Series: You Promised—How to Walk in the Promises of God
Title: Passports

Pericope: Philippians 3:17–21 ¹⁷ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Sermon Text: Philippians 3:20–21

Supporting Text: Ephesians 2:12–22 ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Philippians 3:20, “But our citizenship is in heaven.”

Acts 22: 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”,

Point 1: Remember Your PLACE

Ephesians 2:19 says believers are “fellow citizens with God’s people.”

Ephesians 2:18 declares, “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Hebrews 4:16 invites us to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.”

John 1:12 describes believers receiving “the right to become children of God.”

Matthew 6:32 says, “your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Point 2: Represent Your PEOPLE

Philippians 1:27 says, “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 declares, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors.”

Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.”

Micah 6:8 calls us “to act justly and to love mercy.”

1 Peter 2:17 says, “Fear God, honor the emperor.”

Acts 5:29 records their response: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”

Matthew 6:33 gives us the order: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

Promise 3: Rest in Your PROMISE

John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.” He also said, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus says in John 14:3, “I will come back and take you to be with me.”

1 Peter 1:4 describes the believer’s inheritance as one that “can never perish, spoil or fade.”

Hebrews 13:5 gives us this assurance: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.”

James 1: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Hebrews 10:23 calls us to hold firmly to our hope because “he who promised is faithful.”

Congregational confession:

God said it

I believe it

I will seek Him first.

I will not worry

I will not swerve

I will stand on His Word because He who promise is faithful

God’s got me—and God’s got a promise for every problem that I have!

“I belong to God.
I have access to my Father.
I will represent Jesus.
I will walk in His Word.
I will trust His promises.
My citizenship is in heaven,
and my hope is in Christ!”

Life application: Put the promise into practice

This week, choose one concern and complete these four sentences:

• My concern is: ________.
• God’s promise, read in context, is: ________.
• The obedience this calls for is: ________.
• My next faithful step is: ________.

Takeaway: Know where you belong. Live like you belong. Trust the One to whom you belong.