When God grants us citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven, we become “new creatures” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 2) Because the world watches and sees God when we live out our citizenship. Any claim Caesar makes on you, you test by the infinitely higher claim God has on you. It overwrites the sin issue. Our citizenship is constant, and the kingdom government exercises jurisdiction over us wherever we are. Post author By Felicity Dale; Post date July 9, 2010; 4 Comments on 7 benefits of citizenship in the Kingdom; In the last post I looked at what it means for us to be citizens of a kingdom. “So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,” (Ephesians 2:19, Christian Standard Bible). I never did apply for citizenship; and when I left the country, my resident visa was cancelled. Had I chosen to remain permanently, citizenship would provide more benefits than I enjoyed as a non-citizen. This gives us hope to deal with everything that happens while living on earth. The religious freedoms we’ve enjoyed and the ladder for opportunity and economic growth have inspired and blessed many individuals and families across the country for generations. Here are three reasons why we must be diligent citizens of heaven above any other citizenship here on earth and the benefits that follow: 1) Because all authority belongs to King Jesus. It was a foreign exchange transaction. Many elected offices in this country require U.S. citizenship. We are there to serve the King and do his bidding. Family Reunification. And it is good news for any of those worrying about the election in November. My ultimate loyalty must belong to him. As Psalm 20:7 puts it, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” It’s easy to put our security in our country, to put our faith in certain political parties, but those can never save us. Permanent residents enjoy many of the benefits of living in Australia: a prosperous, democratic society, with a clean environment, and a famously good lifestyle. Mary enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and spending time with old friends. Philippians 3:20 tells me so: “For our citizenship is in heaven.” At the moment I suppose I could describe myself as an Ambassador at Large for the country of my true citizenship. We have access to our King and can approach Him at any time. We discuss just three of the practical benefits of U.S. citizenship. benefits of citizenship, only some of the more important ones. Any obedience you render to Caesar you will render for the sake of the obedience you owe first to God. He likened it to a field where wheat and weeds grew together, appearing similar. The biblical principle of CITIZENSHIP is of great importance to every believer. However, the child of God who is a citizen of heaven should not be ruled by fear but by the peace of Christ. 11:28). Then we are entitled to all privileges of citizenship, both on earth and eternally. 2015/12/01 Pastor Adam Mask ... you also have all the privileges and benefits of being a citizen of the kingdom of the God most High under the care and control of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The Gospels record Jesus speaking of the kingdom of heaven repeatedly. Recite the pledge, or not. The first priority of a heavenly citizen is allowing the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts. The Bible tells us that our entry into this heavenly citizenship is like being born again (John 3:3; Matthew 3:2; 7:21; Romans 14:17). Here on earth, people move from one country to another, looking for better life. He or she becomes a fellow citizen of heaven with all other obedient believers. From a kingdom point of view, I am not trying to make a case either for or against the advantages or benefits of being an American citizen. Remember in the Constitution how Jesus prayed: Constitutional Scriptures: John 17:15-16 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. We will share eternity with Him in Heaven. 7 benefits of citizenship in the Kingdom. . Having our citizenship in heaven causes us to be the opposite of those Paul warns about in verse 19 whose god is their appetite, whose glory is their shame, and who set their minds on earthly things. More to Life is a program of Ladies Ministries UPCI. Now, there are benefits of heavenly citizenship and there are privileges. I belong, body and soul, to God. We can obey the nation-states we live in for the sake of obeying our ultimate and higher authority, God. While the path to dual citizenship may differ according to the needs of each applicant, the benefits of dual citizenship are undeniably attractive for everyone. There were over 183,000 new migrants under the permanent residency scheme in 2016-17, mostly from India, China and the UK. If you are serving the Lord, you hold the same position. When we fail to love rightly, we fail to image God correctly. but other privileges were restricted (such as voting in an election). The Bible reminds us that nothing on this earth is promised to us. Though Christians belong to God above, we are called to live here, deployed in our various capacities as ambassadors to everyday people on behalf of King Jesus. As a foreigner, I needed proof I would not become a financial liability to my host country, and I also needed a visa to live in that country. So Christians have the high privileges of Divine liberty, safety, and honor … God alone is our hope and our salvation. We must … Shortly after I graduated from college, I packed my bags and moved to a foreign country where I lived for the next three years. Second Corinthians 5:20 describes our responsibilities—for citizenship does carry responsibilities—this way: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. Our primary job as an ambassador is to bring others to salvation so they too can enjoy all the benefits we enjoy as His child. But we ought not to confuse these things with being good Christians, or not. Adapted from the teachings of Dr. Victor Torres, Jr. COPYRIGHT 2020 THE WELL COMMUNITY CHURCH - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Then we are entitled to all privileges of citizenship, both on earth and eternally. Englishmen now claim protection and immunity from foreign exactions in all parts of the world on account of their nationality. Heavenly Citizenship Introduction to Heavenly Citizenship: Developing a Biblical Worldview. Heavenly Citizenship. Our citizenship is in heaven, even as we “sojourn” on the earth. One of the most practical benefits of naturalization is the financial savings. We plead on Christ’s behalf: ‘Be reconciled to God’” (CSB). The Windrush documentation scandal has continued to dominate the political news this week. Hidden Benefits. Showing your patriotism. But more importantly, I am a citizen of heaven. It must umpire and decide our course of action. Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for all the benefits You’ve given me. While living abroad, I enjoyed many of the same protections as a citizen (access to police, etc.) Citizens of heaven are the salt and light of the world, and as such we show the character of God to the unbelieving world through our words and actions. Ready to join our community? Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”. Christians live in and are citizens of some nation on earth, under some government, but their final authority is in heaven. A mind set on heavenly things looks for all that is related to heaven including the glory of our returning Lord and all that brings with it. The Benefits of Roman Citizenship. We must live in this tension of our home being with God, but that right now we live here. When we obey God’s will and ways as not only citizens but as his children, we show an unbelieving world the wisdom of God. Our heavenly citizenship gives us a critical distance from our current context, helping us to speak prophetically to it – as Paul himself does in the rest of the letter to the Philippians. In this present life we enjoy love, peace, joy, mercy, and so much more. The Holy Spirit begins to transform our sinful, worldly desires into those that glorify God (Romans 12:1–2). . And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, New Living Translation But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. As you can imagine, it was quite an experience—new culture, new language, unfamiliar foods, different climate —different almost everything. John Piper says, “When you know that all is God’s, then anything you render to Caesar you will render for God’s sake. Rendering to Caesar is limited and defined by rendering to God. The person who previously was an alien and a stranger to the kingdom of God is graciously endowed with all the benefits of heavenly citizenship. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new . However, that is not universally experienced and for other citizens they are trying to figure out what it means to live here when it doesn’t feel like freedom. We benefit in being a heavenly citizen because all other countries and governments answer to our king. Many citizens genuinely love this country and for good reason. Presidents, Congress, kings, and emperors of every kind all also answer to God. Our primary job as an ambassador is to bring others to salvation so they too can enjoy all the benefits we enjoy as His child. This blog began with the belief that women desire to know the truth about the Word of God and learn together in community. Responsibilities To become a U.S. citizen you must take the Oath of Allegiance. Help me to never forget my responsibility to bring others to You. Not to the USA, and not even to Texas. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We have access to our King … We can obey the nation-states we live in for the sake of obeying our ultimate and higher authority, God. Heavenly Citizenship (Part One) feast: Heavenly Citizenship (Part One) #FT10-04 Martin G. Collins Given 24-Sep-10; 68 minutes Description: Martin Collins teaches that called-out saints, we are no longer strangers, but are granted the privilege to be citizens of the kingdom of God. What is Caesar’s is determined by the fact that everything is God’s first, and only becomes Caesar’s by God’s permission and design. Heavenly Citizenship. The Greek town of Philippi (formerly called Krenides, meaning “Little Fountains” for the many nearby natural springs, and now called Filippoi), was named after Alexander the Great’s father, Philip II of Macedon. Kynan Bridges shares how to access all of your heavenly citizenship benefits! The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have both faced difficult questions from MPs, as it has been revealed that migrants from the Caribbean who have lived in the UK for decades have been asked to prove… Deuteronomy 4:5-6 says, “See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Individuals with lawful permanent resident status (green holders) often weigh the value of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. But the eternal benefits far outweigh any blessings we receive in this present life. Even though we await the full culmination of this kingdom according to God’s perfect timing, we enjoy the benefits of heavenly citizenship now. Therefore, it is important not to confuse Christianity for Civil Religion. This is good news for all of those trying to figure out what freedom means while being restricted from leaving your home. We can vote, or not. As citizens and children, our inheritance is guarded and protected. “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In a day in which many argue the benefits of citizenship in our country are not always distributed equally, we can confidently say that our heavenly citizenship benefits all of us without partiality (Gal 3:26-29). It’s why Jesus became our righteousness. The beauty of this citizenship is that it is available to all nations, regardless of race, political affiliations, academic prowess, or economic status. Suddenly, I was the foreigner, with so much to learn as I tried to adapt to all the differences. As current ambassadors of God's Kingdom, we have the responsibility to adhere to God's standard. Join us online as Melanie and Gerry lead worship and Andrew Chubb brings a message on the benefits of heavenly citizenship on earth. Stand and sing the national anthem, or not. It means belonging to a certain city, state, and nation, but it also means owing allegiance to a government and being entitled to certain benefits from that government. Our Heavenly Citizenship “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” It will never depreciate, and it will never lose its value. Many are satisfied with the ability to live and work in the United States, but many others want more. We benefit in being a heavenly citizen because all other countries and governments answer to our king. All that such people set their hearts upon are temporal. The only reason God ordains the rights of a Caesar is for the sake of God.”