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Why did God Love Jacob but Hate Esau?

Matthew Schoenherr
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Why did God Love Jacob but Hate Esau?

In Malachi 1, the Lord declares “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated…” Wait, what? How can God hate Esau if God is love? And why would He love Jacob? Wasn’t Jacob deeply flawed?

The answer is two-fold.

First, on a personal level, God—being outside of time—knows the life decisions each one of us will make of our own free will. He saw the lives of Jacob and Esau before the foundation of the world and knew the directions they would choose. He knew Jacob’s heart would be His, just as He knew Esau would remain a carnal man.

Our choices are completely of our own free will. Otherwise, we would be predestined robots, manipulated into error or salvation by God as He controls our lives and outcomes. Yes, there are times when God intervenes, but we have the tendency of sticking God with everything that happens to us. We seem to forget we 1) live in a fallen world, 2) we have a spiritual enemy who hates us and seeks to steal, kill and destroy, 3) we make bad choices and 4) we can be affected by others’ bad choices.

So, God didn’t force Jacob into spiritual communion with Him, no more than He forced Esau to remain base. God knew in advance the courses they would take, so maybe His affections were based upon that foreknowledge?

During their reunion, Esau tries to reject Jacob’s bribes by saying, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” (Genesis 33:9, 36:1-43) It appears God had prospered Esau personally!

Well, maybe the problem is with how we understand the word “hate”. We find another confusing use of “hate” in Luke 14:26 where Jesus says if we don’t hate our mother, brother, father, sister, spouse, children—even our own lives—we can’t be His disciples. If we don’t understand the meaning of “hate” in this instance means “love less”, we can come up with all sorts of error. Yes, God is love and yes, He so loved the world He sent His only Son while we were yet sinners.

Did God hate Esau personally? I don’t think so. This brings us to the second part of the answer.

If we carefully read Malachi 1 and Romans 9, we see these references are national in nature. Sprinkled across the Old Testament, we see Jacob and Esau’s descendants striving against each other. In the generations following their tenuous reunion, we find Esau’s bloodline (Edom) under Israelite rule (Israel, of course, being Jacob’s bloodline.) This inverted relationship where the older serves the younger was prophesied in Genesis 27:29. Edom grew rebellious and bitter, even helping Israel’s enemies at times. For instance, when the Edomites assisted in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC (Psalms 137:7; Obadiah 1:11-14). Due to their wickedness and rebellion, God eventually curses Edom (Isaiah 34:5-8; Jeremiah 49:7-22; Obadiah 1:1-14).

This brings us full circle now back to Malachi 1, where God speaks directly to the effects of this curse against Edom: “…and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals. Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever. You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great—even beyond the borders of Israel.'”

So, you see, God’s approval or disapproval goes way beyond a single generation. God sees the fruit of our lives, generations from now. Though they too fell under God’s judgment due to their own wickedness, within Israel there was always a remnant who was loyal and faithful to God. Edom turned against their “brother” Israel and brought God’s curse upon themselves. When God made His covenant with Abraham, one of the terms He declared was, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” (Genesis 12:3)

And so, God has loved Jacob, but Esau He has hated.

Spiritual Guilt and Shame: Causes and Effects

Guest Contributor
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Spiritual Guilt and Shame: Causes and Effects

Let’s talk about spiritual guilt and shame.

Specifically, what factors cause them? How do they affect our state of being? But the best part is, how can we deal with them?

Let us know what the Bible says.

What Are The Causes?

Insecurities

“No one is perfect” – we all know and accept that. We have personal flaws that make us insecure.

Take, for example, heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or asexuality. With any of these, we misplace attraction toward the same or opposite sex. As such, we go through a gender crisis.

What does the Bible say about this?

According to 1 Timothy 1:10 (ESV), “homosexuality” is “contrary to sound doctrine.” With this, we find ourselves guilty before God.

Darling sins

Admit it or not, each one of us has guilty pleasures or what we call “secret sins.” It may be in the form of greed, lust, addiction, envy, or jealousy.

Too much love for food is an example. Unfortunately, it is against the biblical principle of temperance: “But I discipline my body and keep it under control” (1 Corinthians 9:27, ESV).

Also, lust is a mortal sin. It results in sexual urges that may lead to adultery and covetousness. These acts are a transgression of God’s law in Exodus 20.

Eventually, according to Romans 8:6 (ESV), when flesh governs the mind, it leads a person to death. However, when the Spirit dwells in him, there is life and peace.

how to pray against addiction

Broken relationships

We, humans, are social beings. Because of this, relationships such as family and friends serve as our core. When any of these ties break, we end up in major trouble.

