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.