“Understanding the Kingdom of God” Lesson 58 – Citizens not Members

We enter the Kingdom of God when we are born-again. We enter as citizens because non-citizens will not be given access to Heaven.

This lesson clarifies the difference between being a member of the Church and a citizen of the Kingdom of God. We are members of His earthly body, but we are citizens of His spiritual Kingdom.

The Church is a body. It is the Body of Christ on earth. A body has members such as fingers, toes, feet, etc. We are members “in particular” in the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

When we ask the question, “How many members do you have in your Church?” We are asking an improper question. We are not members of just a local church, but of the Church universal. We are part of the entire global body of born-again believers (the Body of Christ). But notice that no one ever asks, “How many citizens do you have in your Church?” This is simply because our religious culture is contrary to the Kingdom’s culture.

Religious thinking says, “I am a member of Pastor Jones’ Church.” Kingdom thinking says, “I am a citizen of God’s Kingdom. Pastor Jones is simply the pastor of our local assembly of believers. I am a member of the Body of Christ. I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God.”