For instance, in a romantic breakup, the one at fault usually takes the guilt. But even the victim feels shameful knowing that he just failed a relationship.

Meanwhile, Colossians 3:18-25 (ESV) has counsel for family members. That is, they should love and obey each other.

Why?

“For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done.” And “there is no partiality.”

Seriously?

For someone coming from a broken family, that passage sounds like a dreadful consequence or punishment. Hence, he feels like he owes his life to God.

How Do They Affect Us?

We feel unworthy of forgiveness.

Because of guilt and shame for our sins, we feel unworthy of divine forgiveness. We think that there is no more hope. Worse, we believe that God is already done with us.

As a result, we doubt ourselves and our potential to change. Also, our self-esteem decreases. It makes it difficult for us to relate with other people.

Isolation serves as our escape.

Spiritual guilt and shame make us think that God won’t accept us anymore. Also, we feel like the world is against us. It’s as if no one cares about us.

As such, we detach ourselves from things and people. By doing so, we get a sense of escape from the problem.

Depression and anxiety haunt us.

When we spend time alone, depression and anxiety are difficult to resist. It’s because, during this state, everything in our minds is negative.

Even the happiest memories can’t make us feel better. The burden is so heavy that the mental state is at a bottomless pit.

With this, we develop a fear of the future and life at large. Even more, we get anxious about heaven or hell.

We suffer from a mental disorder.

Depression and anxiety result in a mood swing. That is, we go through sudden changes of emotion.

Also, we are likely to develop trauma. The pain and memory of the past bother us because we can’t easily erase them. As a result, it’s not easy to accept the current situation.

Worse, it affects our personality and behavior. For instance, we become paranoid about the things and people around us.

He tends to punish himself.

According to Ezekiel 18:20 (ESV), “the soul who sins shall die.”

Isn’t it frightening?

With this, guilty as we are, we think that life is not worth living anymore. After all, we will die. So why not end life once and for all?

How Can We Escape From Them?

Acknowledge sin.

Acceptance is the first step towards change. That is, we must acknowledge that we have done wrong to God or a person.

By doing so, we let go of our past and start anew.

Come to God and confess everything.

“Come to me, all who labor and are [heavily] laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, ESV). What a comforting assurance from God, isn’t it?

So, let’s take the opportunity to confess it all upon Him.

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13, ESV).

More than a friend, God is always willing to listen. He is ready to forgive a repentant sinner.

Ask for the Holy Spirit.

After confessing our sin, let’s ask for the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (ESV) states, “Repent…for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit convicts us whenever we encounter temptation. As such, we can overcome sin.

Turn away from sin.

In our human efforts, we can never win over sin. Only through the power of God can we stand victorious.

For this, Romans 12:2 (ESV) reminds us not to conform to the ways of this world. Instead, let God transform and renew our minds.

Abide in Christ.

Spiritual change is not only for a day or two. Instead, it is a lifestyle of developing a mature relationship with Him.

With this, John 15:4 (ESV) tells us, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.”

So, let us remain connected with God.

how to pray against addiction

We Want To Hear From You

Did you find this article insightful? If so, what have you learned? And what are your takeaways? Let us hear from you.

Heroes 2 is a Bible trivia game released by the Hope Channel. It is a sequel to the game, Heroes, which was released in 2013. The latest game version is on its new 3D animation, comes with unique features, and has more challenging Bible questions in four languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. The game is available on both iOS and Android.

What is the Romans Road to Salvation?

Matthew Schoenherr
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What is the Romans Road to Salvation?

What is the Romans Road? The Romans Road (sometimes referred to as the Romans Road to salvation) is a way of using only the book of Romans in the New Testament to explain 1) our need for salvation and 2) God’s answer to that problem through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Romans Road can be a great tool for evangelizing unbelieving truth seekers. Sometimes, young or immature believers can struggle with their faith, especially after succumbing to temptation. They may ask, “How do I know if I’m saved?” The Romans Road to salvation can be helpful in reassuring them of their salvation. Share the Romans Road with a loved one today!

This version of the Romans Road uses more verses than is necessary to lead someone in an understanding of salvation. For instance, you may not need to cover both Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23 when simply starting with Romans 3:23 would suffice. Romans 10:10 could also be considered to be repetitive.

In this video the Scriptures used are as follows:

  • None are righteous, no, not one. (Romans 3:10)
  • All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
  • But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
  • The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
  • There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
  • If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
  • For with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:10)
  • Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:11, 13)

Call on Him today!

