TADB 73: Naturalization – Citizens and Exiles

Our new identity in Christ as reconciled, adopted, and naturalized, is a reality that we will not come up with on our own but only by the revelation of Scripture.  It is challenging to understand and embrace that identity and allow it to transform our worldview concerning who we are in Christ and how to live in His kingdom.  In fact, I have discovered that changing my identity to align with Scripture is not easy or a onetime event.  It takes constant reflection and exercising my faith for these truths to change my heartfelt understanding of who I am and the world I live in.

A quick summary before we go on may help keep the big picture in mind.

God’s work                   God’s Role         Result/focus                 Identity  

Reconciliation               Redeemer                          New Relationship            Saint

Adoption                           Father                                 New Family                        Heir

Naturalization                King                                     New Country                     Citizen

The third part of our spiritual spinal column is “naturalization”:  the legal acceptance into a new country and the establishment of citizenship.  Like our new spiritual family, our new spiritual citizenship is exclusive.  When we are issued our new passport, we must relinquish our old one because there is no dual citizenship in God’s kingdom.  Paul tells us that “He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14).  An aspect of repentance is to change our allegiance from the kingdom of darkness to embracing a new kingdom with a new passport.  The implication is that we are now permanent residents not temporary tourists like those with a visa.    

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household (heirs)” (Eph. 2:19). 

“Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20).

There are two aspects to our new citizenship.  One is our relationship to our new country and the second is the changed relationship to our old country.  As citizens of a heavenly kingdom we now live as exiles, strangers and pilgrims in our current “Babylonian world”.   The challenge comes because we are much more comfortable in Babylon than in our new country.  It is what we are accustomed to.  Every generation of believers has faced this challenge since Jesus rose from the grave. 

In this blog I want to explore the implications of our new citizenship and then refer you to previous blogs that discussed the challenge of living as exiles. 

Most of us have not changed our geographic country of residence so our picture of naturalization is limited.  In Paul’s day, citizenship was a major issue.  Rome as the dominant world power had a clear distinction of who was and who was not a citizen of Rome.  Just because a people group was conquered by Rome didn’t automatically mean they became citizens.  Paul was a unique person being both a Jew and a Roman citizen.  His Roman citizenship provided privileges others did not have. 

Consider some of the implications of our new citizenship in the Lord’s kingdom.

• New Government/Authority:  Christ is King of his kingdom.  In our old country He could be disrespected or just ignored but no longer.  He is the honored head of State, the ultimate authority, the benevolent monarch.  Though currently invisible to most, His reign is still very real.  One day it will become visible to all.

• New Covenant/Constitution:   As citizens of His kingdom we have a new and better covenant.  The Old Testament covenant based on law has been replaced by the new covenant based on the completed work of Christ.   He is now our mediator with the Father. 

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises”  (Heb. 8:6; 13)

• New Residency:  We who were once homeless have now been given a permanent new home.  This is difficult to comprehend because this world is the only home we have ever known.  This change of home address is one reason Paul said we should set our minds on things above…”for we have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God.” 

• New Currency:  Merit is the currency of our old country, but in our new country merit is like trying to use Monopoly money.  It is not even a close counterfeit.  When we changed countries, all our merit became piles of “funny money”.  It is worthless.  Faith is the new currency (Heb. 11:6).

• New Freedom:  In our old country we were slaves under a cruel regime.  It just became so natural we didn’t realize the oppression of sin and what freedom could be, but now we experience the freedom a relationship of grace brings.  It will take intentionality to unlearn old habits and ways of thinking in order to adjust to this new freedom (Gal 5:1).

• New legal system:  We still have an accuser, but now we have a new legal defense team.   The One who was in all points tempted as we are is now the one who stands in our defense.  He has never lost a case!

 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).    

• New Portfolio:  In the bank of heaven we have an eternal IRA with our name on it.  It is secure, non-depreciating, always paying dividends.  It doesn’t fluctuate with current events but is based on the outcome that has already been announced.  It is simply being played out according to plan (Matt. 6:19-20).

• New Protection:  No longer do we need to walk in fear or uncertainty.  The armor of God is ours to put on.  It will equip us to walk in victory and enable us to stand against the rulers of the kingdom of darkness (Eph. 6:10+).

• New Role:  As citizens of a new country our relationship with this world has changed.  It is no longer our home, but we still live in it and have been given a mission to be ambassadors representing our new country.  Our role is not to just survive or pass away the time, but to make a distinct difference in our current culture.

You can read more about how to live as an exile in this Babylonian world in TAD Blog #55.

For Reflection:

1.  What are other implications of our citizenship now being in heaven?

2.  How does the term “exile” help us know how to live life now?