Citizenship in Heaven
- Vessel Church
- Nov 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Philippians 3:12–21 (CSB)
“Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 3:20
There’s something powerful about knowing who you are and where you belong.
Paul writes in Philippians that we are citizens of heaven — not just someday, but right now. That truth changes everything. It shapes the choices we make, the values we hold, and the way we walk through this world.
When you know your identity, it informs your calling. And when you live out your calling, it strengthens your hope.
Our Identity: Citizens of Heaven
Paul says, “Not that I have already reached the goal... but I make every effort to take hold of it because I have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.”
Our identity is not in our achievements, our possessions, or even our nationality — it’s in Christ.
Think of it like this: when a U.S. citizen spends time abroad, they might adapt to the local culture — learn the language, enjoy the food, appreciate the beauty — but their allegiance remains elsewhere.
That’s what it means to live as a citizen of heaven on earth. We may engage with the world around us, but our loyalty, our purpose, and our home are not here.
I like to think of it the way a Bills fan might feel walking into a rival stadium — surrounded by another team’s colors, chants, and traditions, but still proudly part of Bills Mafia. That’s our identity as believers. We may be in this world, but we’re not of it.
Our Calling: Holy Resistance
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:11–12 that we are “strangers and exiles” — temporary residents in a foreign land.
The Greek words here are powerful.
Paroikos (παροικος) — a temporary resident without full rights of citizenship.
Parepidēmos (παρεπίδημος) — a sojourner, one who is just passing through.
That’s us. We’re temporary residents here, passing through a world that often doesn’t understand or share our values.
And that’s why our calling is one of holy resistance. Peter writes, “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Holiness isn’t about perfection — it’s about being set apart. It’s living with purity in relationships, humility in disagreements, and integrity at work. These aren’t small things. They are acts of holy resistance in a world that constantly tries to conform us.
When we remember that this world isn’t our home, its values stop feeling comfortable. We become strangers in a foreign land.
I was reminded of that once while traveling in Europe — wandering through narrow alleys in Venice, lost in translation, surrounded by scooters, strange street signs, and a language I barely understood. I felt out of place, vulnerable, and more than anything, homesick.
That’s how life as a believer can feel sometimes. We’re surrounded by a culture that doesn’t speak our language — spiritually speaking. But that discomfort? It’s actually a gift. It’s a reminder that we belong somewhere else.
Our Hope: A Home in Heaven
Hebrews 11 speaks of Abraham and the heroes of faith who lived as “foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.”
They longed for “a better place — a heavenly one.”
That longing we feel — that ache when we look around at the brokenness of this world — is homesickness for heaven. It’s proof that we were made for more.
When I think about moments of deep spiritual connection — like church camp, worship gatherings, or those rare moments when you can almost feel heaven touch earth — it’s like catching a glimpse of home.
We’re citizens of heaven. Our identity is there. Our calling is holy resistance. Our hope is in the home God is preparing for us.
And one day, as Paul says, Jesus will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body.
Until then, we live as citizens of heaven — representing our true King in a foreign land.
Because Jesus bought our citizenship with His blood.
Reflection Questions:
Do you live as if heaven is your true home?
Does your level of righteousness make you feel out of place in this world?
Are your daily choices shaped more by God’s Word or by the world around you?
Does your life stand out as a testimony of faith?
Closing Thought:
The discomfort we feel here is not rejection — it’s redirection. It’s God reminding us where we belong. And one day, that homesick ache will be satisfied when we finally arrive home — in His presence, forever.
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