Matters of the Heart

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

As the Paul reminds us, the Word of God yields results in the hearts of men!  However, those results can be vary greatly...

For example, we see that a variation of the following phrase appears twice in the book of Acts:

 “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart…”

This first instance is found in Acts 2:36-42 on the day of Pentecost when the Jews were confronted by Peter with the charge that they were guilty of putting to death the Son of God.  Upon hearing this they were deeply affected – “cut to the heart” – and asked what they should do to atone for this awful sin.  Soon thereafter, they acted upon Peter’s command to repent and be baptized.

However, in Acts 7:54-60 Stephen preached essentially the same message, proclaiming Christ as Lord.  His audience, members of the Sanhedrin, were also said to have been “cut to the heart” (NKJV), but they responded by becoming so angry that they literally killed the messenger, stoning Stephen to his death.

Why were there such drastically different reactions to what was essentially the same message?

Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.

The difference in these two events was the condition of the hearts of those involved!  Of course I’m not talking about the physical condition of their hearts, but rather their spiritual well-being…

"Heart" (Hebrew lebab/leb [b'bel], Gk. kardia [kardiva]) occurs over one thousand times in the Bible, making it the most common anthropological term in the Scripture. It denotes a person's center for both physical and emotional-intellectual-moral activities; sometimes it is used figuratively for any inaccessible thing.

Therefore we see that when someone is exposed to the Gospel, results will vary depending on the heart of the hearer.

Jesus illustrates this Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23) in which the soil represents different hearers.

Sometimes people don’t understand the Gospel, become distracted after a time, or are too caught up in the cares of the world to retain the message. On the other hand, “good ground” – people with an open heart – will allow Jesus’ message to grow within them and they will develop and grow as Christians and share what they have learned with others!

God Knows Our Heart

The Bible frequently reminds us that God knows us better than we know ourselves.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For  the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

While we may put on a pretense of righteousness, God has the ability to looks inward and examine our true self. Furthermore, God judges the heart as the root of our actions.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

“Guard Your Heart”

Therefore, if we seek to please God, we must examine ourselves and be aware of the condition of our heart.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.… 

This may sound like a strange concept, the idea of guarding our heart.  Guard it from what?

As we know from the Parable of the Sower, truth can take root in the heart; unfortunately, however, so can sin…

In Matthew 5:21-22, 5:27-28 Jesus reminds us that just as murder begins as hate and adultery begins as lust.  Thus, we understand that all sin has its origin in the heart.

Mark 7:15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

In Matthew 12:34 Jesus states that  “… out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Surely, every action –  good or bad  –  starts from within.

Therefore, if we do indeed seek to serve God, we must be actively cultivating a heart that yearns to please Him.  This requires regular self-examination, diligent prayer, and consistent meditation on God’s Word.  In this way we firmly embed Christ’s teachings within our hearts.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Hardened Hearts

Another danger to the condition of one’s heart is the development of a callous heart.

Throughout the Bible we read of people who had “hardened” their hearts toward God.  This phrase has several meanings.  In the case of Pharaoh in Exodus, he hardened his heart by refusing to release God’s people from bondage in Egypt; an act of arrogant pride.

Elsewhere (Mark 8:17-19, John 12:40), hardening of the heart leads to a lack of understanding despite clear reasoning or a lack of faith despite abundant evidence.  In this way, a hardened heart can lead to apathy or insincerity.

Worse yet: a hardened heart can yield a “seared” or corrupt conscience.

1 John 3:18-20 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

The conscience acts as our God-given “moral compass”.  When functioning as God intended, a conscience warns us against sin (Romans 2:15), but a misguided conscience can pave the way for the perversion of truth and lead us toward destruction.

Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Before long, one with a hardened heart can find themselves believing the complete opposite of what God’s Word teaches.  This is why we are frequently warned about false teachers (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Thus, we see that a hardened heart can have no place for love and no tolerance for truth.  A hardened heart is the epitome of pride.  A hardened heart is displeasing to God.

Obadiah 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’

Job 9:4  God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?

The Bible is filled with accounts of people who hardened their heart to God by ignoring His commandments, and outright rebelling against Him.

Ruin is the fruit of a hardened heart.  If we are not careful, we too could face the wrath of God.

A Heart Pleasing unto God

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Surely, though, we desire a heart that is pleasing unto God.  What kind of heart does God desire in His followers?

A heart pleasing unto God is Pure –  A pure heart is blameless and genuine.

1 Timothy 1:4-5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith...

A heart pleasing unto God is Repentant – A repentant heart humbly appeals to God for forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

A heart pleasing unto God is Obedient – An obedient heart strives to live according to God's Word.

