February 18, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Maintaining Christian Citizenship | Philippians 1:27-30

Click to play, right-click to download:

February 18, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Maintaining Christian Citizenship | Philippians 1:27-30

February 18, 2018

Maintaining Christian Citizenship
Philippians 1:27-30

In the past few verses of Philippians chapter one, Paul has reflected upon several ideas.
1. The complex circumstances which brought him to Rome have served to give Paul the unique opportunity to share the Gospel with the whole Praetorian guard and the highest levels of the Palace population.
2. The advance of the Gospel in the impossible context of his imprisonment has stirred up the faith, like-mindedness and boldness of the believers in Rome to do the same;
3. As he faces the possibility of death under Roman judicial system, he presents his disposition as one of joyful anticipation of life with Christ weather he lives or dies. In these next verses, the apostle’s reasoning hope is that he will be released and soon return to Philippi and to joyful participation in ministry with his dear friends. However, he makes a turn to a foundation truth that must be observed and maintained no matter whether Paul lives or dies in Rome. That truth? Observe, guard, and maintain your true identity: Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom. This is the prism through which Paul addresses the Philippian audience then and us, his audience here today. Tear away the foundation and the structure will fall. Notably, the apostle is very likely reflective upon the words of his Savior: “(24) Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (25) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (26) But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. (27) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Mat.7:24-27).