Strangers and pilgrims

: Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

The word city is polis ^[1] in the Greek.

Jesus uses the same word in Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." He is instructing his apostles and followers to be that light and city as he continues in Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

The people of Israel were pilgrims and strangers but Hebrews is talking about the city that actually is given us, not as a location but as something to be a part of.

Hebrews 12:22 "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant..."

Jesus appointed His Church to be the Benefactors of the people with out exercising authority one over the other. They cannot do this without the people taking back the responsibility of being the children of God and the citizens of His city of light.

Separating oneself from the world does not keep us from being strangers to God.

We are given clues as to how to prepare ourselves for His citizenship in Hebrews 13:12, 16:

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

The early Christians did not just separate themselves from the world but where a government of love expressing that love through the Daily ministration of righteousness through the daily sacrifice of their charity.

Paul tells us that in Philippians 1:27:

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

The word "conversation" is politeuomai ^[2] which means "to be a citizen" which means "to administer civil affairs" of that city of light.

We are told in Philippians 3:20:

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"

The word conversation here is again politeuma^[3] which is defined "the administration of civil affairs or of a commonwealth".

Christ preached a kingdom, a government, where men were not bound by oaths and contracts but by coming together in one accord through love of one another.

This is why we see in Ephesians 2:19, 22:

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Many think they have come out but that command was to His peoplewho were already walking in the citizenship of God the Father fitly framed together ... unto an holy temple in the Lord.

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. " Revelation 18:4

There is no point in claiming to have come out if you are not diligently walking in the ways of Christ and His appointed Church. Those who say they are His people but have not repented nor are they administering civil affairs of His kingdom and city of light fall short of the Gospel of the kingdom.

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== Footnotes ==

↑ 4172 ~πόλις~ polis \@pol’-is\@ probably from the same as 4171, or perhaps from 4183; n f AV-city 164; 164 1) a city 1a) one’s native city, the city in which one lives 1b) the heavenly Jerusalem 1b1) the abode of the blessed in heaven 1b2) of the visible capital in the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world by fire 1c) the inhabitants of a city
↑ 4176 ~πολιτεύομαι~ politeuomai \@pol-it-yoo’-om-ahee\@ middle voice of a derivative of 4177; v AV-live 1, let (one’s) conversation be 1; 2 1) to be a citizen 2) to administer civil affairs, manage the state 3) to make or create a citizen 3a) to be a citizen 3b) to behave as a citizen 3b1) to avail one’s self of or recognise the laws 3b2) to conduct one’s self as pledged to some law of life"
↑ 4175 ~πολίτευμα~ politeuma \@pol-it’-yoo-mah\@ from 4176; n n AV-conversation 1; 1 1) the administration of civil affairs or of a commonwealth 2) the constitution of a commonwealth, form of government and the laws by which it is administered 3) a state, commonwealth 3a) the commonwealth of citizens

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Brother Gregory
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[1] 4172 ~πόλις~ polis \@pol’-is\@ probably from the same as 4171, or perhaps from 4183; n f AV-city 164; 164 1) a city 1a) one’s native city, the city in which one lives 1b) the heavenly Jerusalem 1b1) the abode of the blessed in heaven 1b2) of the visible capital in the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world by fire 1c) the inhabitants of a city

[2] 4176 ~πολιτεύομαι~ politeuomai \@pol-it-yoo’-om-ahee\@ middle voice of a derivative of 4177; v AV-live 1, let (one’s) conversation be 1; 2 1) to be a citizen 2) to administer civil affairs, manage the state 3) to make or create a citizen 3a) to be a citizen 3b) to behave as a citizen 3b1) to avail one’s self of or recognise the laws 3b2) to conduct one’s self as pledged to some law of life"

[3] 4175 ~πολίτευμα~ politeuma \@pol-it’-yoo-mah\@ from 4176; n n AV-conversation 1; 1 1) the administration of civil affairs or of a commonwealth 2) the constitution of a commonwealth, form of government and the laws by which it is administered 3) a state, commonwealth 3a) the commonwealth of citizens

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Strangers and pilgrims

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