Heavenly Citizenship 101: Qualifications, Qualities, and Benefits
Heavenly Citizenship 101
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As believers we are no longer citizens of this world, but citizens of heaven. But if you are like me you wonder what that means. As a US citizen there are certain things that make me a citizen, and being a citizen gives me certain benefits. But what does that look like as a citizen of heaven? Well, the bible actually says a lot about our heavenly citizenship.
Heavenly citizenship can be defined as the identity, influence, and inheritance that Christians have in God’s eternal kingdom. Identifying with Christ, through faith in Him, qualifies one to become a citizen of heaven. Heavenly citizenship results in a change in quality and attitude that reflects Christlikeness, and results in abundant life.
Let’s explore the details of the qualifications, qualities and attitudes, and benefits of heavenly citizenship. What does being a citizen of heaven actually mean and look like?
What is Heavenly Citizenship?
To properly understand what heavenly citizenship is we need to understand two things: heavenly citizenship and the heavenly kingdom. Thankfully, Scripture is full of verses that can help us do just that.
Defining Heavenly Citizenship
We can define heavenly citizenship as the identity, influence, and inheritance of Christians in God’s eternal kingdom. Our identity as Christians in God’s kingdom will shape our beliefs and attitudes. In short, it will change how we live. Our inheritance as believers covers all the benefits of being citizens of God’s kingdom.
Here are some key bible verses that shape our understanding of heavenly citizenship:
- Philippians 3:20-21
- “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
- Ephesians 2:18-19
- “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.”
- Hebrews 11:16
- “Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
- Romans 14:17
- “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
- Matthew 6:20
- “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
- Colossians 3:1-4
- “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
- 1 Peter 2:11
- “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.”
- Revelation 21:1-4
- “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.’”
- Luke 10:20
- “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:1
- “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
- 1 Peter 1:7
- “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
- John 3:3
- “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’”
These verses help us begin to grasp what it means to be a heavenly citizen. But there is still so much more to discover and wonder. So, let’s dive into understanding what God’s kingdom is like.
Understanding the Heavenly Kingdom
In the gospel of Matthew we see Jesus begin his ministry by preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus spends his ministry talking about the kingdom of heaven and what it is like. He tells story after story of this kingdom. These stories are called parables.
| Parable | Description | How It Relates to the Kingdom of Heaven |
|---|
| Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23) | A sower scatters seed on different types of soil, and the seed’s growth varies depending on the soil’s quality. The good soil produces a fruitful harvest. | The parable illustrates how different people receive and respond to the message of the Kingdom. Only those who truly accept it and nurture it in their hearts will bear fruit for the Kingdom. |
| Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) | A farmer plants good seed, but his enemy sows weeds among the wheat. At harvest, the weeds are separated from the wheat and burned. | This parable explains that while good and evil coexist in the world, at the end of time, God’s Kingdom will separate the righteous (wheat) from the wicked (weeds), who will be judged. |
| Parables of Mustard Seed and Yeast (Matthew 13:31-33) | A tiny mustard seed grows into a large tree, and a small amount of yeast leavens the whole dough. | These parables demonstrate that the Kingdom of Heaven starts small, like a mustard seed or yeast, but grows and spreads exponentially, impacting all of creation and bringing transformation. |
| Parables of Hidden Treasure and Pearl (Matthew 13:44-46) | A man finds a hidden treasure in a field and sells all he has to buy it; a merchant sells everything to buy a pearl of great value. | Both parables emphasize the immense value of the Kingdom of Heaven, urging people to recognize its worth and be willing to sacrifice everything to attain it. |
| Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50) | A net catches all kinds of fish, which are then separated into good and bad. The bad are thrown away. | This parable illustrates the final judgment, where the Kingdom of Heaven will be fully established, and the wicked will be separated from the righteous. |
From these stories Jesus tells we can learn a lot about the nature of the Kingdom of heaven. God is the king of the Kingdom of heaven. He has all authority. God’s kingdom may start small but it grows and transforms everything it touches. God is the one who decides who belongs in His kingdom and who doesn’t. Those who do bear fruit and represent Him. They citizens of heaven.
For more on how God’s heavenly kingdom overlaps and impacts the earthly kingdom, check out this video by the people at Bible Project.
As you can see the Bible has a lot to say about God’s kingdom, who resides there, and what it looks like. So now that we’ve defined heavenly citizenship as the identity, influence, and inheritance of Christians in God’s eternal kingdom, let’s take a closer look at the qualifications of heavenly citizenship.
