“CSI: CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL IDENTITY”
“What’s Your Address?”
July 3, 2005
Intro: Recap last week; “Who are You?” We were dead in sin; God made us alive in Christ.
Today we are going to look at what happens in our lives in terms of our living conditions since we are new in Christ.
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:6 (New International Version)
The idea that God raised us up with Christ is that he brought us to life as we looked at last week in verse 5.
It means a hope for our future; and an experience with God in our present.
As a result of what God has done in our lives, we are now aliens in the world we live in.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world….” 1 Peter 2:11 (NIV)
Peter in writing this reminds followers of Christ that we are not to find our values and our fulfillment in this world because we are to look to the Kingdom of God as our ultimate home.
This language was rich for first century believers who were held captive in Roman bondage. It also had great significance for Jews of the day because they had lived for years as people without their own land and as travelers through other territories.
The image is that we are not to be comfortable in our surroundings because they are not our final destination.
*** Scene from “Men in Black”
You see, as much as aliens may try to fit in, there is just something not right about what’s inside. It doesn’t match the world around us.
As followers of Christ, we are aliens in our own society.
Today we want to look at two significant aspects of this new “address” for Christians.
1) Where Christ has moved us and
2) What does that mean for us now?
I. Our New Address
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:6 (NIV)
The significance that we are now seated with Christ is that we are spiritually at home with God.
It means that God has placed in us the peace and assurance that we belong to Him and that He has placed us in His presence through Jesus.
“But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ!”
Philippians 3:20 (The Message)
As citizens of Heaven, we are entitled to the full rights of a child of God.
Citizens in the ancient world were given the rights and privileges to citizenship of their home country even as they traveled. Romans citizens, who were away from Rome, were not beaten when arrested, were safe from thieves for fear of Roman retribution, and were never allowed to be put to death. This gave them freedom to live in peace and security even away from home.
God has done the same thing for us. While we are away from home, Heaven, we are given the privilege of a citizen of Heaven. God has even given us His Spirit to ensure our protection and our safety.
“Now 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. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (NIV)
Paul is pointing out that we are living physically in a temporary tent, but God has built for us an eternal home.
In other words, our bodies are fading away and our spiritual house is standing firm.
God has changed our spiritually dead life for an eternally alive life through Jesus Christ.
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…..Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
Colossians 1:13; 21-22 (NIV)
What God has given us is a change of citizenship.
*****Illustration- Elva Hagan
The problem was, Elva thought she was a citizen but she wasn’t. She had done all the things a citizen does, except go through the process to become a citizen.
Application: There are two key questions that must be asked at this point:
1) Have you experienced a change of citizenship in your life from a simple earthly life to an eternal spiritual life?
2) Do you as a follower of Christ live as a citizen of Heaven or of Earth?
II. Our Daily Life
The change of citizenship for our lives not only has consequences and privileges in the life to come, but it has expectations and benefits for our life today.
Paul. In writing to the church at Colosse, a church surrounded by a pagan culture, had these words for the believers:
“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. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” Colossians 3:1-11(NIV)
The attitude of our life is to reflect the citizenship of our soul.
Paul points out to us that we should live our lives to reflect the heart of God.
Our life should have an eternal focus.
Paul reflects a major theme of New Testament writers: changed hearts equals changed actions.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV)
“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17 (NIV)
We must begin to live lives that reflect the desire of God.
Paul writes not only about not doing evil things, but tells us what things we should do.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
The action Paul describes our relational attitudes between believers.
The key factor to the change in our lives is that God’s love and God’s Spirit now dwells in us. Look at the differences between the world we live in and the life of the believer.
Is the world compassionate, kind, gentle or patient? And most of the time, neither are we. But God has called us to live by a different standard.
It is in our relationships with one another that we are able to influence those who do not know Christ.
“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35 (The Living Bible)
The love of God shown through our lives makes us different from the world around us.
“It is not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters.”
Mother Teresa
People can argue with you the “unknowns” of God; they cannot argue how God has changed your life.
Our new address calls us to live changed lives because we have a new focus.
Some Questions to Answer:
1) Have you received new “citizenship” by experiencing a relationship with Jesus Christ?
If you have never been changed in your heart to live in relationship with Jesus, you can do that right now. Please pray this prayer with me and ask Christ to come into your life.
Dear Jesus,
I ask you to come into my life and forgive my sin. I pray that you would help me to live for your kingdom and not for earthly kingdoms. I ask you to help me to understand what it means to be a citizen of Heaven. Thank you for loving me so much to change my spiritual address. Amen.
2) Has your life been changed because you have an eternal focus?
Maybe you already have a relationship with Jesus, but you aren’t living the life he has called you to live. Maybe, you are stuck in the same old pattern as before. Today, ask Christ to help you begin to live the changed life he has for you.
Dear Jesus,
I ask you to help me to live a life that would honor you. Help me to live as an alien to this world and as a citizen of heaven. Help me to focus on the eternal nature of life and not the temporary things. Help me to be a reflection of your live and of your grace. Amen.
Today as we receive our offering and respond to God’s word, I would invite you to let us know of any decision you have made today to follow Christ. Please mark your Countryside Response card so we may be able to contact you and help you understand what it means to have a new life in Christ and to live it out everyday.
