| “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” |
| —Ephesians 2:13 |
I have not traveled extensively outside the United States. I made one very quick three-day trip to Germany and a few trips into Canada. Frankly, I never enjoyed leaving the security of the United States. However, I remember the feeling I had when I crossed the international border back into my homeland and had my citizenship confirmed by the immigration authorities.
As those who belong to God through the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ, we have our citizenship in the Kingdom of God, confirmed by Christ Himself. And, we have verification that we are citizens of God’s Kingdom through the in-dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus in Ephesians 2:11-22:
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” which is done in the body by human hands—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.
His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Rest assured this day that, as a believer in God’s precious Son, we belong to His Kingdom. Our citizenship and all of the privileges that entails are ours, now and forever. Therefore, this day, let us go forth and let the Light of Christ within us shine brightly into this dark and needy world.
Based on a blog originally posted on Tuwday, April 7, 2015
