#Philippians #chapter #three #series #philippi #apostle #paul #DrPhilipWoodley #HeatherWoodley #Heaven #eternallife #bibleteaching #history #christianity #christian #God #doctrine #ChartridgeMissionChurch #chesham #thefriendliestfellowship #LearningTheBibleTogether
Dr Philip Woodley returns to Chartridge Mission Church to bring us chapter three of our study of the book of Philippians. Written by the imprisoned apostle Paul, Philippians tells the story of the suffering of Christians and the joy that comes from being in Christ Jesus. Chapter Three focuses on Heaven and eternal life. Let's learn the Bible together as Dr Philip Woodley teaches from chapter three of Philippians.
Philippians Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeLtfVhcCUFv_dvetFhcAvifJfsvhS3SJ&si=fgrIMt7afiKQ05XM
Chartridge Mission Church, a beacon of faith, was founded in 1844 and remains in the village of Chartridge, just outside Chesham, in the picturesque Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
We are a warm and welcoming fellowship and would be delighted to have you visit us in person. Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm, followed by refreshments.
Our Church is fully accessible, with wheelchair ramps and an accessible toilet, ensuring everyone can participate in our services.
Chartridge Mission Church, Chapel Lane, Chartridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2TH
The village Church with an international audience.
Support our work at Chartridge Mission Church:
Donations via Stewardship.org.uk:
https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20005300
Cheques can be made payable to Chartridge Mission Church and sent to the above address for the attention of Pastor Barry Kempson.
Recorded on Sunday, 21st September 2025.
Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm.
www.Chartridge.UK
The Friendliest Fellowship.
Dr Philip Woodley returns to Chartridge Mission Church to bring us chapter three of our study of the book of Philippians. Written by the imprisoned apostle Paul, Philippians tells the story of the suffering of Christians and the joy that comes from being in Christ Jesus. Chapter Three focuses on Heaven and eternal life. Let's learn the Bible together as Dr Philip Woodley teaches from chapter three of Philippians.
Philippians Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeLtfVhcCUFv_dvetFhcAvifJfsvhS3SJ&si=fgrIMt7afiKQ05XM
Chartridge Mission Church, a beacon of faith, was founded in 1844 and remains in the village of Chartridge, just outside Chesham, in the picturesque Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
We are a warm and welcoming fellowship and would be delighted to have you visit us in person. Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm, followed by refreshments.
Our Church is fully accessible, with wheelchair ramps and an accessible toilet, ensuring everyone can participate in our services.
Chartridge Mission Church, Chapel Lane, Chartridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2TH
The village Church with an international audience.
Support our work at Chartridge Mission Church:
Donations via Stewardship.org.uk:
https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20005300
Cheques can be made payable to Chartridge Mission Church and sent to the above address for the attention of Pastor Barry Kempson.
Recorded on Sunday, 21st September 2025.
Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm.
www.Chartridge.UK
The Friendliest Fellowship.
Category
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TVTranscript
00:00Finish them thy new creation, pure and spotless, let us sing.
00:13Let us sing thy great salvation, perfectly restored in thee.
00:25Change from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place.
00:39Till we pass our ground before thee, lost in water, love and grace.
00:54Good evening to you, it's good to be here with you again so that we can worship and praise
01:00God together and we're going to start this evening by reading Psalm 15.
01:06Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent, who may live on your holy mountain, the one whose
01:13way of life is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their
01:21heart, whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbour and casts no slur
01:29on others, who despises a vile person but honours those who fear the Lord, who keeps an oath even
01:39when it hurts and does not change their minds, who lends money to the poor without interest,
01:46who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
01:52Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
01:56Now, of course, in one sense, the answer to the question in the first two lines is nobody.
02:07Nobody lives in the tent.
02:10If we think of the tent as the place that was set up by Moses in the desert for the worship
02:18of God where the Ark of the Covenant resided, nobody lived there.
02:24The priests and the Levites lived in surrounding the tabernacle and beyond them were the tribes
02:32of Israel.
02:33And beyond that, of course, there was that sort of no man's land really of the place where
02:40perhaps the foreigners who came out of Egypt with the people of Israel dwelt, where the
02:46people who were unclean and not able to live amongst the community where they lived, the place
02:52where the sin offerings were taken to be burnt, the remains of them, the place where people
03:01went and did their toiletry.
03:02They took their spade and went out beyond the camp.
03:06And beyond that, there were the people who were opposed to God.
03:12And we think particularly of the Amalekites who came and attacked the people of God on occasions
03:17as they travelled through the desert.
03:21But what is that, what this psalm is really about?
03:25It's really about, you know, who has a right to go and to be near that tent where God was
03:33effectively seen as dwelling as Shekinah Glory came down upon the tent of meeting.
03:41It's talking about somebody who lives a righteous and upright life.
03:48And it's not simply about whose way of life is blameless, who does what is righteous, who
03:54speaks the truth from their heart.
03:57It's about having a right relationship with God.
04:02And so this psalm is often referred to as a wisdom psalm.
04:06Although it's a bit different to some of the other wisdom we think in literature, we think
04:10particularly of things like the Proverbs, which often have that contrast between the light
04:16and the dark, the good and the evil.
04:19But this is a psalm which is redolent of light.
04:24It's a way to, it shows the way that we should live as we seek to honour God.
04:31But of course, you know, it does have a greater connotation, doesn't it?
04:35You know, that sacred tent, that holy mountain.
04:39They're referring ultimately to the place where God dwells.
04:43And God dwells in heaven.
04:45And ultimately, that is where his people will come together with him.
04:51And so our theme this evening is really going to be about heaven.
04:55And how do we get there?
04:57What's it like?
04:59And so we'll be turning now to our first hymn, to number 449, 449, Love Divine or Love's Excelling.
05:08But it reminds us in the fourth verse, finish then thy new creation, pure and spotless let us be.
05:18Let us see thy great salvation.
05:20We're perfectly restored in thee, changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
05:28till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise.
