Citizenship

1
Citizenship

• Earthly or SpiritualWhich Is More Important?

2
Citizenship

• I press toward the goal for the prize of the
  upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let
  us, as many as are mature, have this mind and if
  in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal
  even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree
  that we have already attained, let us walk by the
  same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren,
  join in following my example, and note those who
  so walk as you have us for a pattern.
  Philippians 314-17

WHY?
3
Citizenship

• 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. For our citizenship is in heaven,
  from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior,
  the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our
  lowly body that it may be conformed to His
  glorious body, according to the working by which
  He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
  Philippians 318-21

4
Importance of Knowing Where Our Citizenship Is
Located

• When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all
  the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the
  throne of His glory. All the nations will be
  gathered before Him, and He will separate them
  one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep
  from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His
  right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the
  King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come,
  you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
  prepared for you from the foundation of the
  world. Matthew 2531-34

5
Importance of Knowing Where Our Citizenship Is
Located

• Then He will also say to those on the left hand,
  'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting
  fire prepared for the devil and his angels...And
  these will go away into everlasting punishment,
  but the righteous into eternal life.
  Matthew 2541,46

6
Elements of Citizenship
Must Enter the Kingdom Born Into Or Naturalized
Kingdom of Light Jesus answered and said to
him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GodMost
assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom
of God. John 33, 5
Kingdom of Darkness 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. Isaiah 591-2
7
A Change Must Occur

• Only by a spiritual birth can this transformation
  take place.

• He has delivered us from the power of darkness
  and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of
  His love, in whom we have redemption through His
  blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians
  113,14

8
Elements of Citizenship The New Birth
Born Into Gods Kingdom Through Baptism
Death Burial Resurrection
Or do you not know that as many of us as were
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His
death? Therefore we were buried with Him through
baptism into death, that just as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 63-4
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Elements of Citizenship The New Birth
Enter Gods Kingdom Through New Birth
Translated Into Kingdom of Christ
He has delivered us from the power of darkness
and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of
His love, in whom we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians
113-14
10
Duties of Citizenship
Abide by Law of the Country Enjoy Privileges
of Citizenship
Kingdom of Darkness Yield to Sin 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? Romans 616 But I
see another law in my members, warring against
the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my
members. Romans 723
Kingdom of Light Yield to Obedience There is
therefore now no condemnation to those who are in
Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the
flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me
free from the law of sin and death. Romans
81-2
11
Duties of Citizenship

• Born of the Spirit therefore, walk after the
  Spirit
• Behave like citizens of Heaven

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of
Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am
absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you
stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel.
Philippians 127

• Offer my time, my abilities, my lifeto God as
  a living sacrifice Romans 121-2.
• Distinction between light and darkness.
• People ought to see the difference.

12
Duties of Citizenship

• Be humble Romans 123.
• Use talents Minister or teach Romans 127.
• Use talents Exhort, give liberally, lead with
  diligence, and show mercy Romans 128.
• Use talents Love without hypocrisy, abhor evil,
  cling to good Romans 129.
• Meet with the saints Hebrews 1023-25.
• Sing praises with Gods people Hebrews 1315.
• Restore erring brethren Galatians 61 James
  519-20.

13
Privileges of Citizenship

• Cleansing from sin reconciliation with God
  Hebrews 812.For I will be merciful to their
  unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless
  deeds I will remember no more.
• Fellowship with God 1 John 13, 7.that you
  also may have fellowship with us and truly our
  fellowship is with the Father and with His Son
  Jesus Christ.But if we walk in the light as
  He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
  another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
  cleanses us from all sin.

14
Privileges of Citizenship

• Prayer Hebrews 415-16.For we do not have a
  High Priest who cannot sympathize with our
  weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we
  are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come
  boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain
  mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
• Near to God Hebrews 1022.Let us draw near
  with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
  having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
  conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

15
Privileges of Citizenship

• Holy Spirit Romans 89.
• Spirit of adoption Romans 814-15.
• Spirit bears witness with our spirit Romans
  816.
• Joint heirs with Christ Romans 817.
• Hope Romans 824.
• Spirit aids us in our prayers Romans 826-27.
• Freedom from condemnation Romans 828, 33-34.
• Unfailing love of Christ Romans 835.
• Unshakeable love of God Romans 837,39.

None of these privileges outside the kingdomNONE!
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Danger of Losing Citizenship

• Can fall out of the kingdom 1 Corinthians
  1012.
• Therefore let him who thinks he stands take
  heed lest he fall.
• Foolish choice by some
• Demas went back 2 Timothy 410
• Enemies of the cross Philippians 318
• Brethren sinned in danger of death James
  519-20
• Simon Acts 818-23
• Name can be blotted out Revelation 35
• Records kept in heaven Revelation 2127.
• But there shall by no means enter it anything
  that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie,
  but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book
  of Life.

17
Citizenship

• Is your name written in the Lambs Book of
  Life?But there shall by no means enter it
  anything that defiles, or causes an abomination
  or a lie, but only those who are written in the
  Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 2127
• Are you a citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven?For
  our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also
  eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus
  Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it
  may be conformed to His glorious body, according
  to the working by which He is able even to subdue
  all things to Himself. Philippians 320-21