Redemption Ministries Weekly Bible Study 11th August 2020 – Citizenship In Heaven
Redemption Ministries
CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY
August 11, 2020
TOPIC: CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN
Text: Acts 21:39; Eph. 2:12-20; Heb. 11:8-10, 24-27; Rev. 13:5-6
“And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.” Acts 22:25,28.
Citizenship is defined as the state of being vested with the rights, privileges and duties of a citizen. While a citizen is one who has legal rights to live in a country.
This status automatically confers on the beneficiary the right to live and enjoy other privileges that citizens have as members of that nation.
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Redemption Ministries Weekly Bible Study 11th August 2020
Either of these two things qualify a man to be a citizen.
• You were born in that country or
• Through the process of naturalization.
The latter is tedious, cumbersome and does not come on a platter of gold. The quest for citizenship in a desired country has driven man to act beyond expectations. People are ready to compromise in any dimension, cheat, lie, contract false marriage, falsify dates, just name anything imaginable provided it will guarantee them get citizenship.
CITIZENSHIP FROM THE WORLD’S PERSPECTIVE. Acts 9:11; 16::35-40; 22:25-29;
” And the chief captain answered, WITH A GREAT SUM OBTAINED I THIS FREEDOM. And Paul said, But I was free born.” Acts 22:28.
To the chief captain, being a Roman citizen was a sigh of relief and indeed, a novel accomplishment as he called it FREEDOM. To him, the GREAT SUM of money paid was the least of his problems. The joy and fulfillment was in the citizenship obtained.
There is absolutely no problem in desiring citizenship in another country provided it falls within the legal documentation required.
Interestingly, the opportunities that countries offer through carefully designed processes can enable an individual own dual citizenship. Read again, the discussion between Paul and the chief captain.
“And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I WAS FREE BORN”
Great lessons can be derived from this.
1. According to the chief captain, being a Roman citizen was synonymous with freedom. Your protection is guaranteed no matter where you find yourself.
2. It means cessation from bondage and transition to freedom.
3. He was an alien by birth and a citizen through the payment of large sum of money. HE BOUGHT HIS CITIZENSHIP.
4. Paul professes that he was free born which means he didn’t pay anything and must have obtained it by birth. He was born in Tarsus which was absorbed into the new Roman Province of Cilicia. His parents were devout Jews. Acts 9:11; 22:3
5. As a Roman citizen, he was automatically exempted from all trials and punishments that might compel, force or bring him under duress to confess that he is guilty.
6. Paul used his citizenship rights to escape unjustified beatings. It is important we know our right and act proactively so that God can back us up. Prov. 11:9; Hosea 4:6
To be continued…
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