05:34And that's what we're looking forward to, isn't it?
05:37To being with the Lord in the eternal city that he is preparing for us.
05:43We're going to turn to our reading now to Philippians chapter 3.
05:47Philippians chapter 3, and Peter's going to come and read that for us.
05:52Philippians chapter 3.
05:55Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.
05:57Philippians chapter 4.
06:28If someone else thinks they have reason to put confidence in the flesh, I have more.
06:36Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
06:43a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard to the law, a Pharisee,
06:48as for zeal, persecuting the church,
06:52as for righteousness based on the law, faultness.
06:56And whatever were gained to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
07:05What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
07:13for whose sake I have lost all things.
07:17I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
07:22not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
07:26but that which is through faith in Christ,
07:29the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
07:34I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,
07:43becoming like him in his death,
07:45and so somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
07:52Not that I have already obtained all this,
07:55or have already arrived at my goal,
07:59but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
08:03Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
08:11But one thing I do,
08:13forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead,
08:17I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards,
08:23in Christ Jesus.
08:25All of us, then, who are mature,
08:29should take such a view of things,
08:32and if on some point you think differently,
08:34that too God will make clear to you.
08:37Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
08:43Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters,
08:47and just as you have us as a model,
08:50keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
08:53For, as I have often told you before,
08:57and now tell you again, even with tears,
09:01many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
09:05Their destiny is destruction,
09:09their God is their stomach,
09:11and their glory is in their shame.
09:14Their mind is set on earthly things,
09:18but our citizenship is in heaven,
09:21and we eagerly await a saviour from there,
09:25the Lord Jesus Christ,
09:28who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control,
09:33will transform our lowly bodies,
09:36so that they will be like his glorious body.
09:39These are the sort of basic questions that we need to ask as we come to this passage.
10:05Some of the Bible gives a very clear answer on others,
10:10the Bible only alludes to.
10:14We're going to look at Philippians 3 under three headings.
10:18Verses 1 to 11,
10:20the basis of our hope of getting to heaven.
10:24Verses 12 to 17,
10:26pressing on towards the goal.
10:29And verses 18 to 21,
10:31citizenship.
10:32But we want to talk about,
10:35if we want to talk about getting to heaven,
10:38we ought to know what we're aiming at.
10:42I suppose if you asked people in the street
10:44what they thought heaven was like,
10:47you'd get some fundamental basics,
10:50many of which would be wrong.
10:53I suspect you would end up with a picture
10:55of some genial grandfather figure
10:58sitting on a big throne.
11:00There would be a big party with all your friends,
11:04an eternal holiday,
11:06a place where you can improve your golf handicap,
11:10a place where you will meet all the stars glorified by this world.
11:14Now, whilst the Bible mentions heaven quite a lot,
11:20having read through the Bible many times,
11:23I must confess,
11:25I don't think that the Bible does give us a clear picture.
11:29Revelation 21 and 22
11:31talk about a great city paved with gold.
11:35In John chapter 14 verse 2,
11:39Jesus tells us
11:40that there are many rooms prepared for God's people.
11:46Jesus also likens the kingdom of heaven
11:49to a merchant
11:50seeking pearls,
11:54a wedding banquet,
11:56a king who settles a count with his servants.
12:00It's like a farmer who sows seeds,
12:04like a man who hires workers for his vineyard,
12:08or it's like a mustard seed.
12:12All these pictures,
12:14but how do we understand them?
12:16Do they give us a clear picture
12:18of what we will do in heaven?
12:22Perhaps we have to go back to Genesis chapter 1.
12:26In the beginning,
12:27God created the heavens and the earth.
12:34Now, often we think of this
12:35in terms of God creating the universe
12:37that we live in and see,
12:39and even to the extent
12:41of the innumerable far distant galaxies.
12:45But do we also recognize
12:47that heaven itself is a created place?
12:52Do we think about the creation
12:54of the angels and the other spirits
12:57that inhabit heaven?
13:00We might think about angels or spirits,
13:03yet they appear to us
13:04in physical form.
13:06Think of Jacob's ladder.
13:08Think of the great visions of Isaiah,
13:11Ezekiel, Daniel,
13:12and even the visitors
13:13who spoke with Lot in the Old Testament,
13:16or Mary in the New Testament.
13:18These all appeared as physical beings.
13:24So how do we understand them
13:25as being spiritual beings?
13:29When God created the world,
13:31he also created mankind to work,
13:34and everything that God created
13:36was described as very good.
13:38So if work for mankind was very good,
13:43perhaps we will be working in heaven too.
13:47Think of the parable of the miners
13:49in Luke chapter 19.
13:53Here the faithful servants
13:54are given rule over cities.
13:58Is that what heaven is about?
14:00Opportunity to continue to serve God
14:03in some capacity or other.
14:06What about Matthew 22 verse 30,
14:10where Jesus says
14:11there will be no marriage in heaven,
14:13that God's people will be like the angels.
14:17So our relationships
14:18will be different in heaven.
14:20How do we understand that?
14:22Is that what people want?
14:25Where is heaven?
14:26Jacob's ladder and Jesus' ascension
14:30might suggest that
14:31heaven is up above the visible skies.
14:34But does that make sense?
14:36Or is it just symbolic?
14:39If God is a spirit,
14:41then he is in a different dimension
14:43to the physical.
14:45We have a spirit
14:46breathed into us by God.
14:49But if you can examine the human body
14:51as much as you want,
14:53you won't find it.
14:54You won't be able to isolate it.
14:59I remember a few years
15:00after personal computers
15:02and spreadsheets came in,
15:04database technology was developing.
15:07And I remember one company rep
15:09telling me that their database
15:11had 24 dimensions to it.
15:14My mind can only grasp four.
15:17And the salesman couldn't really explain
15:19what 24 dimensions really meant.
15:22Some things we cannot understand.
15:27We cannot understand God.
15:30Heaven is where God is.
15:33More than that, it's hard to say.
