Philippians 3:17-21
17 “Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
Enemies of the cross of Christ: Paul did not want the church to imitate the behavior of the false teachers. Instead, he wanted them to follow his own example. Paul knew the Gospel of grace and was intimately connected with Christ. He is, therefore, calling his fellow Christians to imitate the faith that he represents and to pay no mind to the false gospels circulating the early church. These false teachers will reap destruction and therefore should not be followed.
Citizenship is in heaven: Christians have an eternal home awaiting them in heaven and we are only citizens of heaven. We do not share dual citizenship with the world. Christians are compatible with heaven and heaven alone because they have been given the righteousness of God in Christ (see also 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Eagerly await for a Savior: In the midst of jail and persecution, Paul looked forward to the return of Christ. This is because He has removed all of our sins. This means that Jesus is not returning to examine our sins in some way. There is no theater depicting our sins at the judgement. If this were so, we would not eagerly await His return.
