Strangers No More

v.19:

Heavenly Citizenship

A foreigner may travel to a land and live among its people, but he is not a citizen, and does not have the rights of citizenship.

In the context of the church, the “strangers and foreigners” are the unsaved.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, you are adopted into God’s family. You are no longer a stranger or a foreigner.

You are now a fellow citizen with all of the other saints, and you have all of the rights of citizenship.

Citizenship of the people of God was a very expressive way of explaining the truth concerning the position in God’s kingdom that Jews and Gentiles now equally share.

It speaks of a greater intimacy that Christians have with God and each other.

It is not a Jewish thing or a gentile thing. Regardless of race, nationality, social status, or any other worldly identifier, Christians are together as one.

Christians are all part of one family of the household of God, which is the church.

Galatians 3:26

Galatians 3:26 NKJV

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

v.20:

Matthew 16:15-18

Matthew 16:15–18 NKJV

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Jesus said “my church”, the church belongs to Him, and is built by Him.

Jesus spoke of Himself when he said “Upon this rock I will build my church”. He is the rock, the cornerstone that holds everything together.

The apostles were the foundation, the earthly builders of the church.

They, through divine inspiration, established the traditions and organization upon which the church is built.

However, we must never forget that Christ is the head (cornerstone), and without a strong cornerstone, the foundation will crumble.

If we ever depart from Christ, the church is lost.

The church belongs to Christ, He is the head

1 Corinthians 3:11

1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Man alone cannot support the church. It belongs to Christ, and operates under His authority, by His power, and according to His will.

He is the only one to have authority over the church, and He holds the church together.

Ephesians 5:23

Ephesians 5:23 NKJV

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

We should never forget that the attraction of the church should be Christ, not programs.

It’s all about God!

We should wisely redeem our time

Solid, in depth Bible teaching should lead the way, with any programs stemming from there. especially now!

1 Timothy 4:1-3

1 Timothy 4:1–3 NKJV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

we need to redeem the time we have left.

Ephesians 5:15-16

Ephesians 5:15–16 NKJV

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5

Colossians 4:5 NKJV

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Why? First because the church belongs to Christ.

Second, He is fitting together the body of believers into a holy temple in the Lord.

If we are focused on anything but the Lord, we will not be a holy temple for Him.

To be holy means to be set apart for God.

That means that we should be walking as the wise, and the wise be busy doing His work and preaching His word.

1 Corinthians 3:9

1 Corinthians 3:9 NKJV

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

If this church closed its doors tomorrow, would anybody notice?

If the answer is no, then there is a problem.

vv.21-22:

God is building His church, and all believers are a part of His building

God is building His church, expertly fitting the pieces together. The pieces are, of course, the individual believers.

1 Peter 2:5

1 Peter 2:5 NKJV

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

As an expert builder, God fits the pieces together in the most meticulous and perfect way.

As a piece of the church, you were not chosen by accident, you are part of His perfect plan.

He is continuing to grow the church, as the right pieces are put into the right place. Through this ongoing process, He is creating a “holy temple in the Lord.”

He is creating a dwelling place for Himself, and we need to allow Him to work in and through us, so that we will be a fitting temple for Him.

Have you personally experienced God’s grace?

Have you trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Are you certain of your Eternity?

Do you know for sure that you have been adopted into God’s family?

Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ

John 14:6

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 10:9

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Believers walk in newness of life, helping others to trust Christ

Are you helping others to trust Him?

Do you walk in the newness of life?

Romans 6:4

Romans 6:4 NKJV

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Matthew 28:19

Matthew 28:19 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,