15:36But in the new heavens
15:37and a new earth,
15:39God will dwell with his people.
15:42As we shall see,
15:43we shall have a new, different body.
15:45We will be different,
15:51but still have a physical presence
15:53in the heavens.
15:55It will be a body
15:57that does not age,
15:58suffer pain,
15:59a body that does not die.
16:03I have nothing to liken that to
16:05except to say that this represents
16:07some of the elements of God himself,
16:10who is eternal.
16:11More than that,
16:13my mind struggles to understand.
16:18But do I want to be there?
16:21Yes.
16:23God is good and gracious.
16:26He is loving and kind.
16:30These things are desirable.
16:32But what about his purity,
16:34holiness,
16:34his wrath against sin,
16:36his justice?
16:38Do I want those too?
16:39Many in our streets
16:42would not worry about these things
16:44because they don't see themselves
16:46as sinners.
16:47They don't commit murder.
16:49They don't go around
16:50robbing other people's houses.
16:52In their minds,
16:54they have constructed a God,
16:57a heaven,
16:59to suit themselves.
17:01But will they get into God's heaven?
17:05Paul is confident of his own hope
17:07of God's heaven,
17:08but he is also clear
17:10that many others
17:11will not be there.
17:13So let's turn to this passage.
17:16First,
17:17what is the basis
17:18of Paul's hope?
17:21Verse 3.
17:23For it is we
17:24who are the circumcision,
17:26who serve God
17:27by his spirit,
17:29who boast in Christ Jesus,
17:31and who put no confidence
17:32in the flesh.
17:33So Paul is able to boast
17:37in Christ Jesus,
17:39the Lord,
17:39in God,
17:41because Paul serves God
17:43by the power of the Holy Spirit
17:45living and working in him.
17:49Consequently,
17:50he puts no confidence
17:52in the flesh,
17:53that is,
17:54in his own strength
17:55and ability.
17:57But what does he mean
17:58when he says
17:59that those
18:00who serve God
18:01are the circumcision?
18:05There seems to be
18:06an issue
18:06about who
18:07is a Jew
18:09and is right,
18:10part of the physical nation
18:12with which
18:13God
18:14made a covenant
18:15through its founder,
18:17Abraham.
18:18God had promised
18:19to make
18:20Abraham's descendants
18:21into a great nation
18:23in Genesis chapter 12.
18:25But in Genesis chapter 17,
18:29God added circumcision
18:30which would be
18:31a sign
18:32to bind
18:33Abraham's descendants
18:34to the covenant
18:36that God
18:37had made with him.
18:39Those who were not
18:40circumcised
18:41would be
18:41outside of the covenant
18:43and would be
18:44outside of the blessings
18:45that God
18:46had promised.
18:48So the Jews
18:49were very fastidious
18:51about circumcision.
18:53But the trouble was
18:56so many thought
18:57that circumcision
18:58was enough.
19:00They were far less
19:01concerned about
19:02following God's commands
19:04or the way
19:05that they were to live.
19:07So in Jeremiah 4,
19:08God calls his people
19:10to return to him
19:11and to circumcise
19:13their hearts.
19:15In other words,
19:16their devotion to God
19:17was seen
19:18not simply
19:19in the physical
19:20but in the spiritual
19:21devotion
19:22that they had
19:23to God.
19:25And Paul takes this up
19:26in Romans chapter 2
19:28in verse 25
19:29he argues
19:30circumcision
19:31only has value
19:32if the person
19:33obeys the law of God.
19:35And of course
19:36it is impossible
19:37to obey the whole law.
19:39So those
19:40who break the law
19:41are like those
19:42who are not circumcised.
19:44But an uncircumcised
19:46person
19:47who seeks
19:47to please God
19:48by obeying his law
19:50will be regarded
19:53as though
19:54they were circumcised.
19:56That is,
19:57they will be regarded
19:58as one of God's people
20:00Paul argues.
20:02And this is how
20:02he concludes.
20:04A person
20:04is not a Jew
20:05who is one
20:06only outwardly
20:08nor is circumcision
20:10merely outward
20:11and physical.
20:13No,
20:14a person
20:14is a Jew
20:15who is one
20:16inwardly
20:17and circumcision
20:19is circumcision
20:20of the heart
20:21by the spirit
20:23not by the written code.
20:27Such a person's
20:28praise
20:28is not from
20:29other people
20:30but from God.
20:34This issue
20:35of circumcision
20:36had become
20:37an issue
20:37for the early church.
20:40Circumcision
20:40was a sign
20:41of membership
20:41of the Jewish nation
20:43but as a Christian
20:44there was someone
20:45who trusted
20:46in the saving work
20:48of Christ
20:49on the cross.
20:51People who trusted
20:52that Jesus' sacrifice
20:53paid the penalty
20:55for their sins
20:56and that faith
20:58is in that sacrifice
21:00through repentance
21:01brought eternal salvation.
21:04There was no need
21:06to become a Jew
21:07physically
21:07but some Jews
21:09who were proud
21:10of their inheritance
21:11in the blessings
21:13promised through Abraham
21:14they were going round
21:16stirring up trouble.
21:19They wanted
21:19to impose circumcision
21:21on Gentile Christians.
21:24If they were going
21:25to receive
21:26the blessings
21:27of God
21:27promised through Abraham
21:28then these Gentile Christians
21:31should become Jews
21:33was their argument.
21:35Paul sees this
21:36as people
21:36who only wanted
21:38an outward show
21:39of faith
21:40in Jesus
21:40as trying
21:41to impose
21:42an outward sign
21:44of Jewishness.
21:47He calls them
21:48dogs
21:49those evildoers
21:51those mutilators
21:53of the flesh.
21:55They had no real concern
21:57for spiritual things
21:58but wanted
21:59to impose
22:00physical signs
22:02on the bodies
22:03of others
22:04so that they could
22:05claim victory
22:07over them.
22:09The point Paul
22:10is making
22:11is this
22:11salvation
22:12is by faith
22:14alone.
22:15If Gentile converts
22:17give in
22:19to these
22:19Jewish crusaders
22:20then they start
22:22to rely
22:22on circumcision
22:23rather than
22:25faith alone.
22:27It becomes
22:29faith plus.
22:32Faith plus
22:33what we do.
22:35But Ephesians 2
22:36is quite clear
22:36for it is
22:37by grace
22:38you have been saved
22:39through faith
22:40through faith
22:40and this is
22:41not from yourselves
22:43it is the gift
22:44of God
22:44not by works
22:47so that no one
22:48can boast.
22:51And so that is
22:52what Paul does
22:53mockingly
22:54in the last part
22:55of verse 4
22:56through to verse 6
22:57he highlights
22:58his own
22:59Jewish credentials
23:00they are impeccable
23:02surely this must mean
23:04Paul will go
23:05to heaven.
23:06no
23:07in verse 8
23:08Paul says
23:09he considers
23:10them garbage
23:11they are of no
23:12value to him
23:13instead again
23:15in verse 8
23:16he talks of the
23:17surpassing worth
23:18of knowing
23:20Christ Jesus
23:21my Lord
23:21for whose sake
23:23I have lost
23:24all things
23:25he gives up
23:26his status
23:27in this world
23:28to know
23:29Christ
23:30by faith.
23:31when Prince
23:34Philip died
23:35the Earl
23:36Marshal
23:37of England
23:37came into
23:38St George's
23:39Chapel
23:39and proclaimed
23:41some of the
23:41many honours
23:42awarded to
23:43Prince Philip
23:44they would make
23:45any status
23:46that you have
23:47or I have
23:49in this life
23:50laughable
23:51they were
23:52truly impressive
23:54but would
23:56they impress
23:57God
23:57think of the
23:59way that
24:00God
24:01challenged
24:02Job
24:02this man
24:03who had
24:04been one
24:04of the
24:04most wealthy
24:05and righteous
24:07men in the
24:07whole world
24:08at the time
24:09listen to what
24:10he said to
24:11God
24:11you said
24:13listen now
24:14and I will
24:15speak
24:15I will
24:16question you
24:16and you
24:17shall answer
24:18me
24:18my ears
24:20had heard
24:21of you
24:21but now
24:23my eyes
24:23have seen
24:24you
24:24therefore
24:26I despise
24:28myself
24:29and repent
24:30in dust
24:31and ashes
24:32it is not
24:35our standing
24:36in this world
24:36that counts
24:37before God
24:38Paul is clear
24:40of the basis
24:40on which he
24:41can claim
24:42a place
24:42in heaven
24:43he is found
24:44in Christ
24:45he belongs
24:46to Christ
24:47not having
24:48a righteousness
24:48of my own
24:49that comes
24:50from the law
24:50but that
24:51which is
24:52through faith
24:53in Christ
24:54the righteousness
24:55that comes
24:56from God
24:57on the basis
24:58of faith
24:58I want
25:00to know
25:00Christ
25:01yes
25:02to know
25:03the power
25:03of his
25:04resurrection
25:04and participation
25:06in his
25:07sufferings
25:07becoming
25:08like him
25:09in his
25:10death
25:10and so
25:11somehow
25:12attaining
25:13to the
25:14resurrection
25:14from the
25:15dead
25:16so the
25:19price
25:20of entry
25:20into heaven
25:21is the
25:22punishment
25:22of our
25:23sins
25:23but that
25:24punishment
25:25is separation
25:26from God
25:27and so it
25:28is only
25:29through the
25:29death
25:30of the
25:30sinless
25:31son of
25:31God
25:31that we
25:32can claim
25:33heaven
25:33he has
25:35taken the
25:35punishment
25:36for our
25:37sins
25:38but before
25:39he grants
25:40us that
25:40gift of
25:41faith
25:41we are
25:42in rebellion
25:42against him
25:43salvation
25:45is by
25:46faith alone
25:47not by
25:48works
25:48we need
25:50God
25:50to act
25:51in our
25:51life
25:51to replace
25:52our rebellion
25:53with a
25:54love
25:54for God
25:55second
25:58pressing
26:00on
26:00so Paul
26:02is trusting
26:03in the
26:03sacrifice
26:04of the
26:04Lord
26:04Jesus
26:05for his
26:05place
26:06in heaven
26:06but he
26:07is not
26:08in heaven
26:08yet
26:09he needs
26:10to get
26:11ready
26:11he is
26:12pressing
26:12on
26:12in his
26:13Christian
26:13life
26:13to win
26:14the prize
26:15reserved
26:15in heaven
26:16for him
26:17Christ
26:19took hold
26:20of him
26:20made him
26:22his servant
26:22because he
26:24planned
26:24to give
26:25him
26:25a great
26:26reward
26:27so this
26:29is not
26:29the time
26:30to sit
26:30back and
26:31relax
26:31and to
26:32do
26:32nothing
26:32no
26:33Paul
26:34is
26:34striving
26:34hard
26:35to get
26:35there
26:36of course
26:36he will
26:37get there
26:37Christ
26:38has already
26:38determined
26:39that
26:40but how
26:41will he
26:42be seen
26:42when he
26:43gets to
26:43appear
26:44before
26:44God
26:45will he
26:46be
26:46spiritually
26:47flabby
26:48a
26:48spiritual
26:49couch
26:49potato
26:50or a
26:51fit
26:51and
26:52healthy
26:53servant
26:53of God
26:54I was
26:57reading the
26:57other day
26:57about the
26:58Royal Navy's
26:59new fitness
27:00test
27:00for many
27:02years
27:03the fitness
27:03test
27:04was a
27:05timed
27:05one and a
27:06half mile
27:07run