Whispers of the Enemy

Guest Contributor
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Whispers of the Enemy

Whispers of the enemy…
To our soul…
His name is PRIDE.

Sometimes Pride will say
O you are strong. DO NOT tell anyone your struggling they will think you really do not know G-d.
The WORD says
In our weakness HE is STRONG. Share your burdens one with another. Remember in my WORD what two can do together?

Sometimes Pride will say
Don’t they know who I AM.
The WORD says
We are nothing without Him.

Sometimes Pride will say
I can do this all alone.
The WORD says
We needed a helper to strengthen our inner man and we cannot live on bread alone but upon every word that proceeds out of the mouth of G-d.

Sometimes Pride says
I need to be in the front on the top.
The WORD says
The last shall be the first and the first shall be last.

Sometimes Pride says
BUT G-d, I do everything for you. Why are you letting this happen to me?
The WORD says
In this world, you will have trial and tribulations. You will not have peace unless you find it in Me.

Sometimes Pride says
I deserve better.
The WORD says
I have to allow Satan to shift you because there are things in you that only I know and it needs to be shaken loose; remember Job. OH, one more thing: I had nothing [no sin] in me–I was sinless and remember was done to me.

Sometimes Pride says
If I can have you focus on all that is wrong with others, you will never repent.
The WORD says
One good look at the man in the mirror will tell the true story;
our eyes are window to our soul.

Sometimes Pride says
Look at all I do; after all, I can do it better than them.
The WORD says
HE did it all!!!

P.S. Oh let’s not forget Pride’s twin brother, FALSE HUMILITY.

That one has a lot to say…
Deep down inside it craves the pats on the back,
the being put upfront;
it does not get its fix until it happens.
All along smirking because it is the other side of the coin called Pride.

ddr

Hello. My name is DeeDee Russel. I am a believer and love the Lord very much. Delivered from so many things and have realized He who is forgiven much loves much. I desire to help others from the pit to the palace in Jesus’ mighty love.

Hearing the Voice of God

Bill Alderson
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Hearing the Voice of God

A critical part of spiritual maturity is developing the ability to hear the voice of God. Without it, the believer becomes part of the herd, following others who are following others. The uniqueness of each relationship with God requires the Christian to hear the gentle whisper (still small voice – 1 Kings 19:12) as He leads, directs, guides, teaches, encourages, corrects, and convicts each one who desires to know God intimately. This ability does not happen by accident, but begins with the believer recognizing that hearing the quietness of His whispers is the by-product of knowing one’s identity as a child of God. In Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

In John 6:45, “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.” Jesus was teaching His disciples that to be a learner, the very meaning of being a disciple, requires the ability to hear from God, and that this is the avenue for a deeper relationship with Him. God wanted the Jews to understand that they must be taught His ways, the avenue that allows each to walk in His paths. In reference to the future kingdom age, Isaiah said, “And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.’ For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3). To hear the voice of God in the new covenant ages, both church age and kingdom age, the believer must listen to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In Matthew 17:5, the Father spoke to Peter, James & John on the Mount of Transfiguration, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

False Teachers

In John 10:1, Jesus speaks of a door that one must enter into the sheepfold to be considered the shepherd and not some thief or robber. The reference is to false teachers, who set themselves up to the Jewish people as rabbis and prophets, but cannot hear from God and are not the true teachers. The Lord warned about these false teachers in Jeremiah 23: 1-2, “’Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!’ declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: ‘You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,’ declares the Lord”. The greatest enemy of the believer comes from within the church and not from without. Jesus is identifying the scribes and Pharisees as false teachers, having attained their positions through means other than recognition of, faith in, and reliance upon Messiah (John 10:26). The door of the sheepfold is a door of mercy and not just the occupation of high ecclesiastical office. It is the result of a heavenly commission, like the prophet in Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” The new covenant commentary on this is found in Ephesians 4:11, where Paul identifies those that God has gifted for ministry.

Like the Pharisees within the Jewish faith, Paul identifies this same phenomenon within the church as a work of Satan to destroy its foundation through false teaching and human accomplishment as opposed to the work of God in and through the believer. They make themselves look and sound like apostles of Christ, but they are really wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). This has always been Satan’s strategy, to counterfeit the goodness of God in order to destroy the work of God from within. In John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. These servants of the devil disguise themselves as “servants of righteousness”, yet they rely on man’s work and will be judged by that work (Revelation 20:12). The fullness of this work of Satan is seen in the anti-Christ, the lawless one, who is prophesied to come in the near future in Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians.

