Philippians 3:20 (NLT) “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Saviour.”
Col. 3:1 (NET) “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
Ephesians 1:3 (NET) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.
Ephesians 2:19 (NKJV) “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”
Why is citizenship in heaven so important? With citizenship comes privileges of belonging to a nation.
We belong to Jesus – 2 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIRV) “We belong to the Lord Jesus Christ”
We have a future home there prepared by Jesus – John 14:1-3 (The Voice) “Don’t get lost in despair; believe in God, and keep on believing in Me. 2 My Father’s home is designed to accommodate all of you. If there were not room for everyone, I would have told you that. I am going to make arrangements for your arrival. 3 I will be there to greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together.
We will dwell with Him – John 14:23 (The Voice) “Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him.”
Our reward waits for us – Matthew 5:12 (NLT) “Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.”
Our treasures are in heaven – Matthew 6:19-20 (NLT) “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”
Our home with Him is eternally strong and secure – 2 Corinthians 5:1 (ESV) “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
Our inheritance is kept there secure and unfaded by time – 1 Peter 1:4 (NLT) “and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”
We have every spiritual blessing in Christ – Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
All these privileges are ours because we know Christ and are citizens of heaven