You are a Citizen of Heaven

Its important that we remember that the bible is the inspired word of God, which means that the truths we find in-between the pages, are the things that God has shared and inspired.

In other words they are solid truths that we can trust

1Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Now remember that Peter is writing to believers that were scattered across the Roman Empire due to persecution

The last few weeks we have looked at some of the things the bible says about us. And some of those things are about every one

We are all created in Gods image

We are created ON purpose WITH a Purpose

We are ALL Sinners, who have the opportunity to be saved BY HIS GRACE

But only those that have stepped in to that Grace

Accepted His FREE GIFT

ONLY CHRIST FOLLOWERS are HIS chosen people

Peter is talking to the church!!!

So church this morning know this, we were chosen by God, for God

The message reads like this - But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. - The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language 1 Pe 2:9–10.

You were chosen by God, for God, to do Gods work and be Gods representatives.

Now I told you that we are citizens of Heaven and then read about being a Chosen race, a holy notion a people for His own possession, but stick with me.

Peter is deliberately using phrases that were used about the Nation of Israel in our old Testament….their scriptures.

Not because we have replaced Israel in Gods plan, not because we have become more important, but so that we will not forget that we have been added to, grafted on to, completed the original nation of God.

Peter is pointing to the History of Gods grace and mercy so that we can know that this is bigger than us

If we read on Peter says this in verse 11

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

The message says it like this

11 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives. (Msg)

foreigners and exiles,

this world is not your home

Live differently to the world, so that even when you are accused of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

A life that no fault can be found so that any prejudice can not be sustained.

When Chelle and I go on holiday people make a judgement on your nationality by the way you dress and act.

Tunisia - Turkey “You from England”

We are foreigners in this world, people should be able to tell we are different

If they can’t tell you are different from everyone else then you have adopted the local culture.

If we are citizens of Heaven, then we represent the Kingdom of Heaven

We are not residents of THIS world we are just visiting

This means that although we have to live within some of the constraints of this world, we are also accountable to Higher Laws, Higher authority and we have the protection that comes with that.

John 17:16 Jesus is praying for us he says “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

Hebrews 11:13 ESV These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Philippians 3:20 ESV But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 12:2 ESV Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 John 2:15-16 ESV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

If we can grasp this we are given a great freedom, we have a great authority but also a great responsibility.

One of the things that put people off God is the way His church acts or has acted, its the fact that wars have been conceived and claimed to be in His name

Historically the church has been guilty of self-righteousness and abuse of power

Trying to force the will of God on to those that don’t know whim or love Him

Did you know that you can’t force someone to love you?

For true love to exist there has to be free choice

In fact we have laws that stop one Pearson forcing their will on another

God is the same…..

People ask if God is all powerful why does He allow this that and the other

It because He longs for us to choose Him

To Love Him

To want Him

And that demands free choice

We can’t win people to the Kingdom through well thought out arguments, but by the demonstration of Love, Hope and Faith

John 3:16 “God so loved the world……..”

SO how do we have assurance that we are Citizens of Heaven?

Repent and believe

Mark 1:9 rIn those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he tsaw the heavens being torn open vand the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, x“You are my beloved Son;4 with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 yAnd he was in the wilderness forty days, being ztempted by aSatan. And he was with the wild animals, and bthe angels were ministering to him.

Mark 1:14 cNow after John was arrested, Jesus dcame into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, e“The time is fulfilled, and fthe kingdom of God is at hand;5 grepent and believe in the gospel.”

Each One of us were made with the image of God inside us,

Every living person was created ON purpose WITH a Purpose

ALL of us are Sinners, who have the opportunity to be saved BY HIS GRACE

Once we have changed our mindset we become His chosen people

Its a FREE GIFT

The church are HIS chosen people

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