Spiritual Citizenship

Unity of Christ’s people

The pulling of people from their own desires, their sin nature to be called apart. Eph 2:11-12

We too are called to be apart from the world, yet in it to work according to God’s will and glory

Colossians 1:21–22 ESV

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

We are set apart not just physically as the Jews were commanded in the old covenant, but in our hearts & desires as well, identified in Christ

Romans 2:28–29 ESV

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Colossians 2:9–12 ESV

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Peace with God

There’s not much example of peace in this world. Used to be in our politics, used to be in our differences (and even amongst diversity), and especially among those of faith.

The peace God promises and gives is not for the World until he returns again, but until that time peace is for those who are unified in Him.

Ephesians 2:13–16 ESV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

The peace promised by Jesus is through the sacrifice he has given us, once and for all freeing us from the hostility of God towards sin and those led by the sin nature.

Romans 4:23–5:5 NIV84

The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

This is the peace mentioned that we have access now to the Father, that as spiritual citizens we are no longer strangers , but brothers and sisters in the family of God.

Spiritual Citizenship, qualified in Christ

Jesus is our cornerstone, the one who has called us into his fellowship of believers.

Believers who have him in their hearts are being called to unify in peace, as fellow citizens and saints.

For all of us who wish to have peace in this time, this is the call for us to repent and listen to Jesus, to his calls of mercy and forgiveness.

To draw close to him, who loved us before the foundation of the world began.