Love: A New Commandment - a Journey in PhilippiansSample

Heavenly citizens?

Philippi was the first place in what is today known as Europe, where the gospel was announced. In those days Philippi was a Roman colony (Acts 16:12). Why is this important? To know what Paul meant by “our citizenship is in heaven”, we must understand how the language of citizenship worked. For so many years people thought “heavenly citizens” meant we were waiting to go and live in heaven one day. In the Roman Empire, it was precisely the other way around. A little history will help.

Octavian won a great victory by which he became the Emperor of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, about a hundred years before the Gospel came to Philippi. After all the wars, thousands of soldiers had no place to go and couldn’t live in Rome. So, they were given land in and around Philippi, making it a colony of Rome. The Philippian colonists were proud of being Roman and would do their best to organise civilisation to match how things were done in Rome. That’s why Caesar was worshipped as saviour and lord in Philippi, just as in Rome. Philippi could also maintain close contact with the mother city, because of the main route to Rome.

Now look again at what Paul wrote and think it through.

Jesus is the true Lord and Saviour. He is King in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). The power with which Jesus rules is the same power with which he will one day change even our bodies to be like his. God loves and renews your whole self. That is resurrection. Through the Holy Spirit close contact has been established with the “Mother City.” You can already live by this renewing power of God’s love.

Remember the greeting “in Christ, in Philippi…”? You have been given heavenly citizenship to represent God’s Kingdom where you live, until the day he makes all things new and everyone sees Jesus is Lord. The Church is a colony of heaven on earth. Church brings Jesus’ culture to where we live.

Reflection Question:

What can heavenly citizenship look like where I live?

Prayer:

I worship you, Lord Jesus, Lord of Heaven and Earth. I present myself as a citizen and representative of your kingdom. I trust in your guidance and support. Amen.