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

A heart pleasing unto God is Devoted – A devoted heart loves God and diligently follows and serves Him.

Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.

A heart pleasing unto God is Loving – Not only should we love God, but also our brothers and sisters and all we come into contact with.

Matthew 22:39-40 "...And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’   On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Where is the Treasure of Your Heart?

In conclusion, we see that it is vital that we are aware of the condition of our heart, knowing that from it we do good or evil.  We see that God knows us better than we do ourselves and that He will judge us according to the type of heart we have.  Therefore, we shouldn’t harden our heart to God, but rather strive to cultivate a heart that is pleasing unto God.

One final question before we conclude the lesson:  Where is the treasure of your heart?

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Does your heart yearn for God? 

Do you wish to spend eternity with your Heavenly Father? 

Is your heart right with God?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

References:

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/heart/

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Psalm 107: 28-30 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

It’s no secret that our world is in pain.

Families are torn apart by apathy, sickness, car accidents, substance abuse, and suicide.  Our nation is plagued by racism, gun violence, and terrorism.  Around the world, even as we speak, people are dying from war, famine, poverty, disease, natural disasters, and a myriad of other terrible circumstances.

One of the most common challenges directed at Christianity by unbelievers is the age-old question:   “Why does God allow so much suffering?”

The argument goes that the Bible presents us with an image of a loving, benevolent God, and yet billions have suffered throughout all of human history.  Unbelievers ask why anyone would choose to believe in a God that claims to be compassionate but permits such grief.

Even believers – perhaps experiencing suffering in their own life or witnessing the misfortunes of others – find themselves struggling with this conundrum.  Indeed, suffering is a great challenge to faith!

Faith in the Face of Disaster

Recent disasters have prompted unbelievers to ridicule believers by mocking their “thoughts and prayers”.  Believers questioning their faith in the will of God sometimes ask why God doesn’t miraculously act to prevent disasters from happening to begin with.

A good starting place for anytime we don’t understand something that God does (or doesn’t do) is to remember:

Isaiah 55:8-9  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Indeed, sometimes it’s difficult to understand God’s will.  Some things we may never comprehend in this life.  Yet, this is what faith is all about, trusting God even when we don’t understand His workings.  We can rest assured in our faith in God.  He knows what He is doing, even if we don’t see the clarity of His plan through the fog of our day-to-day existence.

But at the same time maybe we fail to give God proper credit.  Many will point to disasters as evidence that God either doesn’t care or He simply doesn’t exist.  But that reasoning can be turned in on itself:  Surely the good of this world outweighs the bad - so by the same logic, all the good that happens is evidence for the existence of our benevolent God.

Matthew 5:45 …For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

In fact, our very sense of justice points to this inescapable reality.

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust.  But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.  What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?”  – C.S. Lewis

Additionally, we should consider that perhaps God is involved when disaster strikes, maybe even minimizing the damage in ways that we fail to recognize. We have all heard stories of people who have somehow avoided disasters due to seemingly coincidental circumstances.  I always think of the man who reported running late and got stuck in traffic the day that the Twin Towers fell.  Just the other day my wife missed being at the scene of a terrible car accident because she was struggling to fix my daughter’s hair.

Rather than wonder why God allows bad things to happen I find myself often wondering how much worse situations would be had God not been involved at all.  Perhaps the damage would have been greater, the body count higher, all tragedies all the more heartwrenching if God were not present!

The True Source of Suffering

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

When one blames God for suffering they are pointing their finger in the wrong direction.

We live in a fallen world and Satan is a very active force.  He is constantly working behind the scenes to sow discord and malice.  Certainly, the devil has amassed a large number of followers and it is clear to see that most suffering is perpetrated by humanity against itself.

“…In fact, a commonly estimated figure is that as much as 90 percent of suffering in the world comes through human causes:  wars, genocide, human trafficking, murder, torture, racial discrimination, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, rape, and the list goes on...” – Mark Mittelberg

“In the past hundred years or so, the most powerful atheist regimes – Communist Russia, Communist China, and Nazi Germany – have wiped out people in astronomical numbers…  Focusing only on the big three – Stalin, Hitler, and Mao – we have to recognize that atheist regimes have in a single century murdered more than one hundred million people.” – Dinesh D’Souza

One must concede that even the most devastating of natural disasters do not wreak as much havoc as humans have unleashed upon each other...  And in response to this, unbelievers choose to blame God – the very God who warns against and condemns such evils?

But believers can be just as guilty in wrongly assigning blame for suffering...  We’ve all heard of preachers who have declared that a disaster has occurred because of a particular region’s religion, politics, etc.

