Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven ...

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

Commentary

This does not mean that Christians are not also citizens of earthly countries. Other Scriptures clearly teach that we are to be subject to governments because they are ordained by God (Rom. 13:1-7). Indeed, believers should be obedient to the government in all matters not expressly forbidden by the Lord. The Philippians owed allegiance to the local magistrates, and also to the Emperor in Rome. So believers have responsibilities to earthly governments, but their first loyalty is to the Lord in heaven.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Php 3:20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Christians need to remember that though we are in this world we are not of this world; our ultimate citizenship is in heaven.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Php 3:20). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Galatians 5:13 - You, my brothers, were called to be free

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

Commentary

The freedom Christians have is not a base from which they can sin freely and without consequence. Christian freedom is not for selfish fulfillment, but for serving others.

Cf. Rom. 14:1-15. MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ga 5:13). Nashville: Word Pub.

"Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not liberty to sin."

Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). Reformation study Bible, the : Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture : New King James Version. Includes index. (Ga 5:13). Nashville: T. Nelson.