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This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless and is part of season 24 of a project to complete an in-depth, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of the entire Bible.

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Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources

Episode Notes:

When you were born, you automatically became a citizen of a country on this earth. You didn't apply for it. You didn't earn it. You inherited it by birth.

Now, as a citizen, you can either become a worthy citizen or an unworthy one. A worthy citizen respects the laws of the land, fulfills responsibilities, contributes to society, and, if necessary, defends the nation to which he belongs. An unworthy citizen does the opposite. He works against his country's interests, disregards its laws, and acts in ways that bring harm rather than good.

So that raises an important question: What does a worthy citizen of heaven look like, and how should we live if heaven is our true home? As it turns out, that is exactly the subject Paul addresses in Philippians 1:27–30. And the Philippians were uniquely equipped to understand it. Philippi was a Roman colony. Its citizens took enormous pride in their Roman citizenship. They understood what it meant to belong to a kingdom and to live in a manner worthy of that citizenship.

But they were facing challenges. Some problems were coming from within. Other pressures were coming from outside. Opponents of the gospel were attacking, criticizing, and persecuting believers. So, the Philippians were facing pressure from without and strain from within. And into that situation, Paul gives one of the most important exhortations in the entire letter. And he says:

"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ."

Or, as the language literally suggests, "Live as worthy citizens."

In this passage, Paul explains what heavenly citizenship looks like when life gets difficult, when opposition arises, and when believers are tempted to turn on one another rather than stand together.

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This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R McCandless...

Follow and support me on Patreon.

Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon

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Check out my other Podcasts.

My History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

The L.I.F.E. Podcast: Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment.

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

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