07/04/2025
This morning we are celebrating Independence Day in the United States and as a natural born resident, I think about the significance of this celebration to me as an American citizen. But what this leads me to is an even deeper consideration of the meaning this day, the fourth of July, has for me and how it compares to the day that I announced my personal independence from all kings and rulers with the exception Jesus Christ to whom I pledged my belief and loyalty... on that day I became a naturalized citizen, not of an earthly country or anything of this world, but of God’s heavenly realm, I became a Christian. Listen as the Apostle Paul writes of this…
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Philippians 3:20-21 ESV
And listen also to what the Apostle John proclaimed about the arrival of God’s Heavenly Kingdom…
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:1-2 KJV
So, by believing that Jesus Christ as our Savior, and that His Father, Yahweh, is our one true God, we are born again. We are not only naturalized, but become natural born citizens of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
You see, by simply entering into or becoming a resident of a country doesn't carte blanch make us a citizen there. You must either have been born into it, or go through a process that qualifies you, and the most telling part of these processes is when one swears allegiance to it, and its rulers. Jesus reiterates this…
“Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."”
John 3:3 ESV
As we read previously in John 3, this is true of the heavenly kingdom we aspire to as well... we don't just go to church every Sunday and Bible Study once a week and become citizens of heaven. No, those things simply demonstrate that we are taking steps towards citizenship, but we get no recognition as being citizens by performing these things alone. We must be born again, and implicit in that rebirth comes our believing, and a change to our lives. Jesus has made provision for our rebirth, but we must change our lives by obeying the will of God.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21 KJV
This all begs the question... how do we change and become citizens? Well, it isn't hard to understand the process and here are the steps as I discern them. Hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, believe it is true, confess that Jesus is the Son of God and your savior, repent and ask forgiveness for your sins, be baptized, and live by the laws of the kingdom as Jesus and the Bible have defined them. If we do these things our citizenship will be declared and granted. None of these steps are hard to understand, but they require our dedication and full allegiance in completing them. Are you ready to begin walking this narrow path to citizenship, or are you well along your way and living each day in anticipation of becoming a citizen? Either way, I pray for your success and look forward to that day when your citizenship is finalized.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for making provision through your Son Jesus Christ for all those who hear, believe, confess, repent, join, and live by Him to become citizens of your kingdom. Thank you for your mercy and grace, because the land I travel from (humanity) is sinful and wretched, and my citizenship there is less than worthless. Even so Lord, you have seen worth in me... enough so that you sent your only begotten Son to die on the cross that I might be forgiven my sins and live with you as a citizen of your kingdom forever. I struggle each day Father to live the life of a Christian, and to behave as a citizen of your kingdom. I pray that you find me worthy, through the blood of your Son, to claim that citizenship and that on the day of my judgement your Son Jesus will know me as His friend, and a joint heir, so that I can I hear your proclamation... "Citizen!" On that day I will praise you, worship you, and give you all the glory for my rebirth, and transformation. I will call out with all the heavenly host “Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who was, and is, and is to come!” and shout out loud “Jesus is Lord!”
Amen! Amen! Amen!
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”
Ephesians 2:19 ESV
Definitions:
Natural Born Citizen – having citizenship by right of birth.
Naturalized Citizen – when a non-citizen becomes a citizen by meeting certain requirements such as residency, language proficiency, or passing a citizenship test.
Rich Forbes