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Sermon #5610

The People of the Kingdom

A Sermon on Philippians 3:20-21

Originally preached July 1, 1962

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Scripture

Philippians 3:20-21 ESV KJV
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

Sermon Description

Many people believe that through education and government the world will become progressively better. War will cease, and poverty will have ended according to these optimists. However, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues from Philippians 3:20-21 that this misplaced confidence in human goodness and progress is misguided and contradicted by God’s Word. For in Scripture we see that men are perpetually sinful. This is because all men are in the flesh and under sin and the judgment of God. Sadly, many Christians have fallen into a similar error when they say that the goal of Christianity is to make the world a better place by moralism and social programs. They say that by working to make society a better place we will bring the Kingdom of God to earth. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that this is a distortion of the purpose of the church, for the church is not just another institution of social reform, but it has been entrusted to take the Gospel to all the nations. This Gospel is the only means of true transformations because it alone has the power to renew the hearts of men and give them new natures. It alone has the power to overcome sin, the flesh, and the devil.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The Christian's view of life in this world as it is now.
  2. The Christian no longer belongs to this world. Though physically in it, he is not of it.
  3. This world is passing. It is temporary and transient.

  4. The Christian expects nothing from this world. He knows only Christ can solve the problems of the world.

  5. The Christian's hope while he is in this world.

  6. The Christian's hope is the second coming of Christ.
  7. Christ will come visibly and bodily. He will come in glory and power.
  8. Christ will come to judge the world and subdue all things unto himself. He will conquer all his enemies.

  9. Christ will change our bodies to be like his glorious body. He will save us wholly - body and soul.

  10. How the Christian lives in this world.

  11. The Christian lives looking for the savior. He eagerly awaits Christ's return.
  12. The Christian does his best to make the world better but knows only Christ can make it perfect.
  13. The Christian is a stranger in this world. His home is in heaven.

Sermon Q&A

What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Christian's Hope in Philippians 3:20-21?

What does Philippians 3:20-21 say about the Christian's citizenship?

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Philippians 3:20-21 teaches that the Christian's "conversation" (or citizenship) is in heaven, not on earth. The text states "our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that when a person becomes a Christian, they undergo a profound change, moving from one kingdom to another - from "the kingdom of the devil" to "the kingdom of God." The Christian, while physically still on earth, no longer belongs to this world in a spiritual sense. They are "in it" but not "of it," with their true citizenship established in heaven.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the Christian view of the world with the non-Christian view?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws a sharp distinction between the Christian and non-Christian worldviews. The non-Christian typically believes in the possibility of world improvement, reform, and human progress. They expect that through education, cultural advancement, and human effort, the world can be made better and eventually perfect. In contrast, the Christian view (according to Lloyd-Jones) recognizes that this world is temporary, passing, and under the dominion of sin and the devil. Christians expect nothing ultimate from this world, knowing its fundamental problems cannot be solved by human means. They see the world realistically - not with pessimism, but with the understanding that true hope lies not in worldly progress but in Christ's return and the establishment of His kingdom.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the Christian's only hope in this world?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that the Christian's only hope is "the coming of the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, again into this world." He asserts that there is "literally no other" hope for humanity. While the world offers various solutions that have repeatedly failed throughout history (education, international conferences, cultural exchange), the Christian places their hope entirely in Christ's second coming. This hope centers on Christ returning visibly, in glory and power, to judge the world, subdue all things to Himself, transform believers' bodies into glorified forms like His own, and establish His eternal kingdom of righteousness.

What will happen to believers' bodies according to Philippians 3:21?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' exposition of Philippians 3:21, Christ "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." He explains that currently believers live in "the body of our humiliation" - bodies that are weak, frail, subject to illness, and still influenced by sin. When Christ returns, He will transform these mortal bodies into glorified bodies like His resurrection body - no longer composed of "flesh and blood" but of "flesh and bones," no longer subject to disease, weakness, or sin. Lloyd-Jones references 1 Corinthians 15, explaining that "this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" before believers can fully dwell in God's kingdom.

How should Christians live while waiting for Christ's return according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christians should live with an attitude of eager expectation, "looking for" Christ's return. He explains that the phrase "look for" in the original language describes someone (like a wife waiting for her husband) who has "withdrawn attention from everything else" to focus on the anticipated arrival. Christians should do their best in this world - engaging in politics, education, and efforts to "keep evil within limits" - but without pinning their faith on worldly progress. They should live as "strangers" whose true home is heaven, maintaining steady faith and service while eagerly anticipating Christ's return. As Lloyd-Jones quotes from 1 Corinthians 15:58, Christians should be "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Sermons on the Kingdom of God

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.