27:07which I
27:08remember
27:09from my
27:09days
27:09in the
27:10territorial
27:10army
27:11but the
27:12argument
27:12is
27:13how does
27:13the
27:13ability
27:14to run
27:15one and a
27:15half miles
27:16help you
27:17if your
27:17ship is
27:18burning
27:18so the
27:20new test
27:20is about
27:21the ability
27:22to move
27:23heavy weights
27:24over set
27:25distances
27:25to be able
27:26to lift
27:26them up
27:27to drag
27:28the equivalent
27:28of an
27:29injured
27:29collie
27:30clear of
27:31danger
27:31and that
27:32sort of
27:32thing
27:32it's
27:34about
27:34getting
27:34fit
27:35and ready
27:36for the
27:37things
27:38the challenges
27:39that we are
27:40likely to
27:41face
27:41in the
27:42future
27:42we need
27:45to be
27:45ready
27:46for heaven
27:46now of
27:48course
27:48when we
27:49get there
27:49when we
27:50get to
27:50heaven
27:50we will
27:51have received
27:52our new
27:52bodies
27:53which we'll
27:53be thinking
27:54about shortly
27:55so we
27:56will in that
27:56sense be
27:57ready
27:57but we
27:59need our
27:59hearts and
28:00minds
28:01to be
28:01ready
28:02too
28:02if we
28:04have received
28:04the greatest
28:05gift of
28:05all
28:06salvation
28:06through the
28:07forgiveness
28:07of our
28:08sins
28:08should we
28:09not seek
28:10to honour
28:10the one
28:11who has
28:11freely
28:12given us
28:12this
28:13enormous
28:14gift
28:14so Paul
28:16describes
28:17himself
28:17as
28:18pressing
28:19on
28:19he is
28:20striving
28:21to serve
28:21God
28:22not to
28:22earn his
28:23reward
28:23he can't
28:25earn
28:25what we
28:26have already
28:26been given
28:27but you
28:29can seek
28:30to honour
28:30the one
28:31who has
28:31given you
28:31the gift
28:32that you
28:32don't
28:33deserve
28:33so Paul
28:35is putting
28:35himself
28:36in his
28:37old life
28:38of shame
28:39putting that
28:40behind him
28:40which is
28:41based on
28:42worldly
28:42views of
28:43what was
28:43right
28:44based on
28:45the old
28:46Jewish
28:46views of
28:47justification
28:47by circumcision
28:49and his
28:49persecution
28:50of those
28:51who believe
28:51something
28:52different
28:52yes not
28:53only did
28:53he have
28:53a fine
28:54Jewish
28:54pedigree
28:55but he
28:56also
28:56formally
28:57gloried
28:58in the
28:58persecution
28:59of
28:59Christians
29:00even to
29:01the point
29:01that he
29:01delighted
29:02in seeing
29:03them being
29:03executed
29:04now as he
29:06presses on
29:07towards the
29:08call to
29:09heaven
29:09given to
29:10him by
29:10God
29:11he turns
29:12away from
29:12these shameful
29:13things of the
29:14past
29:14and seeks
29:16the Lord
29:16who he
29:17formerly
29:17persecuted
29:18these things
29:20could weigh
29:21heavily on
29:22him
29:22and to a
29:23certain
29:23extent
29:24they did
29:24in 1
29:25Corinthians
29:2615
29:26he says
29:27for I am
29:28the least
29:28of the
29:29apostles
29:29and do
29:30not even
29:31deserve
29:31to be
29:32called
29:32an apostle
29:32because I
29:34persecuted
29:35the church
29:36of God
29:36but by
29:38the grace
29:39of God
29:40I am
29:41what I
29:41am
29:42and his
29:43grace to
29:44me was
29:44not without
29:45effect
29:46no I
29:47worked harder
29:48than all
29:49of them
29:49yet not
29:50I
29:50but the
29:51grace of
29:52God
29:52that was
29:53with me
29:53so now
29:56he seeks
29:57to honour
29:57the God
29:58who redeemed
29:58him
29:59who claimed
30:00him as
30:00his own
30:01he seeks
30:02to live
30:03to glorify
30:04God
30:05in verse 16
30:06Paul says
30:07only let us
30:08live up to
30:09what we have
30:09already attained
30:10that seems
30:11pretty reasonable
30:12surely
30:13if we have
30:14been given
30:14some great
30:15honour
30:15some important
30:16work to
30:17do
30:17surely
30:18we should
30:19seek
30:19to do
30:19it
30:20to the
30:20best
30:21of our
30:21ability
30:21Paul
30:23certainly
30:23thinks
30:23so
30:24that's
30:24why
30:25in
30:25verse 15
30:26he describes
30:27as mature
30:28mature in
30:29their thinking
30:29those who
30:31similarly
30:31think
30:32feel
30:32and act
30:33according
30:34to this
30:34desire
30:35to reflect
30:36the privileges
30:37that they
30:38have been
30:38given
30:38so in
30:40the last
30:41part of
30:41verse 15
30:42is something
30:43of a rebuke
30:44to those
30:44spiritual
30:45couch
30:45potatoes
30:46who rest
30:47on their
30:48laurels
30:48and if
30:50on some
30:50point
30:51you think
30:51differently
30:52that too
30:53God will
30:54make clear
30:55to you
30:56therefore
30:58Paul urges
30:59the Philippians
30:59in verse
31:0017
31:01join together
31:02in following
31:04my example
31:04brothers and
31:05sisters
31:05and just
31:06as you
31:07have us
31:07as a model
31:08keep your
31:09eyes
31:10on those
31:11who live
31:11as we
31:13do
31:13Paul
31:15is
31:15modelling
31:16the behaviour
31:16he expects
31:17of those
