Eagerly Awaiting our Savior 😊

 

Scripture Text

Phil. 3:17-21

1 Cor. 15:51-53

Intro: As we live our lives here on earth we should always be looking and eagerly waiting for our Savior and Lord Jesus to come for us. We should be good examples of Christ while we are eagerly expecting and awaiting His return to take us home.

I. We need to follow true Christian examples. Philippians 3:17 (NLT) ¹⁷  Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
Paul said: he and others followed Christ ever so diligently; therefore, they were dynamic examples as to how people should walk and live. When a person lives a life on the highest plane—when he lives like Christ said to live—he is an example. He is living just like we all should live: just as Christ said. The point is this: the life we live sets a pattern for others to follow. Others are going to follow us no matter what we do. This says something of critical importance: we must live lives on the highest plane possible. We must set the most dynamic example possible. We must set the most perfect pattern possible for others to follow. But it also says something else: we must follow after those who live on the highest plane of life. We must mark those who walk as examples and follow after the great traits of their lives. We must take those who live as examples and dissect the traits of their lives, and apply those traits to our own lives. When we see a person living for Christ with such commitment and energy, that person is an example for us. We should follow that person. He is following after Christ, doing the very thing we should be doing. Therefore, he is a living example for us.

II. We are to avoid those who are enemies of the cross.    Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT) ¹⁸  For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
¹⁹  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. We are to mark those who walk in opposition to the example that Paul set, he calls them the enemies of the cross. We are to beware of false hypocritical believers and deceivers within the church who really doubt that salvation is found only in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. There is no other way to salvation except through Jesus Christ alone. Every unbeliever and deceiver both in and out of the church walks as an enemy of the cross, whether it be the leader of a nation, a movement or another religion that is set on wiping out the church and the cross. In verse 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, their glory is in their shame and they set their minds on earthly things. We are not to just listen to a person's talk. Talk can be deceiving, but we are to watch how they live their lives and what they put their trust in and follow after and not be led astray. Why?

III. Our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20 (NLT) ²⁰  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. We are in the world, but we are not to be of the world. We are not to be Thinking and acting like those whose minds are set on earthly things. We are to live heaven centered lives. We are to live as citizens of heaven where we have all the rights, blessings and duties in God's kingdom. A true Christians life is to be focused upon the return of Christ. We are to be looking for the Lord's return, living for Him, yearning for Him and constantly looking every day for the return of our Savior.

IV. At His return our bodies are to be transformed. Philippians 3:²¹  He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. The human body in which we live is so lowly and humiliating because its made of dirt, flesh and bone. It is subject to sin and selfishness, evil and destruction. It is so weak: it becomes sick and diseased, injured and maimed, aged and deteriorated. It is corruptible and dying, aging and mortal, offering no hope of ever lasting beyond a few short years. Our dying bodies can't inherit what is eternal. When Jesus comes we will have bodies like His resurrection glorious body. How is this possible? By the power of God, the very power which is able to subdue all things to Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NLT) ⁵¹  But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵²  It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.
⁵³  For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Invitation: Are you living your life as if Jesus could come at any minute? The apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:10 That “We are to understand what really matters, so that we may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus then you are not ready for His coming and you are an enemy of the cross. To be saved for heaven you must confess your sin to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save you so you will be prepared for His return. Then be baptized as a public testimony of your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord!