Acts 23:25-35
Citizenship has its privileges. As we discussed before, the fact that Paul was a Roman citizen afforded him certain protections that non-citizens were not entitled to. It very well may have been the thing that saved his life.
It is also interesting that, as an outsider to the Jewish community, even this Roman commander recognized that Paul was not guilty of anything deserving imprisonment or death. However, it is equally interesting that the commander fudged the truth just a little in his letter to Governor Felix. He claimed that he had rescued Paul after learning that he was a Roman citizen. In reality, the commander did not discover Paul’s citizenship until the following day, when Paul was being tied down to be whipped in an effort to extract a confession from him. It was at that moment that Paul asked:
“Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?” (Acts 22:25 NLT)
That changed things quickly!
Governor Felix also showed Paul favor by agreeing to hear his case once his accusers arrived.
However, back to my opening statement—citizenship has its privileges. This is an important distinction that seems to have become somewhat lost in our country today. Citizenship establishes a person’s legal membership in a nation and carries with it certain rights and privileges that do not automatically belong to everyone. In the United States, for example, certain political and legal rights are reserved specifically for citizens, including voting in federal elections, serving on a federal jury, obtaining a U.S. passport, and having the unrestricted right to enter and remain in the country.
It is important that we understand this distinction because, spiritually speaking, the Kingdom of Heaven operates on a similar principle. There are privileges associated with Kingdom citizenship. The Bible tells believers:
“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” (Philippians 3:20 NLT)
Heaven has a strict immigration policy, if you will—it requires allegiance to the one true King, Jesus!
God certainly demonstrates goodness and mercy toward all mankind. Jesus said that our Heavenly Father “gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:45 NLT). Yet there is a distinction between experiencing the general goodness of God and being in covenant relationship with Him.
God has made specific covenant promises to those who belong to Him. The Old Testament repeatedly demonstrates the importance of covenant, and the New Testament reveals that we enter into the New Covenant through faith in Jesus Christ. We don't earn our citizenship; Jesus purchased it for us. But we must receive what He has provided.
Paul wrote:
“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13 NLT)
What a transfer of citizenship that is!
If we have never entered into covenant with God by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, we cannot expect to receive the covenant promises made specifically to those who belong to Him. The wonderful news is that the invitation to become a citizen of Heaven is open to everyone who will come to Christ.
Trust me when I say, you do not want to leave this earth without becoming a citizen of Heaven. Earthly citizenship has its privileges, but none can compare with the privileges of belonging eternally to the Kingdom of God. Remember, when you leave this earth, the one to whom you belong comes to get you. Let’s make sure we belong to Jesus, because we already know how the story ends for the devil and those who follow him.
It is also interesting that, as an outsider to the Jewish community, even this Roman commander recognized that Paul was not guilty of anything deserving imprisonment or death. However, it is equally interesting that the commander fudged the truth just a little in his letter to Governor Felix. He claimed that he had rescued Paul after learning that he was a Roman citizen. In reality, the commander did not discover Paul’s citizenship until the following day, when Paul was being tied down to be whipped in an effort to extract a confession from him. It was at that moment that Paul asked:
“Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?” (Acts 22:25 NLT)
That changed things quickly!
Governor Felix also showed Paul favor by agreeing to hear his case once his accusers arrived.
However, back to my opening statement—citizenship has its privileges. This is an important distinction that seems to have become somewhat lost in our country today. Citizenship establishes a person’s legal membership in a nation and carries with it certain rights and privileges that do not automatically belong to everyone. In the United States, for example, certain political and legal rights are reserved specifically for citizens, including voting in federal elections, serving on a federal jury, obtaining a U.S. passport, and having the unrestricted right to enter and remain in the country.
It is important that we understand this distinction because, spiritually speaking, the Kingdom of Heaven operates on a similar principle. There are privileges associated with Kingdom citizenship. The Bible tells believers:
“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” (Philippians 3:20 NLT)
Heaven has a strict immigration policy, if you will—it requires allegiance to the one true King, Jesus!
God certainly demonstrates goodness and mercy toward all mankind. Jesus said that our Heavenly Father “gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:45 NLT). Yet there is a distinction between experiencing the general goodness of God and being in covenant relationship with Him.
God has made specific covenant promises to those who belong to Him. The Old Testament repeatedly demonstrates the importance of covenant, and the New Testament reveals that we enter into the New Covenant through faith in Jesus Christ. We don't earn our citizenship; Jesus purchased it for us. But we must receive what He has provided.
Paul wrote:
“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13 NLT)
What a transfer of citizenship that is!
If we have never entered into covenant with God by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, we cannot expect to receive the covenant promises made specifically to those who belong to Him. The wonderful news is that the invitation to become a citizen of Heaven is open to everyone who will come to Christ.
Trust me when I say, you do not want to leave this earth without becoming a citizen of Heaven. Earthly citizenship has its privileges, but none can compare with the privileges of belonging eternally to the Kingdom of God. Remember, when you leave this earth, the one to whom you belong comes to get you. Let’s make sure we belong to Jesus, because we already know how the story ends for the devil and those who follow him.
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