31:18who are
31:19Christians
31:19the writer
31:21of the
31:21letter
31:21to the
31:22Hebrews
31:22at the
31:23start
31:23of chapter
31:2412
31:24similarly
31:25urges
31:25his readers
31:26to keep
31:27their eyes
31:28fixed
31:28on Jesus
31:29he is not
31:30only their
31:31goal
31:31he is also
31:32the model
31:33the servant
31:34king
31:35that we
31:35should seek
31:36to copy
31:37indeed
31:38the writer
31:39has spent
31:40a whole
31:40chapter
31:40before that
31:41setting out
31:42those
31:43who in
31:44the past
31:44have sought
31:45to do
31:45the will
31:46of God
31:46he describes
31:47such people
31:49as
31:49those
31:50that the
31:51world
31:51was not
31:52worthy of
31:53and then
31:53he goes
31:54on
31:54these
31:55were all
31:56commended
31:56for their
31:57faith
31:57yet
31:59not one
32:00of them
32:00received
32:01what they
32:02had been
32:02promised
32:02since God
32:04had planned
32:04something
32:05better for
32:05us
32:06so that
32:07only
32:07together
32:08with us
32:08would they
32:09be made
32:10perfect
32:11the true
32:13Christian
32:13is marked
32:14by a life
32:15of repentance
32:16and service
32:17they have a
32:19hope that
32:19they hold
32:20to
32:20a hope
32:21of undeserved
32:22reward
32:22they could
32:23never earn
32:24but which
32:25has been
32:26brought
32:26at a great
32:27price
32:28they walk
32:30a humble
32:30path
32:31of service
32:32and suffering
32:33the persecutions
32:34that their
32:35saviour
32:36also
32:36endured
32:37so third
32:40citizenship
32:41Paul's
32:43citizenship
32:43is in
32:45heaven
32:45verse 20
32:46and he
32:47applies this
32:48to the
32:49Philippian
32:49Christians
32:50too
32:50they too
32:51by faith
32:52in the
32:52sacrifice
32:52of the
32:53Lord Jesus
32:53have the
32:54hope
32:55of eternal
32:55life
32:56they too
32:58must press
32:59on towards
32:59that goal
33:00by faithfully
33:01serving the
33:02Lord
33:02their
33:03citizenship
33:04will reach
33:05full
33:06realisation
33:06when Christ
33:07returns for
33:08his people
33:09when he
33:09comes to
33:10return
33:10this world
33:12to his
33:12full
33:13control
33:13one of
33:16the great
33:16debates
33:17about
33:17heaven
33:17is
33:18whether
33:18heaven
33:18is
33:19totally
33:19new
33:20creation
33:20or whether
33:21the world
33:21is going
33:22to be
33:22renewed
33:23as
33:25Christians
33:25we are
33:26people
33:26who are
33:27renewed
33:27God
33:28does not
33:29destroy us
33:30and make
33:31a totally
33:31new set
33:32of people
33:32this
33:33emphasis
33:33on renewal
33:34therefore
33:35tends to
33:36suggest
33:36that we
33:37will
33:37relive
33:38on a
33:38renewed
33:39earth
33:39it
33:40will
33:41be
33:41like
33:41the
33:41garden
33:42of
33:42Eden
33:42but
33:43the
33:43fundamental
33:44difference
33:44will be
33:45that
33:45God
33:45will
33:45dwell
33:46with
33:46his
33:46people
33:47it
33:48will
33:48not
33:48be
33:48a
33:49case
33:49that
33:49God
33:49just
33:50visits
33:50in
33:50the
33:51cool
33:51of
33:51the
33:51evening
33:51as
33:52was
33:52the
33:52case
33:53for
33:53Adam
33:53and
33:53Eve
33:54but
33:54we
33:55shall
33:55be
33:55with
33:55him
33:56forever
33:57so
33:59note
33:59we
34:00will
34:00have
34:00new
34:01bodies
34:01verse
34:0221
34:02they
34:04will
34:04be
34:04like
34:04the
34:05body
34:05that
34:05Christ
34:06Jesus
34:07now
34:07hands
34:08following
34:08his
34:09resurrection
34:09even
34:10on
34:10resurrection
34:11day
34:11Jesus
34:11was
34:12able
34:12to
34:12appear
34:13amongst
34:13his
34:14disciples
34:14even
34:15though
34:15the
34:15doors
34:16were
34:16all
34:16locked
34:17and
34:18yet
34:18he
34:18had
34:19a
34:19very
34:19physical
34:19body
34:20that
34:20they
34:20could
34:20touch
34:21which
34:21continued
34:22to
34:22bear
34:23the
34:23scars
34:23of
34:24his
34:24suffering
34:24as
34:26we
34:27noted
34:27earlier
34:27this
34:28new
34:29body
34:29we
34:29receive
34:30at
34:30the
34:30resurrection
34:30means
34:31we
34:31will
34:32no
34:32longer
34:32have
34:33a
34:33body
34:33that
34:33ages
34:34or
34:34suffers
34:35pain
34:35or
34:35sickness
34:36but
34:37one
34:37which
34:37lives
34:38forever
34:38so
34:41we
34:42will
34:42live
34:42forever
34:42probably
34:43in a
34:44recreated
34:45world
34:46does
34:47that
34:47mean
34:47that
34:47there
34:48will
34:48be
34:48no
34:48day
34:48or
34:49night
34:49certainly
34:50we
34:50will
34:51not
34:51age
34:52but
34:52but
34:52if
34:52we
34:53live
34:53in a
34:53recreated
34:54world
34:54unlike
34:55the
34:55one
34:55that
34:55we
34:56know
34:56now
34:56does
34:57that
34:57mean
34:57there
34:57will
34:57be
34:58no
34:58sun
34:58and
34:59moon
34:59clearly
35:00the picture
35:01in
35:01revelation
35:01is
35:02painted
35:02in
35:03symbolic
35:04language
35:05but
35:05revelation
35:0621
35:0725
35:07does
35:08say
35:08on
35:09no
35:09day
35:09will