. Citizenship brings privileges and responsibilities. Christ is that door that leads you into the Kingdom of Heaven. 2) Because the world watches and sees God when we live out our citizenship. My point here is that citizenship is a powerful draw. God devised a devolution scheme to transfer his rights and privileges to us. We obtain our heavenly citizenship through our new birth experience (John 3:3). They enjoy heavenly privileges. He conquered the area in the fourth century B.C. Some of the most important benefits of citizenship are: Sponsorship of Relatives for Permanent Resident Status Persons holding full U.S. People are attracted to a nation that appears to promise a better life than the one they are presently living in. They were never meant to. My loyalty belongs to You, and I want to represent You well in all I do. In addition, becoming a U.S. citizen is a way to demonstrate your commitment to your new country. However along with those privileges and benefits comes a great responsibility. But there is more to being a citizen than singing “God Bless America” in between bites of hotdog. When you enter the Kingdom, you have to go through the doorway. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21:4-7). Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” Saved includes but is not limited to eternal life. That means for the American Christian, our “yes” to the state must be a “yes” to God, and our “no” to the state must be a “yes” to God. In this lab, John Piper explains how to live as exiles and refugees. We hope you will join us on our quest for more love, more joy, more peace, more power...more of God! Heavenly Citizenship. 3) Because our only true hope and freedom are in Christ. "Kingdom" citizenship has it's privileges. You are now a citizen of a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Heb. Our loving and caring reveal a loving and caring Father in heaven. In this present life we enjoy love, peace, joy, mercy, and so much more. We seek and find … It is very easy to allow worry to rule, either through the fear of man or fear of the future. But our citizenship is in heaven. We can participate in the things of our nation-state, but we don’t hold it to the same level of honor as worshiping the things of God. We have certain freedoms granted to us that we can enjoy. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials …”. Any authority you ascribe to Caesar you will ascribe to him for the sake of God’s greater authority. Title: �AX|8���Y^02 � Ü H`�"��?j����e���/�� � Author We're glad you're here! Citizenship are allowed to sponsor their immediate relatives - parents, spouses and unmarried minor children - for U.S. Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card) status without waiting for a visa. February 23, 2020. This was well understood in St. Paul's day, when some men prided themselves in being born Romans, while others were willing to pay a great price to obtain the rights of Roman citizenship . We obtain our heavenly citizenship through our new birth experience (John 3:3). It is good news for anyone trying to figure out how “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” applies when facing racism. Here’s what you can look forward to as a holder of dual citizenship. But we serve a loving and merciful King! Oftentimes fear can lead us to make irrational decisions. As citizens of heaven, we are to enjoy all the benefits of that citizenship even as we dwell upon the earth. Tomorrow we are celebrating Independence Day where many citizens of the United States ignite small explosives in their backyards while making jokes about liking their coffee hot and their tea in the harbor, all in remembrance of the American colonies declaring independence from King George III. Ultimately, our hope is in the reign of a higher governing power, from whom we receive as citizens hope against our sin, and the sin of this world. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. In the process, they get that country’s citizenship to avail of all the benefits that it provides. And in the same way, we don't have to be in heaven to benefit from heavenly jurisdiction. Only God decides what is a rightful, limited rendering to Caesar. Wherever we go, we represent the Lord and His kingdom. Jesus said the two would be identified and separated at harvest (Matthew 13:24–30). Being a citizen of heaven means we are always on Jesus’ diplomatic mission to the people of this land, where we share the good news that he is king and has rescued us from our sin. Just as a citizen of America enjoys the rights of an American, although he may visit France, so we are to enjoy the rights of Heaven, although we live on earth. Although directionally challenged, she would rather take the back roads with their discoveries than the boredom of the interstate. Recent moves to facilitate family reunification have made dual citizenship easier to obtain for one’s whole family. “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”. Although I carry a passport from the United States, I really am a citizen of another country. He sends His Holy Spirit to indwell our spirits, and our bodies become His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19–20). My heavenly citizenship supersedes my earthly citizenship because God is the highest authority. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. When I do, I will truly be Your ambassador. Citizenship is complicated. Citizenship is a privilege. Those privileges are cleverly structured into a constitutional implement called “righteousness”. 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