There has been a term flying around Evangelical Christianity for many years, which many of you have heard. From the very beginning, there have been pastors and evangelists who have been “bivocational.” It is not a Biblical WORD, and in some ways it is not a Biblical PRINCIPLE, but it gets the job done. There were times in Paul’s life when he had to support himself in the ministry by working in the world. For examples, Acts 18 suggests that Paul worked with Aquilla in the tent-making business for a while. He was both an evangelist and a craftsman. He had two vocations. He was “bivocational.” And outside of professional religions like Catholicism and much of Protestantism, thousands of servants of God have been forced to be craftsmen, farmers, merchants and colporteurs in order to stay in the ministry. Brother Fulton and Pastor Doug Brown in Estes Park have their own businesses, and so did I, before becoming a janitor so that I could pastor this church.
But as I just suggested, this idea of bivocationalism might not be a particularly special or outstanding term. Because the fact is, we are all supposed to be somewhat bivocational. I Peter 2:9 – “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Beyond whatever else we are in this world, we have also been called be both kings and priests. We have been chosen by God to be an holy nation – citizens of a heavenly kingdom – even while we are citizens of various earthly countries. We can be fishers of men while fishers of fish; We can be tent makers while mansion builders. We can be mathematics teachers Monday through Friday and Bible teachers on Sunday. We are ambassadors for another kingdom, while still serving tables down here below.
This brings us through the back door into Paul’s initial thought here in verse 20. But you might not see it right away. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” “For our CONVERSATION is in heaven…”
There are many Christians who say that evolution is a myth; it doesn’t exist. That isn’t exactly true. Of course, there is no biological Darwinism, taking an amoeba and developing it into a butterfly. But in other areas, like vocabulary, there is such a thing as evolution – transformation and revision. For example, the term “gay” meant one thing your grandparents, but it means another today.
The King James may be the only Bible version which has the word “conversation” here in verse 20. I didn’t check them all, but the ASV, the ESV and New KJV all say: “For our CITIZENSHIP is in heaven.” And the RSV says: “For our COMMONWEALTH is in heaven.” The reason for that difference – “conversation” to “citizenship” and “commonwealth” is not because of error in our Bible, but because the English language has evolved over the last 400 years. When Tyndale and others translated the Greek word “politeomia” (pol-it-yoo’-om-ahee) as “conversation,” it hit the nail on the head. But “conversation” has moved on and now refers to a chin wag – a chat – a dialogue between friends. So we who are still using the King James Bible, simply have to learn the correct Biblical definition. “For our CONVERSATION is in heaven…” means “Our CITIZENSHIP is in heaven.”
But I’m not yet through confusing you… This citizenship is not a piece of paper that says, “This Canadian is now citizen of the United States.” This Biblical citizenship refers to LIVING like a citizen; it is not just legal or political – it is PRACTICAL. The English word “conversation” originated in the French language before moving into the Middle English word “conversacioun,” meaning “behavior” or “manner of conducting oneself.” Simply put, the word Paul used refers to our manner of life as citizens.
And that becomes apparent when we see how this word is translated the only other time it is found in the Bible. Acts 23:1 says, “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have LIVED in all good conscience before God until this day.” Paul declared himself to be a good citizen, and he proved it by the way he lived.
Trying not to belabor this point too much, cousins to this word are found throughout the New Testament. Galatians 1:13 – “For ye have heard of my CONVERSATION in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it…” Paul’s old way of life was persecution. Philippians 1:27 – “Only let your CONVERSATION be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel…” Live as though the gospel of Christ has made a difference in your life. I will come back to this verse in a moment. I Peter 1:15 – “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of CONVERSATION.” “All manner of conversation” is not confined to our speech – it refers to every aspect of life. In everything you do, think, believe, live and utter, be holy – like your heavenly Father.
With this I come back to my theme for this evening.
The Christian’s conversation is in HEAVEN.
Our citizenship – our manner of life – is now Heavenly, because we have been born from above. Turn to the very familiar Ephesians 2 – “You hath he quickened” – you to whom God has given new life. “You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Before our salvation we were citizens of an evil kingdom, and our lives gave full proof of THAT citizenship. “Among who also we all had our CONVERSATION in times past.” Conversation – once again referring to our manner of living. Before our salvation we lived like children of our evil father – citizens of his wicked kingdom. “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Our “conversation” – our manner of life was sinful until our citizenship was changed by God’s grace. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in HEAVENLY places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
I hope you can see how these verses first bring together the ideas of earthly citizenship and wicked living. And then we have a new Heavenly citizenship which produces a new way of living. In order that, today and throughout the ages to come, God might shew the exceeding riches of His grace toward us through Christ Jesus our Saviour.