35:09its
35:10gates
35:10the
35:10city
35:11of
35:11god
35:11on
35:12no
35:12day
35:12will
35:13its
35:13gates
35:14ever
35:14be
35:14shut
35:14for
35:15there
35:15will
35:16be
35:16no
35:16night
35:16because
35:18as it
35:19says
35:19in
35:19verse
35:2023
35:20the
35:21city
35:22does
35:22not
35:22need
35:23the
35:23sun
35:23or
35:24the
35:24moon
35:24to
35:24shine
35:25on
35:25it
35:25for
35:26the
35:26glory
35:26of
35:26god
35:27gives
35:27it
35:27light
35:28and
35:28the
35:28lamb
35:29is
35:29its
35:29lamp
35:29heaven
35:31will
35:32principally
35:32be
35:33a
35:33spiritual
35:33place
35:34the
35:35light
35:35of
35:35god's
35:35presence
35:36will
35:36bring
35:36understanding
35:37we
35:38will
35:38be
35:39able
35:39to
35:39walk
35:40in
35:40safety
35:40even
35:41if
35:41there
35:41is
35:42night
35:42because
35:43we
35:43will
35:44have
35:44understanding
35:45all
35:46the
35:46knowledge
35:46that
35:47we
35:47need
35:47but
35:49will
35:49there
35:49be
35:49day
35:49or
35:50night
35:50I
35:51don't
35:51know
35:52and
35:53I
35:53don't
35:53need
35:53to
35:53know
35:54all
35:55I
35:55need
35:55to
35:55rest
35:56on
35:56is
35:56the
35:56knowledge
35:57that
35:57I
35:57will
35:58be
35:58there
35:58with
35:58God
35:59forever
36:00but
36:02revelation
36:0221
36:0327
36:03also
36:04says
36:04nothing
36:05impure
36:05will
36:06ever
36:06enter
36:06it
36:06nor
36:07will
36:08anyone
36:08who
36:08does
36:09what
36:09is
36:09shameful
36:10or
36:10deceitful
36:11but
36:11only
36:11those
36:12whose
36:12names
36:12are
36:13written
36:13in
36:13the
36:13Lamb's
36:14book
36:14of
36:14life
36:14and
36:15this
36:15accords
36:16with
36:16what
36:16Paul
36:17writes
36:17to
36:17the
36:17Philippians
36:18see
36:19verses
36:1918
36:20and
36:2019
36:21for
36:22as
36:23I
36:23have
36:23told
36:23you
36:23before
36:24and
36:24now
36:25tell
36:25you
36:25again
36:25even
36:26with
36:26tears
36:26many
36:27live
36:28as
36:28enemies
36:28of
36:29the
36:29cross
36:29of
36:29Christ
36:30their
36:31destiny
36:31is
36:32destruction
36:32their
36:33God
36:34is
36:34their
36:34stomach
36:34and
36:35their
36:35glory
36:36is
36:36their
36:36shame
36:36their
36:37mind
36:38is
36:38set
36:38on
36:39earthly
36:39things
36:40this
36:42is
36:43a
36:43stone
36:43warning
36:44the
36:45idea
36:45of
36:46universal
36:46salvation
36:47though
36:48preached
36:48in
36:49many
36:49churches
36:49is
36:50not
36:51borne
36:51out
36:51by
36:51scripture
36:52it
36:53is
36:53often
36:54stated
36:54that
36:55Jesus
36:55spoke
36:56more
36:56about
36:56hell
36:57than
36:58heaven
36:58a
36:59famous
37:00Christian
37:00preacher
37:02and
37:02teacher
37:03R.C.
37:03Sproul
37:04was
37:04once
37:05asked
37:05about
37:06which
37:06biblical
37:07doctrine
37:07he
37:08struggled
37:08with
37:09most
37:09his
37:11answer
37:11hell
37:13the
37:14thought
37:14of
37:15God
37:15bringing
37:15eternal
37:16punishment
37:16on
37:16people
37:17is
37:17terrifying
37:18yet
37:19people
37:19prefer
37:20to
37:21ignore
37:21the
37:21warnings
37:22if
37:23you
37:23were
37:23told
37:24that
37:24there
37:24was
37:24a
37:24world
37:24war
37:25two
37:25bomb
37:25that
37:26had
37:26been
37:26found
37:26near
37:27your
37:27house
37:27would
37:28you
37:28ignore
37:29such
37:29a
37:29warning
37:29yes
37:31I'm
37:31sure
37:31there
37:32are
37:32things
37:32that
37:32you
37:32would
37:33want
37:33to
37:33rescue
37:33from
37:34your
37:34house
37:34but
37:35you
37:35would
37:35weigh
37:36up
37:36what
37:37was
37:37said
37:37by
37:37the
37:37police
37:38on
37:38the
37:38cordon
37:39thrown
37:39around
37:40the
37:40area
37:40but
37:42people
37:42have
37:43such
37:43a
37:43superficial
37:43understanding
37:45of sin
37:46and judgment
37:47and the
37:47holiness
37:48of God
37:48that they
37:49prefer to
37:50construct
37:50their own
37:51ideas
37:51of heaven
37:52and hell
37:53Paul
37:55is not
37:56so sanguine
37:56let
37:57let me
37:57read
37:58verses
37:5818
37:59and
37:5919
37:59again
38:00for
38:01as
38:02I
38:02have
38:02told
38:02you
38:02before
38:03and
38:04now
38:04tell
38:05you
38:05again
38:05even
38:06with
38:06tears
38:07many
38:08live
38:09as
38:09enemies
38:09of
38:09the
38:10cross
38:10of
38:10Christ
38:11their
38:11destiny
38:12is
38:13destruction
38:14their
38:15God
38:15is
38:15their
38:15stomach
38:16and
38:16their
38:16glory
38:17is
38:17in
38:17their
38:18shame
38:18their
38:19mind
38:20is
38:21set
38:21on
38:22earthly
38:22things
38:23the
38:25immediate
38:25so often
38:26takes
38:26the
38:26place
38:27of
38:27the
38:27seemingly
38:28distant
38:28yet
38:29death
38:29can
38:30come
38:31in
38:31a
38:31moment
38:31again
38:33from
38:33Hebrews
38:34we read
38:34just as
38:35people are
38:36destined
38:36to die
38:37once
38:37and after
38:38that
38:38to face
38:39judgment
38:39so
38:40Christ
38:41was
38:41sacrificed
