What does it mean to truly be a citizen of God’s Kingdom? According to the bible, this present world [along with all of it’s lusts and sinful pleasures] will soon pass away. If we remain as a citizen of this world, then we are the enemies of God. James 4:4 says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Also, in 1 John 2:15-17 the bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
To be a Citizen of God’s Kingdom
What is a Kingdom? Well, every kingdom must have a king, and every king rules over his subjects. It is the same way in the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the King, and
we must submit to His authority. To be a citizen of God’s kingdom, we must renounce this kingdom of darkness [this present world], and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said in Luke 14:33, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
The Law of the Kingdom
You may think that you are a good person. Most people compare themselves with other people in a desperate attempt to justify themselves. You may say “I’m not as bad as some people.” You need to realize that God’s standards are not like ours. God is Holy, and He sees things much differently than we do. For example, you may say, “I have never murdered anyone.” Yet the bible says in 1 John 3:15 “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” Before Cain ever killed his brother Abel, God saw the hate in his heart. Hatred is the root of murder, so if you hate someone, then you have murder in your heart. You may say, “I have never committed adultery.” Yet Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Maybe you have never physically committed adultery, but have you done it in your heart? What do you watch on tv? If you never have committed adultery, but you desire to in your heart, God sees you as guilty! Also, Jesus said in Luke 16:18, “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.” Also, the bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that fornicators [those who have sex and are not married], adulterers, those who worship idols, men who act like women, homosexuals, thieves, those who covet, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners, WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God! Even though the world may not, God declares these things to be sin! Before we can truly be saved, we must realize that we ALL have sinned against God. We must see ourselves as sinners in need of a Savior.
How can we enter God’s Kingdom?
The bible says in Romans 3:23 that “ALL have sinned,” and that “all we like sheep have gone astray” [Isaiah 53:6]. In the beginning, God made all things good. Everything was perfect. Then man sinned, and sin separated man from God. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God, and they even attempted to cover their shame with fig leaves, but that would not do. They had sinned, and they needed a Savior! Since we all have sinned, and since the wages of sin is death, someone had to come and pay the debt for us. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down from heaven, and became a man. He was born of a virgin, and He lived a sinless life, and died on the cross for you and me. You see, the perfect justice of God demands that “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” [Ezekiel 18:20] Since we all have sinned, then we all have the death sentence upon us. Not just physical death, but the bible also speaks of the second death, which is the lake of fire [Revelation 20:14]. The good news is that the justice of God was satisfied by the death of Jesus Christ [the just died for the unjust]. We sinned against God, but Christ paid our debt, and rose again to conquer death and hell, and to offer us eternal life! To invite us to become citizens of His Kingdom!
born of a virgin, and He lived a sinless life, and died on the cross for you and me. You see, the perfect justice of God demands that “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” [Ezekiel 18:20] Since we all have sinned, then we all have the death sentence upon us. Not just physical death, but the bible also speaks of the second death, which is the lake of fire [Revelation 20:14]. The good news is that the justice of God was satisfied by the death of Jesus Christ [the just died for the unjust]. We sinned against God, but Christ paid our debt, and rose again to conquer death and hell, and to offer us eternal life! To invite us to become citizens of His Kingdom!
So what must we do?
What must we do? This is the very same question that a crowd once asked the Apostle Peter, and this was his reply: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Peter’s answer was that we must "repent” [which means to change your mind about sin, and turn from it], and “be baptized” [which symbolizes that you are dying to your former self, and you are being raised in newness of life with Christ.] Peter said that if we do this we “shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.“ In other words, we will be “born again” by the Spirit of God.
What did Jesus say?
Jesus said in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” And Jesus also said in Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
So where are you building today? On the rock, or on the sand? Are you willing to let Christ wash away your sins, and make you a new creature? Are you willing to follow Him? Are you willing to become a citizen of His Kingdom? Why not come to Him, and be cleansed of all your sins? He shed His blood for you! Choose this day who you will serve.
