Skip to main content

Ephesians 2:19: Citizens


Ephesians 2:19
[19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (ESV)

There is an ongoing debate in this country about citizenship.  There are those who want to say that if you made it into this country, regardless of how you got here, you should be granted the rights of citizenship.  There are others who recognize the price that was paid to create this nation, and do not want to have it taken by those who do not value the cost, and enter it the right way.  You may think that this is going to be a political post, but it is not.  We are going to look at how this idea of citizenship relates to what Paul describes as citizens with God's nation.

The Apostle Paul says that those who were purchased by the blood of Christ are the ones who are no longer strangers and aliens.  In fact, they are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.  Even in the time of Paul's writing these words to the Ephesians the Roman Empire had citizenship.  It was important.  You were either born a citizen, or you purchased it at a great cost.  You did not steal it.  You didn't just receive it because you wanted it.  There was a written roll of who was a citizen.

Friend, do you realize that there are many who claim to be citizens of Heaven who have tried to illegally enter?  They have claimed that their own good works are good enough.  They want a citizenship in heaven with no acceptance of Jesus' blood-bought gift of forgiveness.  They are spiritual illegal aliens.  Listen to Jesus' words in John 10:

John 10:1,9,10
[1] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

[9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (ESV)

Many people claim to desire citizenship in heaven.  There is a door to enter that will give us true citizenship in heaven.  Jesus tells us clearly that he is that door.  Enter only by way of him, or you will be forever cast out.  There is no other way to be a citizen of heaven, but by the door of Jesus Christ.  His blood purchased our citizenship, and even grants us sonship. I invite you to the door of Jesus.  Don't try to enter illegally by your own efforts.

Are you a citizen of heaven?  Are you a child of God?  Have you trusted ONLY in the work of Jesus Christ on your behalf?  If so, celebrate your citizenship!  If not, why not ask the Great Shepherd to forgive your sin.  He will gladly open the door and invite you in to his kingdom.  You can be a fellow citizen with all the saints.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,
2 comments
Read more

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu
6 comments
Read more

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co
Post a Comment
Read more