Two Kingdoms

Order of Service

• Hymn — We Have Heard the Joyful Sound
• Call to Worship — Psalm 149
• Hymn — We Have Heard the Joyful Sound
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Sin — Isaiah 53
• Assurance of Pardon — 1 John 1:9
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Hymn — On Jordan's Stormy Banks
• Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:17–4:1
• Sermon
• Prayer
• Lord's Supper — John 6:53–58
• Hymn — Behold the Lamb (vv. 1–2)
• Lord's Supper Distribution
• Prayer
• Hymn — Behold the Lamb (vv. 3–4)
• Benediction — Hebrews 13:20–21

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Sermon Title: Two Kingdoms

Scripture: Philippians 3:17–4:1

I. Service in the Two Kingdoms

A. Paul calls the Philippians to imitate him and those who walk according to the apostolic example — pressing on to gain Christ above all else (vv. 12–16)

B. Servants of the kingdom of the world (v. 18–19)

1. Their god is their belly — slaves to fleeting appetites and instant gratification
2. They glory in their shame — calling evil good, celebrating what is disgraceful
3. Minds purposefully set on earthly things — not a wandering but a willful pursuit

C. Servants of the kingdom of heaven set their minds purposefully on heavenly things and pursue Christ above all else

D. The chief contrast of our age: citizens of the world heed the therapeutic call to "find themselves" and make self the center; citizens of heaven are first found by Christ and conclude with Paul, "Wretched man that I am" — Christ alone is center

E. Application: bind yourself to role models who imitate Christ, not servants of the kingdom of the world

II. Suffering in the Two Kingdoms

A. Those who became enemies of the cross (v. 18) appear to have once held allegiance to Christ but turned away under worldly pressure

B. Context of the cross in the Roman Empire

1. Christians were mocked for worshiping a crucified man (e.g., the Alexamenos graffito)
2. Minucius Felix records opponents calling Christian worship of a crucified man scandalous

C. Servants of the kingdom of the world deny the cross to escape temporal suffering — but their end is destruction (v. 19), eternal torment

D. Servants of the kingdom of heaven bear the cross, face temporal suffering, and receive eternal glory

E. The transformation awaiting citizens of heaven (vv. 20–21)

1. The Greek word for "transform" is the same word used for the Transfiguration of Christ — a glimpse of his post-resurrection sinless glory
2. The same glorified Christ who blinded Paul on the Damascus road is what we will be conformed to — beyond what any eye has seen or ear heard (1 Corinthians 2:9)
3. The greatest thing about heaven is not what will be there, but what will not be there — sin; even watching paint dry without indwelling sin would surpass any earthly pleasure
4. We now see through a glass dimly, but we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12)

F. Application: do not exchange eternal glory for fame, riches, or worldly pleasure — hold high the cross

III. The Savior of the Two Kingdoms

A. Paul deliberately applies to Christ the titles "Lord" and "Savior" (v. 20) — titles belonging to Caesar in Roman imperial inscriptions

1. A 48 AD Ephesian inscription calls Julius Caesar "a visible god and savior of human life"
2. An inscription from Egypt near the time of writing calls Nero "savior and benefactor of the world"
3. It is Nero — on the throne as Paul writes — who will execute Paul and many Philippian Christians

B. The point: do not fear the lords and saviors of this world; fear and serve the Lord who reigns in heaven

C. Christ's power to subject all things to himself (v. 21) means the Neros of this world will become a footstool for Christ; united to him by faith, we become more than conquerors

D. Therefore, stand firm in the Lord (4:1)

1. The world will threaten reputations, jobs, livelihoods, and lives
2. The remedy: remember who is truly in charge — the true Lord and Savior
3. At the Lord's Table we remember the cross and Christ's promise to drink the cup new with us in his Father's kingdom (Matthew 26:29)
4. When Christ returns, destroys every enemy including death, and hands the kingdom to the Father, we will eat and drink face to face with him in our true home