The Voice of the Good Shepherd

The ability of the believer to be led by God is directly related to his ability to hear and respond to the voice of God. According to John 10, the shepherd speaks and the sheep recognize the voice. It is the voice of the Good Shepherd, speaking to each believer and through the pastor with the heart of God (Jeremiah 3:15), feeding the people of God on knowledge and understanding. As Elijah arrived at Mount Horeb, the same area Moses had heard from God on Mount Sinai many years earlier, Scriptures reveal in 1 Kings 19:11-12 that God would not speak with him through wind, an earthquake, or a fire (the signs of God’s judgment), but the sound of a gentle whisper (still small voice in KJV). He was teaching the people of God that He will speak in quiet whispers and not an audible voice that all can hear. God wishes His people to develop an ability to hear His voice as He speaks in the quietness of the details of life and not by the fire and brimstone through which He had been known.

To hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, the believer must recognize His authority just as the sheep recognizes the authority of the shepherd. The shepherd has demonstrated His willingness to lay His life down for the sheep and therefore can be trusted in everything. His voice is reliable and is able to fulfill every promise He makes. In Psalm 29:4-5, “The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.” The new covenant believer learns to trust His voice since He always speaks the truth and wishes to lead the flock in safe places.

The Shepherd and the Sheep

The 23rd Psalm may be the most recognizable passage of Scripture. It speaks of the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep (believer) and the work of the shepherd in the believer’s life. It is undeniable that Jesus had this passage in mind when he spoke of the shepherd and sheep in John 10. The Psalm gives the believer great insight into the profound relationship that exists between shepherd and believer creating the confidence of the believer that, when the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (I shall want of nothing). It speaks of the commitment that the Lord has to the believer in all points of life, including the very face of death. Recognizing the full commitment that the Lord has in the believer’s life is foundational to listening and hearing the Lord as He leads the believer through the details and challenges of life. When the Lord speaks, He speaks with full authority and the believer can expect that what He promises, He is also able to do and will do (Ephesians 3:20).

Believers are Doers

46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  (Luke 6:46-49)

Once the voice of God is heard, it becomes necessary for the believer to act on that voice. Jesus’s brother, James warns us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). The very foundation of faith is a willingness to act, to do what God has commanded. In James 1:22-24, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” The confidence the believer has in his own faith in who Jesus is and what He accomplished is directly related to his conviction to act on what he has heard.

The Bible Still Speaks

Thirty-six years ago, I was invited to a Bible study at an elementary school in Framingham, MA by a business friend. That night was the beginning of a long relationship I’ve had with the ministry now known as Greater Grace World Outreach. The name of the ministry at the time was “The Bible Speaks”. That’s kind of a strange name; ministries do not usually have a verb in their name! But as I listened more and more to Pastor Carl Stevens teach, his ability to quote Scripture, and speak truth to my heart, the name made a lot of sense. The Bible does speak and I was hearing that certain sound.

Since that initial experience, I have recognized God’s call on my life to go to Bible college and become ordained as a pastor in this ministry. This journey has included a series of major challenges of life that seemed to accompany the things I was being taught in the classroom. God was bringing to life the Biblical truths I was now learning and to accept them as true, not just theologically, but personally. It has taken the extended classroom of the details of my life to make them real in a personal sense. Through this process, the Word of God comes alive and I am now able to hear Him personally speak to me through the thoughts that he whispers to my spirit. No longer are they idle thoughts, but his voice is directing me in the details of life by the Holy Spirit. In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of Christ”.

The public ministry of Jesus centered on His teaching the masses and the twelve. As the mediator of a new covenant, He was bringing new understanding to the Scriptures as He revealed Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God. The Jewish leadership of His day completely rejected His claim to deity and therefore all of His words. There is a great picture of this process in Mark 2:1-12. A paralytic is lowered into a crowded room where Jesus was teaching, looking for a healing. Jesus observed the effort of the four men to get that paralytic before Jesus and told the man his sins were forgiven. The reaction of the scribes in the room was predictable, accusing Jesus of blasphemy. To confirm the authority of His words, Jesus said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home” after healing him. When the hearer recognizes the authority of the word written or spoken, it has supernatural power. Paul observed this attitude with believers in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, that they received the word spoken from the pulpit as if God spoke it directly.

God promised the Jews that they would walk in His ways and it would be well with them if they would, “obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people”. Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated obey have the basic meaning of ‘listening closely with the intention to obey”. When the Jews did not incline their ear to God’s words, they went backwards (Jeremiah 7:23-24). This principle holds just as true for the New Testament believer as well.

