Not of this world: Spiritual lives of Christians

(Philippians 3:20-21)

I recall many years ago listening to an album (yes…vinyl records were all they had back then), by Larry Norman, titled “Only Visiting This Planet.” The title was an apt metaphor for one truth about Christianity. Followers of Christ are not of this world and this is encompassed and strengthened by this scripture I am looking at today.

This is what the scripture has to say:

20 But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

As Christians, we are truly only visiting this planet. As the scripture says, our commonwealth is in heaven and even though our physical bodies reside on this earth, our spiritual selves are with Christ. Christians are not of this world, and this fact is highlighted in a number of places.

We are not of this world, we are Aliens and Exiles

To be a Christian is to be an alien and exile. We may exist here physically, but our hearts, minds and spirits are with Christ in the presence of God. This is a state of mind that we must keep at all times as we walk with Jesus.

As a result of this we are to consider ourselves as aliens and exiles on this planet as we go through our day to day lives.

The apostle Peter made this point saying:

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10 Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. (1 Peter 2:9-11)

See how Peter describes the people of the Lord. He shows us that we are not of this world but are a chosen race. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own people.

And we are a nation under God. We are not a nation of this world but we are a spiritual nation. All of those who are people of God are members of the Kingdom of God. They are part of the spiritual nation of Israel, who are God’s chosen people and the apple of His eye.

And Peter goes on calling the people of the Lord, “aliens and exiles”. To be an alien is to be apart and separated from those around you. And that is the case for the people of the Lord as compared to the people of the world.

We are not part of this world because the things we seek are not of this world. We do not go along with and accept the sin and evil ways of this world. Rather we seek the truth and righteousness that comes from the Lord. The focus of our lives is to please the Lord by doing what is right and believing in Jesus Christ.

The return we get as Christians is life and peace. The return that the world gets from sin and evil is hardship and judgement.

Peter also calls us exiles because an exile is someone who is unable to return home for one of a number of reasons.

Christians are exiles because our home is with Christ, but we are unable to go to Him at this time. And we know in due time He will return to this earth to establish His kingdom of righteousness on earth and we shall no longer be exiles.

So where are we really now?

Hidden with Christ

Although our physical presence is here on earth, in the spiritual realm we are already with Christ when we accept Him and follow His ways. We see this in several places.

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

In this first scripture, we see that we have died and been raised with Christ. This occurs through faith and the process of baptism. In baptism we die with Christ as we enter the water. And then we are resurrected with Christ as we are lifted out of the water.

We know that when a person dies in this world, death separates their body and spirit. The spirit then goes to either Paradise or Hades. The body simply rots and returns to the dust of the earth.

So for a person who has died with Christ through faith in their baptism, their spirits are counted as no longer being on this earth but are “hid with Christ” who is “seated at the right hand of God.”

We accept and believe these things by faith and so we are “aliens and exiles” on this planet.

Now if we are aliens and exiles, we need to change our thinking as we learn Christ. Christians need to seek the things of God rather than the things of this world. We need to set our minds on the Spirit and not the flesh. We must learn how to use the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the passions, lusts and desires of the flesh.

This is a powerful shift in thinking for those who come to Christ. There are many who have not made the shift. They still think of themselves as people of this world rather than people of God. They still consider themselves to be under the power of sin rather than under the power of grace. And they still pursue the things of this world. This is why we see such false teachings as the prosperity gospel.

God has called us in Jesus Christ to be like Him. Jesus coveted nothing and sought nothing of this world. He knew and understood that this world is temporary and is fading away. The world has been subjected to futility. Everything in this world is futile because nothing lasts. The one exception is seeking the Lord. That is the only thing that is NOT futile in this world because it holds the promises for life eternal.

And this is why we are not of this world. We are children of God and thus, children of the spiritual kingdom of God. God has hidden our lives in and with Christ.

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