Understanding Our Identity as Citizens of the Kingdom of God
Exploring the concept of citizenship in the Kingdom of God, this content delves into the nature of the kingdom, ethical foundations, and how to live as kingdom citizens. It discusses the rule of Christ, the fellowship within the kingdom, and the heavenly citizenship of believers based on biblical teachings and reflections.
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Our Identity as Citizens of the Kingdom of God
Topics to be covered Understanding kingdoms Our Identity as kingdom citizens 3
Review Kingdom of God is God s will for humanity and all creation Jesus ministry was to bring the kingdom of God to reality The kingdom has been inaugurated, and as the people of God, we must live as citizens of the kingdom 4
Review (cont.) The creation of humans, the story of Israel in the OT, the birth of Jesus, his life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension to heaven, the mission of the church, and Jesus return from heaven, are about the coming of the kingdom of God on earth. 5
Nature of the Kingdom of God the kingdom of God is primarily about the rule or reign of Christ and not so much, as it has been put, about a realm or a spatial or geographical location. Wherever Christ s lordship is operating according to his will and purpose, there is found the kingdom of God. Gary Deddo: The Kingdom of God. https://www.gci.org/god/kingdom 6
Nature of the Kingdom of God (cont.) The kingdom of God is a fellowship, a people, a community in communion with God through Jesus Christ and so with each other in the Spirit of Jesus Christ Gary Deddo: The Kingdom of God. https://www.gci.org/god/kingdom 7
Citizenship our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20) THE BIG QUESTION: If we are citizens of the kingdom of God, how are we supposed to live as kingdom citizens? What are the ethical foundations of the kingdom of God? 8
So, what are the various ways we identify people of various kingdoms or nationalities? 21
Identifying Citizenship (cont.) Some of the things we identify citizens of various kingdoms are: Food what they eat Clothing what they wear Cultural practices how they marry, greet, etc Language what language they speak How do we identify citizens of the kingdom of God? With Food, Clothing, Language or Cultural Practices? 22
Not Food For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking Rom. 14:17 NIV 23
Not Food (cont.) Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings Col. 2:16,22 NIV 24
Not Clothes. Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes 1 Pet 3:3 NLT 25
Not Clothes(cont.) Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes These men will be punished most severely. Lk. 20: 46-47 NIV 26
What then identifies us as citizens of the kingdom of God? 27
Our Identity as Kingdom Citizens Our identity as citizens of the kingdom of God IS in: What we wear (Clothing) What we eat (Food) How we marry, greet, etc (Cultural practices) What language we speak (Language) BUT 28
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (Jn. 4:24) 29
Our Clothing Don t lord it over the people assigned to your care clothe yourselves with humility (1 Pet. 5:3, 5 NIV) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience... Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Col. 3:12, 14) 30
Our Clothing Don t lord it over the people assigned to your care clothe yourselves with humility (1 Pet. 5:3, 5 NIV) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience... Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Col. 3:12, 14) 31
Our Clothing (cont.) Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. (Rom. 13:14 NIV) For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Gal. 3:27) 32
Our Clothing (cont.) Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. (Rom. 13:14 NIV) For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Gal. 3:27) 33
Our Food My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (Jn. 4:34 NIV) 34
Our Food (cont.) Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Jn. 4:34 NIV) 35
Our Food (cont.) 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life 29Jesus answered, The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent. 47Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.48I am the bread of life... 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live for ever. This bread is my flesh 53Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. (Jn. 6) Holy Communion is a testimony of our belief in the one whose flesh and blood gives life 36
Our Language Beginning of Kingdoms of Men Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. (Gen. 11:1 NIV) End of Kingdoms of Men All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4) 37
Our Language(cont.) If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Cor. 13:1 NIV) 38
Our Language(cont.) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph. 4:29) 39
Saved for The Kingdom 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 23Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, Who then can be saved? (Mk. 10) 40
We are Ambassadors We are therefore Christ s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Cor 5:20 I am an ambassador in chains Eph 6:20 41
No Room for National Identities The Kingdom of God is the central message of the Gospel We are saved from our nations into the holy nation of God Jesus identity as the Christ, is wrapped in the Kingdom of God To hold on to our national identities is a denial of the gospel (No Jew or Greek) 42
Conclusion Identity of kingdoms/nations is wrapped up in their languages, food, clothes and cultures Our identity in the Kingdom of God is also wrapped up in our language, food and clothes we wear However, this identity is in Spirit and Truth, for God is Spirit. Kingdom of God should never be turned into church uniforms, what food is clean or not clean, or languages we speak 43
