We have been watching carefully as the news has unfolded concerning citizens of various countries who are stranded in foreign countries as a result of the Coronavirus crisis. This situation in our world brings to mind the subject of the Christian’s true home and citizenship.
For our conversation (Gr. citizenship - Strong) is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Philippians 3:20
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city…whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:16,10
Heaven is our home. Our citizenship is above, and our lives must not be devoted to a world that is soon to be destroyed. CT 455
As believers in the truth we are to be distinct in practice from sin and sinners. Our citizenship is in heaven. FE 481
So the people of God—the true Israel—though scattered throughout all nations, are on earth but sojourners, whose citizenship is in heaven. PP 447
We are pilgrims and strangers; our citizenship is above...We are…looking for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. TM 131
He who has become a partaker of the divine nature knows that his citizenship is above. ML 277
Let us remember that our citizenship is in heaven. RH May 16, 1899
How do we become citizens of heaven?
In the natural world we become citizens of a country by one of two methods; by birth or by naturalisation. So it is when we become citizens of Heaven.
By birth:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again (from above-margin), he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
The Christian birth is the new birth; it is the being "born again," which is being "born from above." And this "above," the place from which the Christian is born, is Heaven.
By Naturalisation:
Naturalisation is that procedure through which persons born in another country – aliens, foreigners – become citizens of a certain country of their choice.
Is there, then, anything in Christian experience that corresponds to naturalisation? Is there such a thing as Christian naturalisation?
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:11
Aliens become citizens of a government by naturalisation. And when in the act of being naturalised they take the oath of allegiance to the new government, the new sovereign. What is involved with this? Below are the specifications –
"This is to certify, etc., that (name of individual) on being admitted to citizenship by this court, took the oath to support the Constitution of the (new country of citizenship) and that he then did absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to (his previous country)” etc., etc.
How much did he have to renounce? — “All allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever." And what in particular? — “And particularly to (his previous country)"
And how fully? and for how long? — “Absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity." Thus he is to turn his back "absolutely" upon all his former "allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever." That is in general. And in particular, to the one to whom he was particularly subject.
That is the way foreigners are naturalised in earthly governments.
Now how is it with us, who "were aliens”? — “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner- stone." Ephesians 2:19, 20.
In becoming a citizen of the commonwealth of Heaven, a fellow-citizen with the saints, did you "absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the "one to which you were formerly subject”, as every alien must do to become a citizen of an earthly government?
If citizenship in the commonwealth of Heaven, if fellow-citizenship with the saints, if to be of the household of God, is indeed as valuable as is citizenship in an earthly government, then in order to be truly a citizen of the commonwealth of Heaven, just as certainly as to be a citizen of an earthly government, it is required that every such one shall "absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the one to whom, when an alien, he is subject, which is "the prince of this world.”(Satan)
And if this is not done, what then? Then there is certainly attempted a divided allegiance.
Will a divided allegiance be accepted? Will any earthly government accept a divided allegiance? If any alien asking to become a citizen of an earthly government should refuse to make that renunciation, full and complete as it is; if he should ask to have the renunciation divided, that he might retain and show some fidelity, only a little, to some foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereign; would he be accepted? Everybody knows that he would not. How, then, can it be supposed that such reserved, such divided, allegiance could be accepted in any one asking to be a citizen of the commonwealth of Heaven?
It is not enough, however, to inquire whether a divided allegiance will be accepted. The true question is, Can there really be any such thing as a divided allegiance? And the true answer is, No; for it is written, "No man can serve two masters."
It is therefore certain that no alien, seeking to be a citizen of the commonwealth of Heaven, can ever expect to carry with him there any shadow of allegiance to anything in this world or of this world. It is written: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15. Princes, potentates, States, and sovereignties are only of this world. To retain allegiance or fidelity to any of these, is to retain allegiance and fidelity to the things that are only of this world, and, so, to the world itself.
Christian citizenship is citizenship in heaven; for "our citizenship is in Heaven." Philippians 3:20.
Christian citizenship is citizenship in the commonwealth of Heaven; for we are no more "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel," "no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Ephesians 2:12,13,18,19
True citizenship is the absolute and everlasting renunciation and abjuration of all allegiance and fidelity to every other prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever.
As Christians, is citizenship in any country of this world of any real value to us?
Christians have become naturalised into the commonwealth of Heaven, the kingdom of God.
Are you a true citizen of Heaven?
If so, you may today “sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:6.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Ephesians 3:1,2
