Christ First Forum

by **Remnant** » 03 Jan 2012, 09:02

Phil 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

JW's and some others teach that we will not spend eternity in Heaven. According to scripture that is false.

The ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven gives the answer to every believer concerning his citizenship. Because Jesus Christ is ascended into heaven we will confess: My citizenship is also in heaven where Jesus is.

Forty days after the resurrection our Savior was taken, in His glorified body, up into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God.

The benefits of our Lord's ascending up into heaven forty days after His resurrection are many. He is in heaven now, says the Bible (I John 2), as our advocate with the Father. He intercedes for us as a merciful and compassionate High Priest. Still more, in heaven He rules over all things for the church. He subjects everything to Himself. He rules to serve the purpose of God and to bring about the eternal kingdom of our God. And still more, Jesus Christ is in heaven as the pledge that we, too, must go to be with Him. Because He is in heaven, all those who belong to Him shall also be with Him.

But there is also this profound benefit of the ascension of Jesus, namely, that it shows that our citizenship has changed. The apostle Paul, in Philippians 3:20, 21, puts it this way: "For our conversation (or citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." By the ascension of Jesus Christ we are now translated from this world of darkness into the kingdom of His Son. We are given a heavenly citizenship. Belonging to Jesus Christ who is ascended into heaven, we are now given the title for glory. The life of heaven is now in our heart. Not only shall I become a citizen of heaven at death - no, I am one right now. I am made a pilgrim and a stranger here below. I hold a spiritual citizenship not in this world but in that which is to come. Why? Because Christ, the Head of the church, the Head of the body, ascended into heaven. And being united to Jesus Christ by grace through faith means that we too have entered into heaven. Therefore we have, in Him, secured a heavenly citizenship. That is why the world cannot be our home.

To the Philippian saints that word would jump out at them. Citizenship? That was very important. Roman citizenship in those days was coveted. You remember the experience of the apostle Paul, when he was in Philippi ( Acts 16), after he was beaten and imprisoned. He was about to be released in the morning hours, but the apostle said, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, being Romans." When the magistrates heard that, they feared when they understood that Paul was a Roman. You see, as a Roman he had the right to appeal. As a Roman he had exemption from the degrading punishments that the Philippian magistrates had given to him. Citizenship in Rome, in the Roman government? That was very important.

Still more, a citizen of the country calls that country his home. He loves his country. He takes pride in having his name enrolled in that country. He not only speaks the language but he is governed by the laws of that country. And he bands together with others and fights for the causes of that country.

Our citizenship is in heaven!

by **janlyn** » 05 Jan 2012, 08:38

Thanks for the timely reminder Frank.

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A Christian's Citizenship Is In Heaven

A Christian's Citizenship Is In Heaven

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