Heavenly Citizenship

[Episkopos]

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the LORD Jesus Christ,

What is meant that our citizenship is from heaven?

When a person is born in a certain country, that person can be said to belong to that country....the land of our birth. If a person is born again by the Spirit then there is a citizenship in heaven that goes along with that.

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Gal. 4:26

This is a reference to the new Jerusalem which will one day come out of heaven and be the permanent habitation of the saints...to live with God forever.

There is a mystery to this. Many Christians will have no memory of any time in heaven at their new birth...they will be so used to a temporal citizenship here on earth that there is not much pulling them towards their new citizenship.

I myself was born in a town that I don't remember at all. I was there for the first few weeks of my temporal life...and then was moved back to near where I am now. I was born in Ontario but was raised in Quebec. Of course both places make me a Canadian citizenship...according to the flesh. But according to the Spirit I was subsequently reborn in Zion. That was in yet another province (Manitoba). And it was there that I met the Lord. But this time I do remember my time in Zion (heaven). My identity is not with my native nationality. My identity is with Christ. My heavenly citizenship in this world makes of me a stranger and pilgrim here. I live to walk according to the Spirit...no longer according to the flesh.

Are we living according to the flesh or the Spirit? That is the question. What is our practical citizenship...in truth?

 

[101G]

Addressing the OP, I agree. but also we have dual citizenships, here on earth and as you pointed out correctly in heaven. (by his), our Father Spirit (per Ephesians 2:4-8), here on earth we (in him) have work to do by him who have given us "authority" to do his will here on earth. this "authority" in him here on earth proves our citizenships from above. the seat we have in Christ is the "authority" or the G1849 exousia we have in Christ by birthright.

great topic, it's exciting to knowing that we have citizenships in the only powerful country, not on this planet, or this solor system, nor this universe, but the only powerful country anywhere.

what a time to be a Christian.

be blessed.

 

[Episkopos]

Here is an excerpt from the epistle to Diagnetus...an ancient letter written about Christians which could be an apologetic or a kind of propaganda (if one was say...pessimistic). But it shows how Christians were once seen to be...and ought to be really.




Christians are not distinguished from other men by country, language, nor by the customs which they observe. They do not inhabit cities of their own, use a particular way of speaking, nor lead a life marked out by any curiosity. The course of conduct they follow has not been devised by the speculation and deliberation of inquisitive men. The do not, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of merely human doctrines.

Instead, they inhabit both Greek and barbarian cities, however things have fallen to each of them. And it is while following the customs of the natives in clothing, food, and the rest of ordinary life that they display to us their wonderful and admittedly striking way of life.

They live in their own countries, but they do so as those who are just passing through. As citizens they participate in everything with others, yet they endure everything as if they were foreigners. Every foreign land is like their homeland to them, and every land of their birth is like a land of strangers.

They marry, like everyone else, and they have children, but they do not destroy their offspring.

They share a common table, but not a common bed.

They exist in the flesh, but they do not live by the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, all the while surpassing the laws by their lives.

They love all men and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned. They are put to death and restored to life.

They are poor, yet make many rich. They lack everything, yet they overflow in everything.

They are dishonored, and yet in their very dishonor they are glorified; they are spoken ill of and yet are justified; they are reviled but bless; they are insulted and repay the insult with honor; they do good, yet are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if raised from the dead. They are assailed by the Jews as barbarians; they are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to give any reason for their hatred.

 

[Heb 13:8]

1 Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Phil 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.