In the church age, believers have the distinct advantage of living in a new covenant, secured by the completed work of Christ on Calvary’s cross. We also enjoy access to the full canon of Scripture which affords us a deeper understanding of the character and nature of God through the doctrines addressed and further defined in both the Old and New Testament. In 2Timothy 3:16, Paul addresses all Scripture as “inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness”. The study of Scripture doctrinally (teaching by category) brings the believer into a more in-depth comprehension of His thoughts on a particular subject. This approach to the Word of God has always been a framework of our ministry in bringing believers to hear His voice.

One of the verses regularly emphasized by our founding pastor is 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent [spoudazo – to make every effort to do one’s best] to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately [correctly] handling the word of truth”. The fulfillment of God’s life in each believer is related to diligence and a willingness to pursue, to seek after truth and attention to accuracy is a critical part of the process.

In Deuteronomy 5:24, Moses says, “Behold, the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives”. The reference is to Moses hearing the voice of God from Mount Sinai and receiving the Law in Exodus 20, but it also speaks to His voice in the midst of the fires of man’s living experiences – and he still lives. To hear the voice of God is to recognize His greatness and glory.

The Bible still speaks! Are you listening?

Citizenship in the Kingdom of God

Bill Alderson
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Citizenship in the Kingdom of God

With the unrest our country is facing as it relates to government elections and law enforcement, it is important that Christians understand citizenship. As one born and raised in America, I was taught that we had a civic responsibility to our various government agencies, including voting in elections, serving on jury duty, and behaving as a good neighbor to my fellow citizens. Thomas Jefferson said, “God… has formed us moral agents… that we may promote the happiness of those with whom He has placed us in society, by acting honestly towards all, benevolently to those who fall within our way, respecting sacredly their rights, bodily and mental, and cherishing especially their freedom of conscience, as we value our own.” The degree that one exercises good citizenship is directly related to his perception of the value he places on that entity. Government works well when the people believe it operates justly and with a sense of the common good.

For the Christian, this principle occupies an important place in his relationship with God. Philippians 3:20 tells us that, “our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”. In recognizing heaven as our true home, we consciously admit that our connection to this world is temporary and our hope in His second coming is paramount in our lives. Paul teaches that the enemies of the cross have “set their minds on earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19). Heavenly citizenship frees us from the bondages of this world system by learning how to set our minds on God’s interests through a faith economy. Peter was challenged by Jesus in Matthew 16:23 to “get behind me, Satan” when Peter rebuked God’s plan that His Beloved Son would suffer and die. Jesus told him, “you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”; he had not yet recognized his citizenship.

Kingdom Allegiance

When a person becomes a Christian, he is spiritually transferred, translated from this world kingdom to God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). He is then challenged into making decisions about his allegiance to God while the world seeks his full devotion. It is a question of citizenship. Spiritual warfare governs this process as the god of this world entices the believer to surrender to his resident desires. All the while, God encourages him to “lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:22-24). The new self is his recognition of his new citizenship.

King David understood his citizenship when he wrote Psalm 15. Scholars don’t know the occasion that caused him to write it, but we know that he contemplates what it looks like to “dwell on Your holy hill“:

1 O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Walking with Integrity

David defines by inspiration what true citizenship in Zion (heaven) looks like. This person walks with integrity, works righteousness, speaks truth, treats his neighbors with respect, and honors those who fear (reverence) the Lord. The mindset of a citizen unleashes a deep work of the Spirit within the believer to transform his walk to align itself with the will and purposes of God. As a result, the heavenly citizen “will never be shaken”. Not only will he enjoy fellowship in the Lord’s presence, but he will also experience divine blessing and security.

David’s prayer in Psalm 17:15, “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.” This was in direct contrast to the wicked, “whose portion is in this life”, who cannot recognize the value of a heavenly citizenship. God promises a satisfied, unshaken mind with His presence.

Ambassadors of Heaven

The Apostle Paul testifies that our heavenly citizenship makes us ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). This Greek word, presbeuo speaks of a mature person or delegation commissioned to deliver a certain message. That message is “the word of reconciliation” and it is ambassadors of Christ whom the Father use to reconcile the world to Himself, “not counting their trespasses against them” (verse 19).

Many of America’s founding fathers recognized the importance of a moral and religious people as necessary to the ultimate success of our nation. John Adams said it this way, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” As citizens of heaven, the devout believer represents the perfect fabric of a society founded on the principles of individual rights that come from God and must be upheld by the government they acknowledge.

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