Philippians 3:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

NIV: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

NASB: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

CSB: but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

NLT: But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

KJV: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

NKJV: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

In contrast with false teachers who focus on "earthly things" (Philippians 3:19), believers should have a much different perspective on life. As Paul notes, once again, our homeland is in heaven, not here on earth. Responsible citizenship is important, but our ultimate destiny isn't in this world, but with the Lord in heaven. Jesus likewise taught that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and that He is not of this world (John 8:23).

Instead of temporary things on earth, a believer's focus is on Christ and His return. We should not focus on greed, sin, and the things of this world. Instead, our concern ought to be on what pleases God. The apostles believed Jesus could come back at any time, teaching Christ will come as He promised (John 14:1–3) at any moment (1 Corinthians 15:50–58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). Believers are to live holy lives, prepared for His return. Further, we are to help make disciples of all nations, sharing the good news with others so they can also spend eternity with the Lord (Matthew 28:18–20).

Philippians 3:12—4:1 explains the proper attitude Christians ought to have on the process of ''sanctification.'' This is the gradual, lifelong path of becoming more and more like Jesus. Our place in eternity is secure from the moment we trust in Christ, but it takes time to see our actions and attitudes change to be like His. Paul notes that he is not perfect, but encourages Christians to mimic his singular focus on pursuing Jesus. Paul also weeps for those who reject the gospel, a choice that will result in their destruction.

Paul details his impressive Jewish resume. None of his critics or challengers could boast the pedigree carried by Paul. He mentions this only to emphasize how little such things mean, next to faith in Christ. Paul's language here is sharp and to the point. He then explains how a Christian's focus ought to be purely on Christ, just as a runner concentrates on their goal in order to run effectively. Rather than looking to the past, or to ourselves, we ought to look forward, to an eternity with the Lord.

In chapters 1 and 2, Paul explained how Christians should respond to hardships. Since Christ was willing to obey God, even to the point of death, we should do the same. Complaining and worry have no place in the life of a saved believer. Chapter 3 makes a bold contrast. Paul's credentials, according to Jewish tradition, were impeccable. And yet, for him, none of those accomplishments are worth anything next to fellowship with Christ. For this reason, Christ is to be the sole focus of the believer. This sets up Paul's final greetings and instructions in chapter 4.

Philippians is Paul's discussion of living the Christian life. In this letter to the church of Philippi, Paul highlights themes such as joy and glory. He also puts great emphasis on how a Christian's thinking—their attitude—affects the way they live out their faith. Paul is very thankful for the support of the Philippian church, but is also concerned about the influence of various false teachers. This letter is less theological than most of his other writings, and more practical.

Accessed 11/21/2024 10:07:28 AM