Tag: Christian Citizens

We pick up today from where we left off yesterday. We have discussed various similarities between our earthly and heavenly citizenships. Today we continue with the same.

It has been mentioned that citizens of earthly countries may be called upon to defend their country. Well, Christians are in an incessant battle of defending their heavenly home – the kingdom of God. We are truly in a holy war as Paul warned Timothy. “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.” I Timothy 1:18

Paul saw the defense of the Gospel as warfare – a spiritual war. He even called two of his faithful companions “soldiers.” They were Epaphroditus and Archipus. All Christians are in God’s spiritual army but many are not in the battle. Could that be why Christianity is actually losing the spiritual battle?

With whom are we at war in defense of the kingdom of God? Here in America our enemy is lost American citizens. Just as we are in God’s army the lost Americans are in Satan’s army. I believe many Christians do not truly understand that lost people hate Christians and Christianity. All we have to do is read these words of Jesus: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” Luke 21:17

We are all too familiar with war and the costly preparation for it. Earthly countries train and equip their citizens to fight wars. They mass produce weapons of all kinds and sizes to kill their enemies. Is there a day that passes without graphic pictures of wars in progress around the world? Will they ever stop? Yes, when Jesus Christ returns and takes charge.

Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle. Our training, battle dress and weapons vary greatly from that of earthly wars. Paul described the pieces of our battle armor as truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith and salvation. For our weapons Paul named just one, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17 The truth is there are many Christians falling in spiritual battle these days because they have unkempt and missing pieces of the spiritual armor.

Spiritual warfare is waged when the church and Christians seek to save souls through evangelism. Rather than blowing them away with earthly weapons we try to give them a new life through salvation. They then may lose their physical body in battle but their spirit would be saved for eternity. How wonderful it would be if the only war was spiritual in nature where souls were saved rather than having their bodies blown away by battle weapons.

I hope I have succeeded in relating the fact that Christians are dual citizens. They have citizenship both in America and heaven. I hope I have adequately presented the dilemma of those who have American citizenship alone. They will not enjoy heaven unless they gain dual citizenships as Christians have.

Look for another sermon tomorrow. Until then may GOD BLESS YOU

In our last meeting we talked about our earthly citizenship as Americans. In this session we will probe the dual citizenship of Christians. Christians everywhere have a dual citizenship. They are both a citizen of their earthly country and a citizen of heaven.

We become citizens of America by our physical birth or by the act of naturalization. Christians, thank God, have another greater citizenship, that of heaven. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20 Paul reminded the Philippian Christians that even as citizens of Philippi their true “conversation” (citizenship) was in heaven.

We Christians in America can ever rejoice while we live our earthly citizenship because we simultaneously are citizens of heaven. When we leave our earthly citizenship we instantly enter our eternal heavenly citizenship. Those who possess only an earthly citizenship do not have that promise or possibility.

We must not forget that behind the governments of this world there is an invisible, sinister power, Satan. Earthly citizens, the lost population, are really subjects of Satan. The Bible declares him as the “god of this world.” II Corinthians 4:4 That is why Satan could offer Jesus the kingdoms of this world when he tempted Him. See Matthew Chapter 4 One day Satan will be deposed and Jesus Christ will be enthroned as the sole Ruler of the world.

As citizens of heaven Christians are governed by a Theocracy – God rules. The Word of God is our constitution, if I may so casually say. Our heavenly constitution supersedes America’s constitution. Earthly governments are becoming more belligerent toward God, Christ and Christians. If they should order us to act against God we are first bound to obey our heavenly government, God, Christ and their Word.

Earthly citizens are obliged to obey the laws of their land. Christians are bound to obey the laws of their land and the laws of God. That should not be a problem because if we obey God we will obey our earthly government. There is one exception to this. America’s anti-God, anti-Christ and anti-Christianity stance is strengthening every day. They continually maneuver to muzzle Christians from speaking the truth. We must not yield to their demands and threats just as Peter and the disciples did not. See Acts Chapter 5

Citizens of earthly countries seldom if ever experience peace in their land nor do they feel safe anymore as a result of unstable civil conditions around the world. Even so, Christian citizens can have peace no matter what goes on around them. Where does this peace come from? Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Here is what Jesus said to His disciples while on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was taken captive. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Jesus wants His peace to dwell in the hearts of Christian citizens. We have no reason to be hopelessly troubled. We just need to keep our minds on Jesus and what is waiting for us when He returns.

