The Bible teaches that followers of Jesus Christ are citizens of heaven. Though we live on earth now, our true home and citizenship is in heaven with God. This spiritual reality has profound implications for how we should live and view our time on earth.
The concept of heavenly citizenship originates in Philippians 3:20, where Paul says “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Greek word for citizenship here refers to a colony of foreigners living in a city. Just as the Philippians were a Roman colony living in a Greek city, Christians are a heavenly colony living on earth.
Our heavenly citizenship is made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Through faith in Christ, God grants us forgiveness of sins and citizenship in His kingdom (Colossians 1:13-14). Though we still struggle with sin, we are counted righteous before God and guaranteed an eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Being citizens of heaven changes our perspective and priorities on earth in several key ways:
- We live as spiritual foreigners in this world. Just as an expatriate retains an allegiance to their home country, we live as strangers, knowing heaven is our true home (1 Peter 2:11).
- We represent our King Jesus and act as His ambassadors on earth (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are on a temporary mission assignment reflecting His values.
- We store up treasures in heaven rather than earthly wealth (Matthew 6:19-21). Our time and resources go toward eternal rewards.
- We await our Savior’s return, who will transform us into the fullness of our heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3:20-21).
- We live holy lives worthy of our new status as children of God (Philippians 1:27). We reflect our heavenly family lineage.
Our heavenly citizenship also provides comfort and perspective when we face trials here on earth:
- We can have joy even in suffering, knowing it is temporary before the glory of heaven (Romans 8:18).
- We need not fear any earthly trouble, for we have an unshakable heavenly kingdom (Hebrews 12:28).
- We look beyond this broken world to the perfect citizenship awaiting us (Revelation 21:1-5).
At times, living as citizens of heaven can create tension with our earthly citizenship. Peter told the religious leaders, “We must obey God rather than men!” when faced with choosing between obeying God or men’s commands (Acts 5:29). As Jesus said, Christians live in the world but are not of the world (John 17:14-16).
Our earthly responsibilities do not disappear – we still obey earthly laws, pay taxes, honor authorities, and serve our communities (Romans 13:1-7). But all the while our hearts and minds are set on heaven, where Christ is seated at God’s right hand (Colossians 3:1-2).
One day, all believers will fully shed these earthly bodies to inherit our heavenly citizenship. As Paul declares, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21). What a glorious future we have to look forward to as citizens of heaven!
In summary, having citizenship in heaven means living as foreigners on temporary mission here on earth. It gives us an eternal perspective and hope beyond this life. And it calls us to live holy lives worthy of our true home. By keeping our eyes fixed on our heavenly citizenship, we can faithfully follow Jesus each day until we inherit the full riches of our citizenship in paradise.
Here are some key Bible verses about our heavenly citizenship:
Philippians 3:20-21 – But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
1 Peter 2:11 – Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
John 15:19 – If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Revelation 21:1-5 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Hebrews 11:13-16 – These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
Colossians 3:1-3 – If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
1 Peter 1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Philippians 1:27 – Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.
1 John 3:1-3 – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.