Benefits of Citizenship

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The Gospel of the Kingdom of God
In this series we shall study
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Plans, Prophecies, and Expectations
The Kingdom Is At Hand!
The Kingdom’s Nature
The Kingdom Comes
– The Kingdom’s Citizens: Benefits of Citizenship
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The Kingdom’s Laws
The Kingdom’s Rewards
The Kingdom’s Defenders
The Kingdom’s Future
The Kingdom’s Alternative
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Benefits of Citizenship
• Outline
– The Christian’s citizenship in the kingdom
– Spiritual blessings enjoyed in this life
– Personal blessings enjoyed in this life
– Blessings through the local church
This lesson is not a comprehensive list, but a general
sampling of the manifold blessings revealed in God’s Word
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Benefits of Citizenship
• The Christian’s citizenship in the kingdom
– Acts 2:47 God adds the saved to the kingdom
– Col. 1:13 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness,
and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son”
– Eph. 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you
are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household”
– Phil. 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we
eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
– Citizenship provides access to certain benefits: “Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3)
– God blesses in many ways…a blessing does not have to be
miraculous to be a blessing!
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Benefits of Citizenship
• Spiritual blessings enjoyed in this life
– Fellowship with the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit
• 1 John 1:3; 2 Cor. 6:16; 2 Cor. 13:14
– Direct communication to God
• 1 Pet. 3:12; John 9:31; 16:23
– Intercession by the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ
• Rom. 8:26-27, 34; Heb. 7:25
– Forgiveness of sins when we confess them
• 1 John 1:7,9
– Protection
• Protected from separation from God: Rom. 8:33-39
• Protected from the evil one: 2 Thess. 3:3
• Protected for salvation: 1 Pet. 1:5
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Benefits of Citizenship
• Personal blessings enjoyed in this life
– Guidance & purpose through this life
• Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Titus 2:1-12
• Guidance on marriage, parenting, employment, finances, and more
– Discipline when we err
• Heb. 12:5-11; 1 Cor. 11:32
– Knowledge of the mystery of His Will
• Eph. 1:9; 3:4; Col. 1:26-27
– Joy/Rejoicing
• Acts 13:48,52; 1 Pet. 1:8
– Hope & comfort
• Rom. 8:24-25; 2 Thess. 2:16
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Benefits of Citizenship
• Blessings through the local church
– Edification & training
• 1 Cor. 14:12, 26; 1 Thess. 5:11; 2 Tim. 2:2
– Encouragement
• 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:25
– Correction when we err
• Gal. 6:1; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Matt. 18:15-17
– Relationships & assemblies with fellow saints
• 1 John 1:7; Eph. 2:19; Heb. 10:25
– Material support when in need
• Matt. 6:33; Acts 4:32-35
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Benefits of Citizenship
• These benefits are only for citizens of the kingdom
– Spiritual, personal, and church blessings in this life
• Non-citizens are “excluded from the commonwealth of
Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having
no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:11-12)
• The wicked cannot inherit the kingdom or its benefits (1
Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5)
• Non-citizens have only “a terrifying expectation
of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE
ADVERSARIES” (Heb. 10:27)
The Gospel of the Kingdom
• Citizenship and its blessings can be yours today!
• Obey the Gospel: believe, repent, confess, be
baptized, and God will add you to the kingdom!
(Acts 2:38,47)
• If you previously entered but have since departed,
will you repent and return?
Hear , believe, and
obey the Gospel today!
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