A PRICELESS CITIZENSHIP
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Priceless Citizenship
Ephesians 2:19
"You are fellow citizens with the saints."
a) In this world, we can gain the right to enter another country and stay there awhile, even though we are not citizens of that country. The permission to enter usually comes in the form of a visa. When we come back to our own country, we have no need of a visa, for we are citizens.
b) Heaven is a country that issues no visas. Nobody may enter that country unless they are citizens. If you do not have citizenship, you cannot come in. Heaven has no tourists, temporary residents, or asylum seekers. Citizens only may enter in.
c) This citizenship has several characteristics. As we meditate upon the nature of our heavenly citizenship, we will look at some of these characteristics.
2. A Precious Citizenship
a) We have noticed many times the "surpassing riches of God's grace in kindness toward us..." (Ephesians 2:7). The granting of our citizenship in heaven came at a price far beyond our ability to pay. It was purchased with "the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).
b) How precious then is this citizenship granted us. We do not have a piece of paper to prove our citizenship. It will be the personal testimony of Jesus that will certify our right to enter heaven. When he puts the sheep at his right hand and says, "Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," (Matthew 25:34), there will be no argument. If he sets you on his right hand, that is your certification, and there is no other.
c) If you had a piece of paper which certified you as a citizen of heaven for eternity, and you could not get into heaven without it, how carefully would you look after it? How much would you insure it for? Would you consider selling it at any price? We have no paper, but we do have the King's personal recognition. How much is it worth to be known personally by him? It is the most precious thing we have, this friendship with the King. Nothing else has any value in comparison.
The End ...
1. The Priceless CitizenshipEphesians 2:19
"You are fellow citizens with the saints."
a) In this world, we can gain the right to enter another country and stay there awhile, even though we are not citizens of that country. The permission to enter usually comes in the form of a visa. When we come back to our own country, we have no need of a visa, for we are citizens.
b) Heaven is a country that issues no visas. Nobody may enter that country unless they are citizens. If you do not have citizenship, you cannot come in. Heaven has no tourists, temporary residents, or asylum seekers. Citizens only may enter in.
c) This citizenship has several characteristics. As we meditate upon the nature of our heavenly citizenship, we will look at some of these characteristics.
2. A Precious Citizenship
a) We have noticed many times the "surpassing riches of God's grace in kindness toward us..." (Ephesians 2:7). The granting of our citizenship in heaven came at a price far beyond our ability to pay. It was purchased with "the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).
b) How precious then is this citizenship granted us. We do not have a piece of paper to prove our citizenship. It will be the personal testimony of Jesus that will certify our right to enter heaven. When he puts the sheep at his right hand and says, "Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," (Matthew 25:34), there will be no argument. If he sets you on his right hand, that is your certification, and there is no other.
c) If you had a piece of paper which certified you as a citizen of heaven for eternity, and you could not get into heaven without it, how carefully would you look after it? How much would you insure it for? Would you consider selling it at any price? We have no paper, but we do have the King's personal recognition. How much is it worth to be known personally by him? It is the most precious thing we have, this friendship with the King. Nothing else has any value in comparison.
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