From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 7:07 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: February 1 Greetings

"For our citizenship is in heaven..."  Philippians 3:20

Scripture is rich concerning this heavenly citizenship? The following are areas that, hopefully, will entice the heart to seek a greater understanding of this glorious citizenship Believers have been born into and in which we rejoice with thanksgiving.

It is a source of real joy:
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."  Luke 10:20

It promises a place of permanent residence:
"In My Father's house are many dwelling places, if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you."  John 14:2

It provides a glorious inheritance:
"...An inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."  1 Peter 1:4

There is a register kept of the names of the citizens:
"And nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."  Revelation  21:27

And what of our heavenly home; the final dwelling place of the true Believer?

It is a safe for treasures:
"...Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and were thieves do not break in or steal."  Matthew 6:20

It is the place where our glorified Christ has entered:
"But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he
(Stephen) said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'" Acts 7:55-56

It is built by the hand of God:
"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."  2 Corinthians 5:1

Obedience, the condition of entrance:
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city."  Revelation 22:14

Christ Jesus is our access.  In the list of "I AM"s of Christ we see He is the door: "Jesus therefore said to them again, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, I AM the door of the sheep.'"  John 10:7  (My Emphasis) "I AM the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved..." John 10:9 "And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand."  John 10: 28

We now live under an open heaven with free access to our Heavenly Father: "For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father." Ephesians 2:18 And,  "...we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him." Ephesians 3:12

Therefore,
"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."  Hebrews 10:22 "...By the washing of water with the Word."  Ephesians 5:26

In the world, but no of it!!  Hallelujah!  Amen!