Paul, the great evangelist and apostle of Jesus Christ, was born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia (Acts 22:3), and he became a Roman citizen by birth just as so many of us are American citizens by birth. On an occasion recorded by Luke in Acts 22, the Jews created a stir as Paul had entered the city of Jerusalem. He was rescued by the Roman officers, and they were preparing to scourge him in attempt to obtain information. However, there were rights Paul held as a Roman citizen. So he asked, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:25). In his investigation of the matter, the chief military officer told Paul he had purchased his own citizenship with “a great sum.”
Irrespective of one’s national citizenship, far more important are the incomparable blessings and privileges that come to all those who are citizens of the heavenly kingdom through the new birth. Having been “born again” (John 3:3-5), we are presently the Sons of God (1 John 3:1-2). What greater honor can be bestowed upon an individual? You and I have been made “kings and priests” unto God by our brother who is “the prince of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5-6).
Being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, you and I are free from the captivating power of sin. Through the Gospel, the Prince of life has delivered us from the prince of this world and the kingdom of darkness so that we are no longer held by the dominion of sin. The inspired penman wrote, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). The expression “free from sin” is found in Romans 6:18 and 6:22. What liberty is ours “in Christ”!
Being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, you and I are free from the law of sin and death. We read, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). You and I do not live under the sentence of death. Through the vicarious suffering of Jesus on the cross, God deals with us as though we had never sinned. We are justified freely by his grace (Romans 3:24).
Being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, you and I are free from the burden of guilt associated with our past. Life under Christ and His new covenant is a rich blessing to all of us as God made promise before through the prophet Jeremiah, “…for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). See also Hebrews 8:12 and 10:17.
Day by day, you and I can truly rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4) as we recognize to whom we belong (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Philippians 3:20 ASV), where we are spiritually (Ephesians 2:13), how He will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and remembering that Jesus is coming again (Revelation 1:7). Are you a citizen of the kingdom of heaven?