Qualifications of Heavenly Citizenship
The Bible uses a lot of different terms to talk about the qualifications of heavenly citizenship. These qualifications are centered around the gospel and how we both respond to and are transformed by it.
The gospel is the good news that Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died for the forgiveness of our sins. Three days later, He rose from the dead, proving His ability to defeat sin and offer us new life. Through faith in Him we can have an eternal relationship with God. For a more detailed look at the gospel check out this post where I explain the gospel in simple, non Christianese terms.
Now, let’s look at three qualifications of heavenly citizenship in a little more detail. Each of these are connected to the others and all depend on our response to the gospel.
Faith in Jesus: To enter the Kingdom of heaven one must be born again (John 3:3-6). This rebirth is a spiritual rebirth that is a result of trusting in Jesus for our salvation. As soon as we do that, the Holy Spirit enters into our lives and we become entirely new people. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says it this way, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Obedience: The second qualification of heavenly citizenship is obedience to God and His will. Jesus says in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” True faith in Jesus will always result in obedience to God’s will. Faith is the cause and obedience is the effect. Through faith in Jesus the Holy Spirit enters our lives and helps us to live righteously.
Surrender: The third qualification of heavenly citizenship is surrender. If we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we have to surrender the idea that we can get there on our own. Surrender requires humility, sacrifice, and a heart of forgiveness. (Matthew 18:3, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 6:14-16). Surrender means that we choose to bear a cross, rather than a flag.
Now, that we know what it takes to get to become a citizen of heaven, let’s look at some of the qualities and attitudes of heavenly citizenship.
Qualities and Attitudes of Citizens of Heaven
We’ve seen how becoming a heavenly citizen completely changes our lives. We get a completely new life. This new life comes with new qualities and attitudes that reflect the kingdom of God. In short, the qualities and attitudes of citizens of heaven out to reflect the qualities and attitudes of God.
Curious what qualities and attitudes God possess, then check out this article on the attributes of God where I go in-depth on who is God and look at how God describes himself.
Now, before we dive into the qualities and attitudes of citizens of heaven, we need to understand the difference between the two. qualities are inward traits that are acquired and define a person’s character. Attitudes on the other hand are context dependent and shape how we respond to outside circumstances.
In other words, our qualities shape our attitudes. Qualities say who we are as citizens of heaven. Attitude says how we live as citizens of heaven. Let’s take a look at Psalm 15 and see what it says about qualities of heavenly citizenship.
Qualities of Heavenly Citizenship
Psalm 15 says,
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
This psalm highlights five key qualities of citizens of heaven. They are to be blameless, welcoming, virtuous, trustworthy, and benevolent. These qualities will shape how we live and respond to outside circumstances. These are qualities that the Holy Spirit gives us when we first become citizens of heaven. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Blameless
First, we see that those who can dwell in God’s presence as citizens of heaven are blameless. Psalm 15:2 defines blameless for us. To be blameless means to do right and speak the truth with a genuine and pure heart. Every single time. Have you done that? I know I haven’t. Thankfully, there is good news for us both. That good news is the gospel.
By putting our faith in Jesus, we are granted Jesus’ perfect life. As Christians, we can honestly answer that question with a “Yes, in Jesus, I have.” We are also given the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit Himself comes to walk alongside us in life, helping us to live and grow into Jesus’ righteousness. After all, that’s some pretty big shoes to fill.
Welcoming
The second quality of a citizen of heaven in to be welcoming. Heavenly citizenship requires being a good neighbor. But who is our neighbor? The people next door? Friends and family? Jesus provides an answer to this question in His story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Our neighbor is everyone, even people we don’t like. The person you see in need is your neighbor.
In Psalm 15, David gives us specific examples of what being a good neighbor looks like. It means speaking well of others (Ephesians 4:29-31), treating others the way you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), and building one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Virtuous
The third quality of heavenly citizenship is valuing people for their virtue. A citizen of heaven honors those who fear the Lord. We are to ally ourselves with those who fear the Lord. Our allegiance is to God. We are to bear the cross and not a flag.
It doesn’t matter the position, wealth, or power a person possesses if they fear the Lord, we are to honor them. It is better to value the virtue the poor than the wickedness of the wealthy. In short, we are called to look at the heart of others the way God does (1 Samuel 16:7). Heavenly citizenship looks at the heart.
Trustworthy
Fourth, citizens of heaven are people who keep their word. God is a promise keeper. He is completely and absolutely faithful to His promises. Nothing stands in His way of keeping His promises. We are called to reflect that.
I’ll be honest with you, society takes promises lightly. Right? Sometimes, after we make a promise we realize that it won’t turn out so good for us. Or we realize it might be harder to keep than we thought. But we should, even if it hurts us. Our promises should be intentional and serous. Better yet, we should be so truthful that people feel they don’t need a promise from us in order to keep our word.
Benevolent
Lastly, benevolence is a quality of heavenly citizenship. Citizens of the kingdom of God understand that money is a tool that is to be used wisely and morally. We should give freely from our own resources. We are not to be so attached to our money that God can’t use it for His glory and purposes.
The influence of money should have no power, no sway, and no hold on those whose citizenship is found in heaven. We are to focus more on our heavenly riches than our earthly riches (Matthew 6:19-20). It should be impossible to buy off a heavenly citizen because they have already been bought by the blood of Jesus and the power of the cross.
Attitudes of Citizens of Heaven
Now that we’ve looked at the qualities of heavenly citizenship, let’s look at attitudes of citizens of heaven. Remember, the qualities of heavenly citizenship shape the attitudes of heavenly citizens. So, what does it look like to live as citizens of heaven? Well, Romans 14:17 provides an excellent summary.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…”
According to this verse, Christians should have an attitude of righteousness, peace, and joy. Let’s look at each of these in turn.
Righteousness: Righteousness simply means pursuing God’s standard of living. It’s not about self-righteousness or judging others. Rather, it’s about actively choosing to honor God in everything we do. Our thoughts. Our words. Our actions. Jesus calls us to pursue His righteousness above everything else (Matthew 6:33), and this pursuit should be foundational for how we live as citizens of heaven.
Peace: This peace more than just a lack of conflict. Rather, it is a deep, residing peace that comes from complete trust in God and His plans. God is in full control of everything, so there is no need for us to worry about things outside our control. We are also to pursue peace with others as we seek unity, serve others, and engage with the world around us.
Joy: To live as citizens of heaven in joy is not dependent on circumstances. Rather, it is rooted in the hope of God in fulfilling His promises. God is faithful to His promises and He will see them to completion. The Bible describes the kingdom of heaven beautifully, just read Revelation 21:3-7. If it’s not good, then God’s not done.
Benefits of Heavenly Citizenship
Being a citizen of heaven is a wonderful thing. It’s far better than being a citizen of any country here on earth. These benefits are not just for the future, but are a present reality. Let’s explore some of these benefits together.
- Access to God’s Presence
- As citizens of heaven, we have direct access to God through Jesus Christ. The veil has been torn, and we are invited to come boldly before God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
- Peace Beyond Understanding
- The peace that comes from knowing we are secure in God’s love will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, transcending all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
- Eternal Security and Hope
- Our future is secured in Christ, and we look forward to when God will make all things right again, giving us strength to endure suffering and live with an eternal perspective (1 Peter 1:4-5).
- Forgiveness of Sins
- Through Jesus Christ, we receive forgiveness of sins and freedom from condemnation. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
- Empowered by the Holy Spirit
- Citizens of heaven are equipped with the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live out God’s will, offering strength, comfort, and wisdom (Romans 8:11).
- Inheritance in God’s Kingdom
- As children of God, we are heirs to the promises of the Kingdom, including eternal life, the new heavens and earth, and all the blessings of being part of God’s family (Romans 8:17).
- The Fellowship of Believers
- Heavenly citizenship unites us with fellow believers in a global and eternal family, providing mutual encouragement, support, and accountability (Ephesians 2:19).
- A Transformed Life
- Living as a citizen of heaven means being conformed to the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit, leading to transformation in our hearts, minds, and actions (Romans 12:2).
- A Secure Future
- Heavenly citizens are promised a future free from fear and worry, where God will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death, mourning, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
Heavenly citizenship is our identity, influence, and inheritance as Christians in God’s eternal kingdom. We become citizens when we embrace God’s love for us through Jesus and allow that love to permeate everything we do. It changes our character traits and attitude. It results in blessing and life.
We have this assurance about our heavenly citizenship. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Amen.
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Building a Bible Study Routine Guide
Want to build a Bible study habit? Sign up for our monthly newsletter and we will send you our free Building a Bible Study Routine Guide. You’ll discover your ideal Bible study method and create a customized schedule. Plus, much more.
Here is what you can expect as a Bible Wonderlife subscriber:
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