38:42once
38:42to take
38:43away
38:44the
38:44sin
38:44of
38:44many
38:45and
38:46he
38:46will
38:46appear
38:46a
38:46second
38:47time
38:47not
38:48to
38:48bear
38:48sin
38:49but
38:50to
38:50bring
38:50salvation
38:51to
38:52those
38:52who
38:53are
38:53waiting
38:53for
38:54him
38:54we
38:56all
38:56face
38:56judgment
38:57but
38:58for
38:58those
38:58whose
38:59citizenship
38:59is in
39:00heaven
39:00we
39:01will
39:01be
39:01able
39:02to
39:02plead
39:02the
39:02sacrifice
39:03of
39:03the
39:03Lord
39:04Jesus
39:04we
39:04will
39:04be
39:05able
39:05to
39:05plead
39:05the
39:06gift
39:06of
39:07faith
39:07that
39:07he
39:08has
39:08granted
39:08to
39:09us
39:09but
39:10for
39:11others
39:11there
39:12is
39:13only
39:13the
39:13eternal
39:14punishment
39:14reserved
39:15for
39:15those
39:16who
39:16live
39:16in
39:17rebellion
39:17against
39:18the
39:19almighty
39:19God
39:19hence
39:21Paul's
39:22tears
39:23Philippians
39:263
39:27is a
39:27message
39:27of
39:28hope
39:28for
39:28the
39:28Christian
39:29but
39:30it
39:30calls
39:31us
39:31to
39:31serve
39:32the
39:32living
39:32God
39:32who
39:33has
39:33redeemed
39:34us
39:34it
39:35speaks
39:35of
39:36the
39:36wonder
39:36of
39:36a
39:36new
39:37life
39:37which
39:37is
39:38beyond
39:38our
39:38understanding
39:39though
39:40we
39:40may
39:40wonder
39:40about
39:41heaven
39:41the
39:41likelihood
39:42is
39:42that
39:43if
39:43we
39:43try
39:43to
39:44delve
39:44too
39:44much
39:44into
39:45this
39:45we
39:45will
39:45end
39:46up
39:46going
39:46beyond
39:47what
39:47scripture
39:48teaches
39:48us
39:48and we
39:49will
39:50fall
39:50into
39:51error
39:51let us
39:53stick
39:53to the
39:54truth
39:54that we
39:55have
39:56and the
39:56instructions
39:57that are
39:58laid before
39:58us
39:58to serve
39:59the
40:00living
40:00God
40:00and whilst
40:01we may
40:02be intrigued
40:02about
40:03heaven
40:03let us
40:04remember
40:04that the
40:05bible
40:05speaks
40:06much
40:06about
40:07hell
40:07this
40:08is
40:09equally
40:09a
40:10biblical
40:10reality
40:11it is
40:12the one
40:13that should
40:13trouble us
40:14not such
40:15that we
40:15disbelieve
40:16what the
40:16bible
40:17says
40:17but one
40:18that should
40:19bring us
40:19to the
40:19position
40:20of Paul
40:20whose
40:21concern
40:22was for
40:22those
40:23who were
40:24earthly
40:24minded
40:24for as
40:26I have
40:26told you
40:27before
40:27and now
40:28tell you
40:29again
40:29even
40:30with
40:30tears
40:31many
40:32live
40:33as
40:33enemies
40:34of the
40:35cross
40:35of Christ
40:36their
40:38destiny
40:39is
40:40destruction
40:41here
40:42is another
40:43reason
40:43that we
40:44should be
40:45diligent
40:45in serving
40:46Christ
40:47our task
40:48is to
40:49make the
40:49gospel
40:50known
40:50so that
40:51people
40:51will flee
40:52from the
40:54wrath to
40:54come
40:55Amen
40:56Amen
40:56Amen
40:57Love divine
41:00all
41:01love
41:01excelling
41:03joy
41:05all
41:05time
41:06to
41:07earth
41:08come
41:09down
41:10fix it
41:12us
41:13thy
41:13humble
41:15dwelling
41:16all
41:17thy
41:18faithful
41:19mercy
41:51Oh, breathe our love insurance into every trouble rest.
42:03Let us all in thee inherit.
42:09Let us find thy promise present.
42:15Take away the love of sinning of the love to make of thee.
42:29Let us faith and sin's regaining set our hearts at day by tea.
42:41Come, O mighty to the river.
42:50Let us all thy grace receive.
42:56Suddenly return and never, never go to the temple see.
43:08Give me hope in always blessing.
43:16Certainly ask that most of us.
43:22Pray and praise thee without pleasing.
43:29Glory in thy perfect love.
43:36Finish them thy new creation.
43:43Pure as water, let us sing.
43:50Let us sing thy great salvation.
43:56Permanently restored in thee.
44:02Change from glory into glory.
44:09Till in heaven we take our place.
44:16Till we cast our ground before thee.
44:23Lost in wonder, love and grace.
44:32Let us sing thy new creation.
44:33Let us sing thy new creation.
44:34Let us sing thy new creation.
44:35Let us sing thy new creation.
44:36Let us sing thy new creation.
44:37Let us sing thy new creation.
44:38Let us sing thy new creation.
44:39Let us sing thy new creation.
44:40Let us sing thy new creation.
44:41Let us sing thy new creation.
44:42Let us sing thy new creation.
44:43Let us sing thy new creation.
44:44Let us sing thy new creation.
44:45Let us sing thy new creation.
44:46Let us sing thy new creation.
44:47Let us sing thy new creation.
44:48Let us sing thy new creation.
44:49Let us sing thy new creation.
44:50Let us sing thy new creation.
44:51Let us sing thy new creation.
44:52Let us sing thy new creation.
44:53Let us sing thy new creation.
44:54Let us sing thy new creation.
44:55Let us sing thy new creation.
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