But Paul isn’t finished with this theme – verse 15 – “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but FELLOW-CITIZENS with the saints, and of the household of God…”
Scripture after scripture remind us of our heavenly citizenship and our heavenly conversation. In Matthew 6 – our Lord Jesus exhorted the people of His kingdom: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” There are some parents who open bank accounts in the name of their babies, and throughout their early lives they make small deposits for their children’s future. You could say that our heavenly father opened an account in the Bank of Heaven under your name. Not only has He been making regular deposits on our behalf, but He encourages us to do the same. As citizens of Heaven, we have heavenly investments, and where our treasure is there will our hearts be.
Pilate, worrying about a potential threat against Rome, asked the Lord Jesus about His kingdom. “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.” The King of the Heavenly kingdom is not of this world, and neither are His citizens. And as such, His citizens find their lives, joys and privileges in the things of Heaven. Not only that, but they have their laws and morality rooted in Heaven and its King.
Don’t get angry with me for constantly taking you back to Colossians 3, but it should never get old. “If ye then be risen with Christ” – if indeed you are a citizen of Heaven. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” How is it possible, if our conversation is in Heaven, that we have so little interest in our true home? “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in Christ. When Christ, who is our live, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Our citizenship guarantees that when the Lord comes for us, we will enter our new eternal home. If we prize that citizenship then we should set our hearts on our translation into its capitol. But what if our conduct doesn’t match our professed citizenship? How can we prove our citizenship?
Again I take you back to Hebrews 11 and what the writer says about Abraham. Abraham did not consider himself to be a citizen of Canaan, just as Christians are not citizens of the United States, Canada or Mexico. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
People ask me why I haven’t gone to the trouble of becoming a United States citizen? Why should I become a citizen of this God-forsaken nation? I am looking forward to a city, whose builder and maker is God, not of one with other founding fathers. Heaven is my resting place; I am not looking for a peaceful residence somewhere in this world. Heaven is where my King and Saviour resides; I am a citizen of that country. And as my Saviour has encouraged me, “I rejoice because my name is written in heaven.” If that makes me a stranger, a foreigner, an alien here, that’s okay with me.
But just because our citizenship IS HEAVENLY, the fact remains – our LIVES are being LIVED ON EARTH.
Let’s keep in mind the context of this clause: “for our conversation is in heaven.” It already exists in Heaven. It is kept safe there for us. But verse 17 begins with “brethren, be followers together of me.” And why should we be followers of Paul? Because there are many out there who are enemies of the cross of Christ. And what are some of the characteristics of those people? Most of them are concerned with nothing but their bellies – their flesh, their pride. “Whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind only earthly things, and therefore whose end is destruction.” But in drastic contrast to them, our conversation, our citizenship and our way of life, are holy and heavenly.
Yes, we are still here living in the world which is controlled by its own evil and inferior Satanic god. That is all the more reason to remember our true citizenship. That is all the more reason to make sure our conversation is Heavenly and not earthly. The Saviour is coming again, and we are anxiously awaiting Him. But in the mean time, we have heavenly work to do in this unheavenly world.
An interesting rabbit trail could be a comparison of this heavenly citizenship with Roman citizenship. Paul was a Roman citizen, because of where he was born, and this had some important ramifications to him. The same was true of the native born Philippians. There were relatively few Roman citizens outside of Rome itself, and even some important individuals had to pull strings to have that privilege. The chief captain who was about to have Paul beaten after his arrest in Jerusalem demanded: “Tell me, art thou a Roman? Paul said, Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.” That could bring up an investigation of the three ways people obtained Roman citizenship. Initially, people of the Macedonian city of Philippi were gifted Roman citizenship for their city’s service to Rome in the past. And this Roman captain tells us he bought his citizenship. But Paul was born in a Roman colonial city and his citizenship came through his birth.
And how were you made a citizen of HEAVEN? I should preach a message on the source of our citizenship – the new birth. And in this case, that birth is the only way to possess or claim to have Heavenly citizenship.
Earlier in this epistle, Paul said, “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” – Philippians 1:17. How did you become a citizen of heaven? If you are a citizen of that wonderful Kingdom, it was by divine grace. And you first heard about the possibility – you first saw it in the gospel. And that makes the responsibility of living like a Heavenly citizen all the more vivid and important. “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” – Philippians 1:17.
In closing, notice that the citizens of Satan’s earthly kingdom will find their end to be destruction – verse 19. But those whose conversation is in Heaven, look for the return of their Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. When He comes, He shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto His glorious body. What is keeping us from fully enjoying our heavenly citizenship right now? Isn’t it the limitations our flesh? But Christ is coming again, and He shall make us better fit for our eternal home.
In the mean time – “Let your CONVERSATION be as it BECOMETH the GOSPEL of Christ…” And “as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in ALL manner of CONVERSATION.”