Image by Med Ahabchane from Pixabay Your Kingdom identity matters!
A part of that identity comes in your name. When I was a much younger man, I thought about names that were given to believers in Christ. I thought about the name “Christian” and why we were called that. Down through the years, I discovered why and that it wasn’t who we were as Believers. Just as my name isn’t Bill, but William. I came to realize that people will call you something and define you by what they call you! People’s perception of you is often altered by what they are allowed to call you. You may think it doesn’t matter what others call you and even have no preference. But I have found that that it does matter and others behavior toward you may be more formal and respectful or familiar, friendly but less respectful. What you allow people to call you determines that. That will also extend to their perception of God’s Kingdom that we represent. A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Philippians 2:14-16
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world. 1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT
In the early days of the church, believers who accepted Jesus the Christ as their Lord and King were called “Christians”. Remember that Jesus didn’t call them that, nor did they call themselves that. But the name stuck and they embraced how the world perceived them. They were first called Christians by the people they were ministering to in Antioch. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26
That name was given because the Believers were conducting themselves like Christ, not because they were religious or in some religious organization. They were Kingdom citizens since they were born again, as the Lord Jesus spoke of to Nicodemus. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:1-3
The Lord Jesus went on to explain that this transformation had to take place in the Spirit, not in the flesh. It is the inner man that will be regenerated. The flesh is one process, the Spirit is another. Then the King explained the process to Nicodemus: Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:4-6
Now, I ask you; do you want to be known as a part of a religious group or a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven? There is a world of difference between the two. We are joint heirs with Jesus. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-17
Know your Kingdom identity!
A Christian is a member of a religious group. But a Kingdom citizen is a citizen of a government. A Christian may believe that they are in right standing with God by attending weekly services and following denominational rules—it focuses on the external. I'm not saying they don't know Jesus as their Savior, but the churches' rules are the priority. But a citizen of the Kingdom is to be led by the Spirit—our Kingdom Governor—who lives within them. Their right standing comes from their obedience to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:14-15
A Christian denomination’s rules/beliefs sometimes change with the world’s changing culture. But the Kingdom of God is unchanging. His Word is eternal and unchanged by the current culture. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. James 1:17-18
Many say they love Jesus, but Jesus told us how we are to love Him:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
We don't get to pick and choose which of His Word we will follow.
Remember that His commandments are God’s Word—eternal and unchanging. Jesus IS the Word made flesh. You cannot love Jesus without obeying His Word. And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception). John 1:14 AMP
Remember that your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God’s Word.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
A part of that identity comes in your name. When I was a much younger man, I thought about names that were given to believers in Christ. I thought about the name “Christian” and why we were called that. Down through the years, I discovered why and that it wasn’t who we were as Believers. Just as my name isn’t Bill, but William. I came to realize that people will call you something and define you by what they call you! People’s perception of you is often altered by what they are allowed to call you. You may think it doesn’t matter what others call you and even have no preference. But I have found that that it does matter and others behavior toward you may be more formal and respectful or familiar, friendly but less respectful. What you allow people to call you determines that. That will also extend to their perception of God’s Kingdom that we represent. A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Philippians 2:14-16
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world. 1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT
In the early days of the church, believers who accepted Jesus the Christ as their Lord and King were called “Christians”. Remember that Jesus didn’t call them that, nor did they call themselves that. But the name stuck and they embraced how the world perceived them. They were first called Christians by the people they were ministering to in Antioch. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26
That name was given because the Believers were conducting themselves like Christ, not because they were religious or in some religious organization. They were Kingdom citizens since they were born again, as the Lord Jesus spoke of to Nicodemus. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:1-3
The Lord Jesus went on to explain that this transformation had to take place in the Spirit, not in the flesh. It is the inner man that will be regenerated. The flesh is one process, the Spirit is another. Then the King explained the process to Nicodemus: Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:4-6
Now, I ask you; do you want to be known as a part of a religious group or a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven? There is a world of difference between the two. We are joint heirs with Jesus. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-17
Know your Kingdom identity!
A Christian is a member of a religious group. But a Kingdom citizen is a citizen of a government. A Christian may believe that they are in right standing with God by attending weekly services and following denominational rules—it focuses on the external. I'm not saying they don't know Jesus as their Savior, but the churches' rules are the priority. But a citizen of the Kingdom is to be led by the Spirit—our Kingdom Governor—who lives within them. Their right standing comes from their obedience to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:14-15
A Christian denomination’s rules/beliefs sometimes change with the world’s changing culture. But the Kingdom of God is unchanging. His Word is eternal and unchanged by the current culture. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. James 1:17-18
Many say they love Jesus, but Jesus told us how we are to love Him:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
We don't get to pick and choose which of His Word we will follow.
Remember that His commandments are God’s Word—eternal and unchanging. Jesus IS the Word made flesh. You cannot love Jesus without obeying His Word. And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception). John 1:14 AMP
Remember that your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God’s Word.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
