Genuine Gospel Living In A Status-Driven World in Philippians

Table Of Contents

Genuine Gospel Living In A Status-Driven World in Philippians
- Snapshot
Introduction
First Example: Jesus
Second Example: Epaphroditus
Third Example: Paul
Citizens: Bring the Kingdom to that Area
Conclusion
What Now?
- Want to read more?

Snapshot

In Philippians, Paul challenges his readers to live “worthy of the gospel,” which means living as a citizen of heaven. Paul gives role models on how to live this way through the examples of Jesus, Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. Each one models a life of humility, sacrifice, service, and placing others before themselves. Each one rejects worldly status and embraces the mind of Christ. They are not looking to escape this earth, but rather, citizens of heaven are called to bring the values of the kingdom into their everyday lives.

Introduction

To live a life worthy of the gospel is to live as a citizen of heaven. In chapter 1, Paul implores them to “live in a way worthy of the gospel” (Phil 1:27). To live worthy of the gospel is to live as a citizen of heaven. Paul is telling them that to be a citizen of heaven means they live differently and have the mind of Christ. Paul gives three examples of living as a heavenly citizen, worthy of the gospel, with the first example being Jesus.

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First Example: Jesus

Jesus, though he was God, did not think that equality was something he should grasp. Jesus, being God, did not use his power and status. Jesus instead gives up his privileges and humbles himself. Many retired soldiers lived in Philippi, and Romans were typically obsessed with status and privileges. Paul flips Roman thinking on its head and claims that to be a good citizen of heaven is to model Christ. The Philippians give up using their Roman privileges, just like Jesus gives up his divine privileges, and instead, humble themselves to the point that they are a servant to others, just like Jesus. Instead of being served, because of their status, they are called to humble themselves and serve others. Not only humble themselves to serve others, but do it to the point of death. Instead of using their Roman citizenship to have others serve them, they are called to serve those who have a lower social status than they do. Being a citizen of heaven means that true glory and honor are through service and death, which is what it means to be a citizen. Being a citizen of heaven runs contrary to the view of Roman society, as Jesus is the example of being a citizen of heaven.

Second Example: Epaphroditus

The second example Paul gives for having the mind of Christ is Epaphroditus and Timothy, who have taken on the mind of Christ and serve others. Not only did Epaphroditus serve, but he served even when ill, and it is mentioned that he almost died (2:27). This puts Epaphroditus as an example along with Jesus as Jesus served others to the point of dying and Epaphroditus would have died as he served but by the grace of God he lived. He has been serving Paul and Paul tells the Philippians to welcome Epaphroditus and to give him honor. It is interesting that Paul tells them to give him honor because he served even to the point where he almost died, which means Epaphroditus served with the same mind as Christ, and he should receive honor. Epaphroditus has the mind of Christ and modeled himself after the mind of Christ. This is what it looks like to live as a citizen of heaven as we place others before ourselves.

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Third Example: Paul

The third example Paul gives for having the mind of Christ is himself. Paul goes through his past and how he was a citizen of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, and one who followed the Jewish laws. Paul himself has counted his Jewish citizenship as worthless in comparison to what Christ has done (3:7). Paul himself was a “pure blooded citizen” (3:5), but he has set that aside as he now shares the mind of Christ. Paul could use his Jewish citizenship and status to have others serve him but instead, he has taken on the mind of Christ and humbled himself to serve others. Being a citizen of heaven is to reject the world’s obsession with hierarchy and status and instead have the mind of Christ. Paul and Epaphroditus embodied the mind of Christ in that they rejected their human citizenship and humbled themselves to serve others. To be a citizen of heaven is to model the King, Jesus, and not use our status for ourselves but rather serve others, even to the point of death, and through sacrificial service, one receives true honor as a citizen of heaven. Being a citizen of heaven means relinquishing our rights in order to reach our neighbors, even those the world would consider of low status. To live worthy of the Gospel of Christ is to be a citizen who models Christ, Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus.

Citizens: Bring the Kingdom to that Area

Sometimes, being a citizen of heaven is presented as if we live in a place that is not our home, and we are looking forward to being taken out of this place to go to heaven. Unfortunately, this is a misunderstanding of the Biblical context. Many Roman citizens would not want to be in Rome, and many retired military personnel would settle down in other towns. In these other towns, the Roman soldiers were not trying to escape being Roman citizens, but were instead supposed to bring Rome to that new area. They were responsible for spreading Roman culture and values to the area in which they were placed. In Paul’s day, this was obvious by the way townspeople would pour out beyond a city’s walls to line the main street and welcome back a victorious general. This would happen if the triumphant emperor also visited. You can experience something similar to this in our day with annual events for the Queen of England. During the Queen’s speech in England, roads get blocked off and people go out to greet her travels from parliament to her palace. This can also be experienced when the Pope visits different cities, as many wait outside with expectations of welcoming him in. In Paul’s day, being a citizen of Rome meant bringing Rome to that city and welcoming rulers to usher them into the city. Being a citizen of heaven does not mean we leave this land for a new home; rather, we bring the kingdom of heaven with us to our current context and wait expectantly for Jesus to return. This kingdom does not mimic the politics of this world but instead is one designed to model a life of Christlikeness through peace, love, grace, and mercy to our neighbors.

Conclusion

We must live a life worthy of the Gospel, which means we must live as citizens of heaven. To live as citizens, we must have the mind of Christ. Jesus does not seek his own rights or privileges being the son of God. Instead, Jesus humbles himself and puts others before himself. Epaphroditus, Timothy, and Paul put on the mind of Christ as they did not seek their own rights but instead counted others as more significant than themselves as they served even when their lives were on the line. We must put on the mind of Christ and serve others, as we do not use our rights and privileges for ourselves, but serve others instead.

What Now?

Check your identity:
- What part of my identity am I clinging to for significance- career, nationality, social media, education, etc.?
- Jesus, Epaphroditus, and Jesus all willingly laid aside their privilages. This week, reflect on Philippians and pray: “Lord, help me to count everything as a loss compared to knowing you.
Take one intentional step this week to serve someone of “lower status” than you- someone who cannot repay you.
- Spend time with someone overlooked or offer resources to help someone in need without recognition. You could even volunteer for something without posting or making it known to others.
Where in your work, school, church, or family life are you more focused on climbing than serving? Change this and focus on serving in that area instead of climbing.
Cultivate a mind of Christ daily by praying every morning this prayer:
- “Jesus, give me your mind today. Help me to put others before myself and live as a citizen of heaven in every interaction.”