Tomorrow we will continue our thoughts on the dual citizenship of Christians. Until them may GOD BLESS YOU

As stated in yesterday’s introduction the dual citizenship of Christians is the focus of this sermon. I know we all understand that Christians are first earthly citizens. We became citizens of America by our physical birth or we were naturalized. Because we are American citizens it is the American government to which we are subjects.

As you may or may not know, America’s government was drafted and ratified to be a Constitutional Republic. Tragically most Americans think that we are a democracy which is an indictment for our educational system’s ineptness. A lesson in government is not the intent here but I will offer this warning. The real danger is our government is transforming itself into a totalitarian government exercising total control over its citizens.

A constitutional government is one that is guided, controlled and constrained by a constitution – an official document of governance. The official governing document for America is “The United States Constitution.” Complementary to the Constitution we have the Bill of Rights. These two articles form the legal framework for America’s government. I dislike throwing more cold water but our matchless, precious articles of governance are being ridiculed and riddled by our present government.

As American citizens we are subject to the laws of the land. As Christians we are commanded to obey our country’s laws. As American citizens we enjoy the rights and privileges afforded by the government. America has worldwide acclaim for the freedoms extended to its people. As American citizens we may also be called upon to defend our country. Sadly that seems to be an everyday demand.

Many people do not know that human government exists because God ordained it. Governments are accountable to God. In Romans chapter 13 we read that human government is the instrument of God. Human government is supposed to maintain civil order and protect the people. It is duty bound to police and punish lawbreakers and reward the law abiders.

The fact is governments are failing God and the people worldwide. The world blares with civil unrest, chaos, terrorism and wars. Earthly citizens everywhere are anxious, perplexed and frightened. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are fueling angry protests globally. It is my belief that the governments are most to blame because they are becoming more anti-God, anti-Christ and anti-Christian. That is a recipe for disaster as we know.

Can we not say that our earthly citizenship is tenuous at best? There is no real peace or hope for earthly citizens. Our earthly citizenship is wrought with trials, troubles and tribulations. The woeful truth is if all one has is an earthly citizenship, an American citizenship, they have not much.

Is there something better? Yes and we will speak of it tomorrow. Until then may GOD BLESS YOU…

This begins a new sermon which I have titled, Christian Citizens. By way of INTRODUCTION I give these opening thoughts. There are two classes of American citizens, the lost and the saved, with the former far outnumbering the latter. This unbalanced citizenship encompasses the earth.

The gist of this sermon is the contrast between lost American citizens and saved American citizens. Everyone everywhere is a citizen but not all citizens are Christians. There are also Christian citizens all around the world but those in America are our concern here.

Since we are dealing with citizens and citizenship let us give a definition of “citizen.” A citizen is (1) a member, native or naturalized, of a state or nation, as distinguished from an alien (2) a person owing allegiance to a government and entitled to its protection. My comment: We have a pathetic situation in America with a huge host of aliens and illegal citizens who hold no real allegiance to America. IT IS RUINING OUR COUNTRY!

Our emphasis will be on the dual citizenship of Christians. Lost Americans have only their earthly citizenship – their American citizenship. Saved Americans are citizens of both America and heaven. BIG DIFFERENCE. When Americans who have only their earthly citizenship die they become citizens of hell. When saved Americans die, because they have a heavenly citizenship, they become eternal citizens of heaven.

You have probably heard the expression, “ Born once – die twice. Born twice – die once.” We can similarly say, “One citizenship – die twice. Two citizenships – die Once. That may be kind of silly but true nevertheless.

In this sermon we will make a comparison between those having just an American citizenship and those having dual citizenships both in America and in heaven. I hope you are among the latter.

Tomorrow we will discuss Christians as earthly citizens. Until then may GOD BLESS YOU…