Your Kingdom Position

There is an old phrase common among contemporary churches. “All I’ll ever be is a sinner saved by grace.” While I understand the significance of keeping in mind the helpless nature of our old selves, as well as the unmerited grace given to us through Jesus Christ, there is a limiting effect of that mentality that does not serve us well.

Far from being passive spectators barely saved from hell, just waiting until we die to experience heaven, believers are described as active citizens, heirs, ambassadors, and even co-rulers with Christ. We are not only born again for eternity, but we are also given a new identity and a new role within the extended kingdom of heaven here on earth.

Paul declared, “For our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). He was echoing the sentiment of Jesus when He was praying for His disciples and pointed out, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16). We live in this world, but we belong to another. We are merely passing through – “strangers and exiles,” the writer of Hebrews calls us (11:16) – as we represent the eternal kingdom to which we belong. This supreme identity trumps every nationality, culture, or other manmade structure. Our birth certificate may say which country we were born in, but our spiritual rebirth certificate says “heaven.”

As such, we have been adopted into God’s family. Paul explained this dynamic by writing, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:15-17).

I was adopted at birth by James and Betty Robison. They had two daughters who share their DNA, but I do not. As a child I would tease them that I was the chosen one, but our parents were stuck with them. I also pointed out that the law allowed for them to be disowned, but, as an adoptee, I could never be. My biological father’s surname was Monaghan and he was 100 percent Irish, so I do carry these characteristics, but my family is Robison. My sons and daughters were Robisons and though two lost the name through marriage, two other young women gained the name by marrying my sons. Their children are Robisons. This is who we are.

God’s adoption also grants real rights and privileges. We are no longer called by our natural, earthy names, but called by His. We still carry the characteristics of our biological birth, but our position is in a new family, with a new Father. As heirs, we are promised an inheritance that is “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4). We share in the identity and riches of Christ, both now and for eternity.

As sons and daughters, we are also representatives of our new family. Paul used the language of kingdom when he declared, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador is an authorized messenger, acting under the authority of and in unity with the leader of another government or organization. As Christians, we are authorized to proclaim the message of the God of the universe. He chooses to speak through us to reach those outside of His kingdom, but we are only effective when we convey His message accurately. In the natural, geopolitical world, if an ambassador does not convey the true message of his or her country, that person can cause global chaos and would quickly be removed from any authoritative position. When people who call themselves Christians convey anything that falsely represents God, either in word or in action, it causes great confusion and harm. While the position of ambassador is a great privilege, it is also a great responsibility and one that we should treat with great respect and attention.

The spiritual identity of Christians today parallels the old covenant identity of the Israelites. They were a people chosen by God, set apart and favored among all nations. After being rescued from slavery in Egypt, He spoke to them through Moses, “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). Of course, they failed. But God did not fail. Out of them, He brought the promised Savior, Christ Jesus, who established a new and better covenant and “made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:6).

Peter recognized the transfer of this identity in Christ to a new group of individuals. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

This “royal priesthood” indicates a dual role: believers are both royalty and priests. As royalty, we share in Christ’s kingship; as priests, we have direct access to God and are tasked with spiritual service. This position was foreshadowed in Israel’s calling and is fully realized in the church today. Paul uses further imagery to communicate this position. We are “seated with Christ” and “reign with Him.” This is to emphasize the gifts of authority, favor, and victory given by the grace God to those who belong to Christ.

Given this lofty position, we are urged to live in a manner worthy of our calling. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness,” Paul wrote, “and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). This “transfer” only becomes a reality in our lives when we are transformed. We must think as citizens of heaven, not slaves of sin. We must write the name of our Father on the identity of our lives. And we must speak and act as true representatives of His kingdom. “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).

Once you take ownership of the assignment God has appointed for you, accepting the responsibilities that come with it, you will begin to fulfill the purpose of your kingdom position.