Characteristics of Citizens of Heaven

by Chris Perkins on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 9:12pm ·

Characteristics of Citizens of Heaven

Philippians 3:20-21 says But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Anyone that professes to belong to Jesus Christ or say Jesus is Lord must possess all of these characteristics of Heaven. Titus 1:16 says There are people who would claim and profess to know Jesus, but deny Him by how they act. (16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.)

Anyone who claims to be a "Christian" (which was a name given to those who followed Jesus by pagans (not Jesus) see Acts 11:26) you should see all of the characteristics in their everyday actions.

1 John 3:10 says This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

• Our word is true. Our yes's are "yes," and our no's are "no" (Matthew 5:37).
• Debt Free. We owe no man anything but the continuing debt to love one another (Romans 13:8)
• Married until parted by death. There is no divorce and remarriage (Luke 16:18).
• Parents instruct their children. They are directly responsible for training them up in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
• Known as a giver, not a taker. We give and it is given back to us in good measure (Luke 6:38).
• Love our enemies. We do good to those who hate us. We bless them and pray for them (Matthew 5:44).
• No lawsuits. We do not seek courts of law as a remedy for wrongs done (1 Corinthians 6:1-8).
• Busy storing treasures in Heaven. Our heart is on the heavenly things, not on earthly treasures (Matthew 6:20).
• Slow to anger. We are mild mannered, forgiving one another and willing to be defrauded (Ephesians 4:31-32).
• Treat others the way we want to be treated. We put ourselves in the other one's shoes and respond accordingly (Matthew 7:12).
• Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. We are not here to seek money, property, popularity, honors, or advantage. We diligently seek and promote the Kingdom of Heaven, trusting God to supply our every need (Matthew 6:33).
• Separate from secular government. We do not participate in worldly politics, elections, or debates about their governments (2 Timothy 2:4).
• Our citizenship is in Heaven. We acknowledge that the Kingdom of Heaven is God's Government and is the only one that is everlasting (Philippians 3:20, Luke 1:33).
• Observe chain of command. In the Church and in the family, we respect chain of command (1 Peter 5, 1 Corinthians 11, Ephesians 6, Hebrews 13:17). We follow our Shepherd and flee from strangers (John 10:5, 27).
• Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans  14:17).

As citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven we are always displaying the Fruits of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Elder Chris Perkins

Kingdom Disciple Center

www.kingdomdisciplecenter.us