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Believers' True Citizenship in Heaven and Earth

Believers hold a dual citizenship, identifying as citizens of heaven while living as temporary residents on earth [1, 12]. This concept is rooted in biblical texts that describe the Christian's ultimate allegiance and future hope.

The Apostle Paul explicitly states, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20 NASB) [1]. This verse highlights that the believer's true home and ultimate loyalty lie not with any earthly nation but with the heavenly realm. This heavenly citizenship implies a distinct identity and a different set of values from those of the world [12]. As citizens of heaven, believers anticipate the return of Jesus Christ, who will transform their perishable bodies into glorious ones [9].

While their citizenship is heavenly, believers currently reside on earth. This earthly existence is often characterized as a temporary sojourn, where they are "strangers and pilgrims" [13]. The Old Testament also speaks to this idea, with passages like Psalm 101:6 stating, "My eyes will be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, he will serve me" [2]. This suggests a present dwelling on earth for the righteous, even as they look toward a greater promise.

The expectation of a "new heaven and a new earth" is a significant aspect of this dual citizenship [3]. The Apostle Peter writes, "But having faith in his word, we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, which will be the resting-place of righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13 BBE) [3]. This vision, also found in Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, and Revelation 21, describes a renewed creation where God's people will dwell [5, 11]. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, also references 2 Peter 3:13 in his homilies [7]. This new creation is depicted as a place of holy perfection and a new community, a restored Garden of Eden [11]. The book of Revelation further illustrates this future reality, portraying the New Jerusalem with precious materials, signifying its divine origin and glory [6, 8]. God's dwelling among his people is a central theme in this new creation, echoing promises from the Old Testament [15].

The concept of inheriting the land is also present in the Old Testament, where the righteous are promised to "inherit the land, and live in it forever" (Psalm 37:29) [4]. John Gill interprets this as referring to the land of Canaan for the Israelites, but also points to a broader spiritual inheritance for those who are "upright in heart" [14]. This earthly inheritance foreshadows the ultimate dwelling in the new earth.

The tension between heavenly citizenship and earthly residence means that believers are called to live in the world but not be entirely of it. They are to be uncomfortable with the world's values, longing for their true home [12]. This perspective shapes their conduct and priorities, as they await the full realization of God's kingdom and the transformation of all things under Christ's control [9]. The church itself is seen as a holy temple where God dwells among his people, joining together both Jewish and Gentile Christians [10].

Sources

  1. Philippians “Philippians 3:20 (NASB) — For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”
  2. Psalms “My eyes will be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, he will serve me. -- Psalms 101:6”
  3. II Peter “II Peter 3:13 (BBE) — But having faith in his word, we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, which will be the resting-place of righteousness.”
  4. Psalms “The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. -- Psalms 37:29”
  5. 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:13: 3:13 the new heavens and new earth: See Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21.”
  6. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:21: 21:21 Things that are precious and luxurious on earth are common building materials in heaven.”
  7. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: 13:17 13:23 James 1:6 2:13 2:19 2:26 3:11 4:3 1 Peter 1:3 1:12 2:13 2:21 2:21 2:22 2:22 2:22 5:5 5:8 5:8 5:8 2 Peter 2:4 3:13 1 John 2:9 3:2 3:8 4:8 Revelation 1 1:4 1:9 1:11 1:16 1:20 2 3 3:12 14:1 14:4 14:13 15:6 20:9 22:16 Tobit 12:9 Wisdom of Solomon 1:4 1:14 11:23 11:24 14:16 Sirach 2:2 2:2 2:4 2:10 2:11 2:27 3:10-12 3:11 5:6 6:14 6:16 6:34 7:6 7:31 9:13 9:15 10:9 10:12-13 11:1 11:2 11:3 11:3 11:4 11:15 11:28 12:13 13:15 14:9 15:9 16:3 18:13 18:13 19:14-15 20:20 21:2 22:21-22 23:17 23:17 25:1 25:1 25:11 26:27 28:6 31:1 32:10”
  8. Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 21 (introduction): The new heaven and the new earth, Rev 21:1. The new Jerusalem, Rev 21:2. God dwells with men; the happy state of his followers, Rev 21:3-7. The wretched state of the ungodly, Rev 21:8. An angel shows John the holy city, the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:9, Rev 21:10. Her light, wall, gates, and foundations, described, Rev 21:11-21. God and the Lamb are the temple and light of it, Rev 21:22, Rev 21:23. The nations and kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it; the gates shall never be shut, nor shall any defilement enter into it, Rev 21:24-27.”
  9. Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 3:21: 3:21 change them into glorious bodies: See 1 Cor 15:42-54; cp. Rom 8:23. • he will bring everything under his control: See 1 Cor 15:24-27.”
  10. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:21: 2:21 Joined together in Christ, Gentile and Jewish Christians become a holy temple for the Lord, because the Lord himself is among his people (see Matt 18:20; 28:20; 1 Cor 3:16; 1 Pet 2:4-5).”
  11. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:1: 21:1–22:9 The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1 The vision involves God’s creation of the new ”
  12. 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 1:17: 1:17 Christians’ citizenship is in heaven (1:1; see Phil 3:20); they live in this world as “temporary residents” who are uncomfortable with its values and who long for their true home.”
  13. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 11:13: For they that say such things,.... That they are strangers and pilgrims on earth: declare plainly that they seek a country; heaven, so called, for the largeness of it; it is a good land, a land of uprightness; a pleasant land, a land of rest, though a land afar off; here the Father of Christ, and Christ himself, and all his people dwell: the Syriac version renders it, "their own city"; the place of their nativity, of which they were citizens: the act of "seeking" it supposes some things, with respect to the place where they were, as that they were in a strange lan”
  14. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 2:21: For the upright shall dwell in the land,.... Such as are upright in heart, who have a right spirit renewed in them; whose hearts are right with God, have the truth of grace in them; whose faith is unfeigned, their love without dissimulation, and their hope without hypocrisy; and who are upright in their lives and conversations; these being Israelites according to the flesh, as well as Israelites indeed in a spiritual sense, shall dwell in the land of Canaan, which the Lord promised to such, and which good men enjoyed by virtue of it: or the sense is, that such shall”
  15. Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 29:45: I will dwell among the children of Israel - This is the great charter of the people of God, both under the Old and New Testaments; see Exo 25:8; Lev 26:11, Lev 26:12; Co2 6:16; Rev 21:3. God dwells Among them: he is ever to be found in his Church to enlighten, quicken, comfort, and support it; to dispense the light of life by the preaching of his word, and the influences of his Spirit for the conviction and conversion of sinners. And he dwells In those who believe; and this is the very tenor of the New Covenant which God promised to make with the house of Israel; s”
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