Philippians 3:20-21 - Homilies By T. Croskery

The heavenly citizenship and its blessed expectations.

The apostle seems to say that these souls, with their earthly instincts, can have no fellowship with us; for we are citizens of a heavenly state. "For our citizenship is even now in heaven."

I. THE HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP .

1 . Consider its source. It comes, not by birth or manumission, but by the ransom-price of Jesus Christ. It is in Christ we become "fellow-citizens of the saints and of the household of God" ( Ephesians 2:19 ).

2 . Consider the duties this citizenship involves. We are to obey its laws and watch over the interests of Christ's kingdom.

3 . Consider its privileges. We receive protection, guidance, and comfort.

II. ITS BLESSED EXPECTATIONS . "From whence also we wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

1 . Believers are always looking for the second coming of the Lord to judgment. ( Titus 2:13 ; Acts 24:15 ; Acts 26:6 , Acts 26:7 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 .) It is the "blessed hope" of the saints ( Titus 2:13 ).

2 . There is the expectation of a transfiguration of our bodies by Christ ' s power. "Who shall fashion anew our vile body, that it may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself." This allusion to the glorious destiny of our bodies may have been due to the thought of the sensuality of the formalists just condemned.

(a) as to the materials of which they are composed we are mere dust and ashes;

(b) as to the diseases and infirmities that often darken the soul's life;

(c) as to sinful desires which find their principal seat or instigation in the body.

(a) necessary, that the body may be a fitting dwelling-place for the glorified soul;

(b) amazing, for we cannot imagine its nature or extent;

(c) Divine, for it is to be conformed to Christ's glorious body.

(a) It is not according to his power merely, but by its exercise, that the transformation will come.

(b) He who is able to subdue all things, even death itself ( 1 Corinthians 15:26 ), will subdue our bodies into their finally glorified condition.—T.C.