Luke 13:1-5  Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

We know that various natural disasters occur haphazardly as a result of weather patterns, plate tectonics, and other natural processes.  We do not know the mind of God in these situations and therefore cannot allow ourselves to make such proclamations.  It only serves to disturb and hurt others, making them far less willing to listen to the Truth of the Gospel that we should be proclaiming.  When others are suffering, we should not presume to know God’s will for the situation, but reach out to them and love them as God commanded.

It’s difficult to think of a Biblical example of one who lost as much as Job did, and yet through all of the hardships and loss that he faced, we see that even he recognized that God was not the source of his suffering.

Job 1:22  In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Blessings in Suffering

We simply have to accept that suffering is a part of life.  In fact, Jesus spoke of this truth on a number of occasions.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation…

Basically, as long as we live here on Earth, a fallen world, we will face hardship.  Yes, Jesus didn’t sugarcoat it, but he also offered His assistance in dealing with suffering.

John 16:33 …But take heart!  I have overcome the world!

It’s strange to think that heartache and grief brought on by suffering could yield any good, but God is able to do just that.  Let us examine three ways in which God blesses us through suffering…

1.  Suffering can bring out our Best

Romans 5:3-4 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

If you’ve ever exercised in your life, you’re probably familiar with the cliché: “No pain, no gain.”  To word it a bit more eloquently:

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” – Helen Keller

Many have pointed out the process by which caterpillars change into butterflies, sand into glass, and coal into diamonds, it is through time and pressure, adversity that these things turn out so beautiful and stronger than their beginnings.

1 Peter 1:6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Our faith is tested by the fire of suffering, but in the process it is purified like a precious metal.

James 1:2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Sometimes our suffering is brought on by our own failures or even by our own sin.  In this way suffering can make us examine our faults.

No matter what the cause of the suffering we face turns out to be, ultimately God will turn a bad situation to good if we allow Him to.  Suffering can force us to mature as Christians.  The testing of our faith produces patience, perseverance, and a stronger faith in God.

2.  Suffering makes us Appreciative

Paul suffered much in his journeys to spread the Gospel, yet we see that even when he was imprisoned that he had a deep appreciation for those around him.

Philippians 1:3-8 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

Suffering can make us more thankful.  It puts things into perspective and makes us recognize God’s blessings, causing us to truly appreciate all that God has done for us.

As a byproduct of that appreciation, suffering can also teach us how to pray more genuinely.  We sometimes fall into the habit of saying the same prayers over and again.  But when we suffer we pray more earnestly and more frequently.  In those difficult moments we are praying because we want to, not because God wants us to.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Suffering causes us to rely on God and acknowledge that He is the source of our strength.

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3.  Suffering helps us to be Sympathetic

We couldn’t understand the hurts of others without going through some manner of suffering ourselves.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

By going through suffering ourselves we are better equipped to help and comfort those around us who are going through rough times.

Of course, it is important to remember that Christ can sympathize with us because He Himself suffered too!

Hebrews 2:17-18 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Christ’s suffering is probably the definitive example of God being able to bad to good.  God could even bend the evil of Christ’s crucifixion into the ultimate act of love and mercy!

It’s truly amazing to consider that God, through Jesus, loves us so much that He would be willing to humble Himself and suffer as one of us just so He could save and comfort us!

Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

4.  Suffering keeps this World from becoming too Attractive

It’s only natural that we consider this world our home; it’s all we’ve ever known!

But when suffering rears its ugly head, we’re reminded that it’s a fallen world.  In times of hardship, it’s a wonderful comfort to know that our ultimate goal is Heavenward.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…

We would do well to be mindful that we are “just a’passing through” and that if we are faithful that Heaven can indeed be our home once we’ve left this mortal plane.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

God Promises an End to Suffering

As we’ve learned through this lesson, suffering is something that we will all face.  Sometimes it’s difficult to understand why we’re going through dark times and we may even question God in trying moments.  However, it’s important that we remember the true source of suffering in this world is the devil and his agents, more often than not, other people.

As difficult as it may be, we should look at suffering as being a blessing and recognize that through Christ trials can actually strengthen us by making us more thankful to God and more sympathetic to others.  Through it all, we need not lose sight of our final objective:  A home in Heaven, a place that is free from suffering.

Revelation 21:3-4  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

In the meantime, we can rely on Jesus to be our strength in times of weakness, to comfort us when the grief is too much to bear, to remind us that our sufferings are only temporary and when we are with Him in Heaven it will all have been worth it.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

References:

“Why Does God Allow Suffering” a sermon outline by Steve Burdine

“The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask” by Mark Mittelberg

Citizenship in the Kingdom

A citizen is a person who legally belongs to a country and therefore has the rights and protection of that country.  Citizens adopt the culture and practices of the nation or kingdom to which they belong.
As believers, we aspire to be citizens of God’s Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…

Exiles from the Kingdom

Some subscribe to belief that we as humans have inherited “original sin” and are born as sinful creatures.  However, I would argue that all of us are born into God’s Kingdom, but lose our way at some point (Why would Jesus tell His followers to “become as little children” if children were born sinful?  See Matthew 18:3).

