Good morning, and a blessed Thursday morning to you.

Would you please open your Bibles to the third chapter of Philippians—Philippians chapter 3—for our time in God’s Word today.

What a joy it is to live in this Easter season. In fact, because the tomb is empty, each and every one of our days really falls into the category of the Easter season, doesn’t it?

What joy we have in knowing that the tomb of our Lord is empty—that the sacrifice for sin has been accepted. The Lord Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself on the cross and paid the debt. The tomb is empty, and that great victory of forgiveness is given to us in the waters of baptism. We are washed in His promises. What a joy it is to live in light of the empty tomb of our Lord.

Today, I want to highlight for you, from Philippians chapter 3, some implications of Easter.

Look with me, please, at verse 20. Paul writes, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” That expectation Paul speaks of is referring to the Second Coming.

But I want to focus on the first part of that verse: “Our citizenship is in heaven.” That is really home, isn’t it? Heaven is home.

The question can be asked, “Where is your home?” People may give various answers. Sometimes home is where someone grew up. There are many ways to answer that question. But the ultimate answer is this: our home is in heaven. This life, on this side of heaven, we are simply passing through.

That truth really puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

Paul then goes on to speak about our resurrection body in verse 21: 

When the Lord comes again, we will receive our resurrected body. Our body and soul will be reunited for all eternity. What will that body be like?

Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 15: what is now perishable will be raised imperishable; what is sown in weakness will be raised in power; what is sown in dishonor will be raised in glory. What is now a natural body will be raised a spiritual body.

That “spiritual body” refers to the glorified, perfected state of believers. When the Lord returns, and when body and soul are reunited—whether we are alive at His coming or have already died—we will still be ourselves, but made new.

Our bodies will be like the resurrected body of Christ. There will be no effects of sin—no decay, no weakness, no brokenness. We will have perfect, glorified bodies for all eternity.

We can rest in this reality. We can rest in these Easter promises.

Once again, Philippians chapter 3 reminds us: our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform us and make us like Himself.

These are the implications of Easter—and in them, joy abounds.

Let us pray.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for this time in Your Word, for Your Word is truth.

We thank You that each and every day we can live with the full awareness of the implications of Easter. We thank You for the joy that is ours in Christ.

In Jesus’ strong and holy name we pray, Amen.

God bless you today. Encourage someone.

Pastor Eibel