Our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God Part 1

The Kingdom of of God and the Church

God always has had his witnesses throughout history

First, Adam and Eve.

Then, individual family members e.g. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

From Genesis 12 due to apostasy, God decides to use a whole nation i.e. Israel.

In Acts 2 enters the Church of Jesus Christ. The church did not replace Israel but expanded the reach of God’s witnesses

around the nations of the world.

The church of Jesus Christ was God’s master plan.

Not any one nation or people but God’s chosen people scattered across the nations!

Having believers of every nationality helps our evangelism in each nation due to the removal of language barriers.

Different views of the Church

Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

Matthew 16: 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”17 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. 18 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. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Many unbelievers think the church is a lonely-hearts club full of losers and misfits, who can’t deal with life or the people in society. Even amongst some believers their view of the church seems to be that the church is God’s last outpost or something which is hanging by a thread from disappearing all together. Others think the church is an organisation that Satan kicks around when he pleases. However, Jesus Christ sees his church as something that is powerful, glorious, mighty, and invincible! The church is the manifestation of the Kingdom of God to the unbelieving world.

The Church of Jesus Christ

Strong's Greek: 1577. ἐκκλησία (ekklésia) = Church, or assembly,

           Ek = out     Klesia =called

Ekklesia means the ‘called out’ ones. In ancient Greece, the cities often had an ekklésia of citizens who could vote in important matters for the city. They were given a white stone (to vote yes) and a black stone (to vote No). In this way a democratic system of voting was introduced to make collective decisions for the city. Not everyone was allowed to vote.

People not allowed to vote in Ancient City Elections

1. Non-Citizen

2. Criminal Record

3. Slave or in bondage

Citizenship in the Kingdom of God is wonderful. Our citizenship is much better than the ancient Roman/Greek one because we are a) born again into the Kingdom of God-immediate citizenship b) we have no criminal or sin record because it is all forgiven. c) we are not slaves or are in any bondage because Jesus Christ has set us free.

You might want to check out Revelation 2:17 where the believers in heaven are given a white stone. God voted for you and me or at least he has acquitted us!

Amen

Personal Prayer

In Part 2 we discover that the Church is a nation with 3 proofs