We are not born fallen, yet we are born into a fallen world.  It’s from the moment we learn right from wrong yet choose to do wrong that we are first guilty of sin and are thereby exiled from God’s Kingdom.

Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

We must realize that this is a self-imposed exile; God desires that we remain innocent and free from sin, yet being imperfect, we all fall short.

Romans 3:23 …For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

Enticed and seduced by the temptations of the world, we become servants of sin.

Romans 6:16  Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

We may even live our lives unaware that we’re outside of the Kingdom of God, in exile so long that we forgot where we truly belong.

Philippians 3:18-19 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

Entering the Kingdom

Yet, it doesn’t have to be this way!  Though we deserve judgement and destruction for the wrongs we willingly chose to commit, Jesus came to save us from ourselves.

Ephesians 2:1-6 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Thus, we have the ability to once again become citizens of God’s Kingdom.

Ephesians 2:19-21  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…

How do we attain citizenship in God’s Kingdom?  Just as earthly nations have procedures for naturalization for immigrants, so do believers seeking citizenship within the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Bible provides a clear pattern for those seeking to become part of the kingdom:

1.  Hearing the Gospel

Acts 18:8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

How can travelers even begin to migrate to a new country if they do not know the way?  In the same manner, it stands to reason that one could not believe in Jesus if they never heard anything about Him!  It may sound kind of redundant, but faith can come no other way!

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2.  Belief

Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Recall that Jesus is the ruler of God’s Kingdom.  Just as an earthly citizen puts their trust in a king or president, we must have faith in Jesus.  Indeed, faith is essential!

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

3.  Repentance

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When travelling from one earthly country to another, we understand that laws may be different from one side of the border to another.  What is legal in one country may be illegal in another and vice versa! If we truly seek to be citizens of God’s Kingdom, we must commit to obeying God’s Law.  This starts by renouncing our former lawless ways of sin.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

4.  Confess Jesus

Acts 8:37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

The United States, as part of the naturalization process, has immigrants recite an “Oath of Allegiance”.  The confession of Jesus before men is kind of like an oath of allegiance.  In confessing Jesus as our Lord are essentially swearing loyalty and obedience to our new King!  Furthermore, this is something that we commit to from this point on in our life as a citizen…  We should be proud to proclaim our Lord before others!

Matthew 10:32-33 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

5.  Baptism

Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

A final part of the “naturalization process” required for entrance into God’s kingdom is baptism for the remission of sins.  This is not a “work” that negates God’s grace in the process of salvation, but rather a God-ordained, symbolic reenactment of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Through baptism we are cleansed from sin, our former life of the flesh is put to death and we are reborn to begin life anew.  Upon being baptized become a citizen in God’s Kingdom!

Rights and Responsibilities in the Kingdom

Once an immigrant has officially joined a new nation they become entitled to the rights and/or freedoms allowed within that country's borders.  Additionally, they also may have a set of responsibilities and civic duties as citizens.  Let us examine rights and responsibilities within God's Kingdom:

Rights

As American citizens we have a multitude of rights and freedoms, including:  Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, the right to a trial by jury, the right to vote, and the freedom to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we also enjoy certain rights and freedoms, including: Freedom from sin, and a God-granted right to eternal life.

Romans 6:6-7  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

John 5:24  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Responsibilities

American citizens must respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.  They must pay taxes to the appropriate authorities.

Likewise, as citizens in God’s Kingdom, we have laws we must obey.

Mark 12:30-31 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Micah 6:8  He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

There’s a lot packed in those verses and Christians spend a lifetime working to understand and obey God’s laws.

Forfeiting Citizenship

It’s very rare, but it is possible for a naturalized U.S. citizen to have their citizenship stripped through a process called “denaturalization”.  Sometimes naturalized citizens, for whatever reason, pledge their allegiance to another country by joining their government or military.  Some may even go as far to commit acts of treason.  Through such acts, these citizens willfully give up their citizenship.

Similarly – though far more common and certainly more tragic – citizens of God’s Kingdom can forfeit their citizenship.

2 Peter 2:20-22  For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we must live faithfully, continue to obey God’s laws remain faithful to God.

Revelation 2:10  … Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Thankfully, God gives us yet another chance at rejoining His kingdom and being renewed.  If we stumble in a Christian walk, He allows us the opportunity to repent once more and recommit to His Kingdom.

Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.