he offered during his religious, but non-repentant, years, “Lord, give me chastity, but not yet.” That is the prayer of one whose god is his appetite.
Their glory is in their shame. Their values are reversed. Not only do they behave wickedly, but they even boast about it. I recently received a tape entitled, “The Best and Worst of R. B. Thieme.” It contains excerpts of sermons preached by Dr. Bob Thieme at Berachah Church in Houston, TX. I hate to admit it, but he has an earned doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary, my own alma mater, and was a very popular preacher on the Bible Conference circuit in the sixties and early seventies. But I believe Colonel Thieme became a heretic. And this tape brings to mind the description in this passage, particularly this statement: “Their glory is in their shame.” His cursing from the pulpit, his ungodly attitudes, and his sneering sarcasm toward true ministers of the Gospel are all things of which he should be ashamed, but he glories in them, and his followers tend to glory with him.
“Their mind is on earthly things.” They are materialists, consumed by financial security and the accumulation of things.
We have here been strongly exhorted to be careful whom we follow. There are some good examples, but there are many bad ones. By the way, which are you? Can you say to a young Christian, “Follow me because I am following Christ?”
Now our third piece of advice for resident aliens is this:
Don’t forget where home is. (20-21)
Our citizenship is in heaven. This is what Paul teaches in verse 20. That is, our ultimatecitizenship is there. Paul is not denying that we have a dual citizenship, but he does want us to recognize that our heavenly citizenship is prior.
Philippi was a Roman colony. Here and there at strategic military centers the Romans established colonies, with retired soldiers constituting the bulk of the citizenry. The common characteristic of these colonies was that, wherever they were, they remained thoroughly Roman. Roman dress was worn; Roman magistrates governed them; the Latin tongue was spoken; Roman justice was administered; Roman morals were observed. In effect Paul seems to be saying to the Philippians, “Just as the Roman colonists never forget they belong to Rome, you must never forget that you are citizens of heaven; and your conduct must match your citizenship.”
Not only do we need to recognize that our citizenship is in heaven; …
We should also eagerly await the Savior’s return. “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul is speaking to people, many of whom are weary from struggling with sin. Temptation has gotten the better of them time and again, and some of them are about to throw in the towel. So, in addition to urging them to press on, he offers them the additional motive of looking toward the Second Coming of Christ. His Return should have a profound bearing on our life and conduct. Unfortunately, that’s not always true, for not every Christian is eagerly awaiting, or ready for, Christ to come.
At the height of the race crisis in the United States in the 1960’s two signs hung on the wall of a restaurant in Decatur, Georgia. The first sign read, “Jesus is coming again!” The second sign, directly below it, said, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anybody!” The juxtaposition of the two signs was unintentionally ironic, for at least two reasons. First, it implied that the owner, who apparently was expecting the return of Jesus Christ, might refuse Him service. And second, it highlighted that the entire idea of racial discrimination is incongruous in the light of Christ’s imminent coming.[i]
When Jesus saved us, He saved us from the penalty of sin. As we grow in grace and knowledge of Him, we are being saved from the power of sin, that is, it no longer dominates our lives as it once did. But it is only when He comes that we will be saved from the presence of sin.
And because of that, Paul looked forward eagerly to the Second Coming and urged all believers to likewise be ready.
Then, and only then, will final victory over sin be achieved. “We await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.” We know that most of our problems with sin relate to this body of ours. Our five senses are each susceptible to being used by Satan for morally destructive purposes. Furthermore, our bodies are subject to change and decay, weakness, illness, and death. They are mortal.
But not permanently! One of the great events that will accompany the Second Coming is that Jesus Christ will transform our lowly bodies into the same kind of body that Jesus had when He rose from the dead. Listen to the Apostle describe this transformation, as found in I Cor. 15:
But someone may ask, “’How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?’ How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body…. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
To accomplish such a transformation will, of course, take miraculous power. But look Who is doing it! This is the same Lord of the universe at whose name every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11). The same power that enables Him to subdue every part of the creation will enable Him to also transform our bodies so that our perfection is finally complete.
When you’re a resident alien, don’t compromise the truth, be careful whom you follow, and don’t forget where home is.
Meanwhile, stand firm. (4:1)
The chapter break between chapters 3 and 4 was undoubtedly put in the wrong place. The first verse of chapter 4 surely belongs with chapter 3: “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!”
Once again, we see Paul’s gift of encouragement coming through. He’s not taking potshots at these people. Even his exhortations are couched in strong affirmations of love. He knows they are in a precarious position. He knows that while they are citizens of heaven, they are also citizens of a wicked and perverse generation. He knows they are struggling with sin in their lives. So he urges them to stand firm in the Lord.
Conclusion: Living in a foreign land can be an exhilarating experience, but it can also be dangerous. Many have succumbed to the temptations and pitfalls that are found in alien territory. May we take to heart the traveler’s warnings offered to us in the Scripture today so that our sojourn here is profitable and not disastrous.
You know, it’s possible that some here this morning have only one citizenship. Perhaps you are a full-fledged citizen of this world, without any hope of being gloriously transformed when the Savior comes again. You too will meet the Savior, but it will be at the Judgment. Your only hope is to come to Him in simple faith and accept new citizenship papers from Him. The price has already been paid. Jesus paid it by dying on the cross. But you do have to say “yes,” you do have to respond, you do have to receive the gift. I’m going to pray the sinner’s prayer right now, and if you know you’re a sinner and recognize your need of a Savior, I invite you to silently pray this prayer after me.
“God, I know that I have sinned and broken your laws. I want your forgiveness and the freedom from guilt that you offer. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I receive Him by faith as my personal Savior. Thank you, God, for giving me the gift of eternal life.”
DATE: August 21, 1988
Tags:
Compromise
Sanctification
Shame
Citizenship
Return of Christ
[i] James Montgomery Boice, Philippians, 249.