Philippians: Lesson 7, "Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven"

September 15, 1999, was an important date for my wife Sonia. She was born a citizen of Guatemala. But on that date, her citizen status changed. She became a citizen of the United States of America. According to Philippians 3, something similar happens to believers; when we trust Jesus, our primary citizenship changes because we are no longer "strangers and foreigners," but members of God’s family and citizens of His Heavenly Kingdom.

The Philippian believers understood this well. Philippi was a Roman colony far from Rome, yet its people held great Roman privileges and responsibilities. As we study Philippians 3:15-21, we ask: What does heavenly citizenship mean for us? We discover this powerful truth: As a citizen of heaven, you stand secure. God has written your name in the Book of Life, and He will not erase it when you fail. God’s anger against your sin has already been poured out on Jesus at the cross!