Righteous country (part 1): 'Citizens of Heaven'

(In the beginning of the year, I started my blogging articles by explaining subjects on the Kingdom of God as mentioned in Matthew 6:33. This series constitutes the end of this year's theme)

We were made righteous through Jesus Christ and no amount of work from our side will compensate or equate the price value of our righteousness, which is a free gift (ref. Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:17).

Therefore, as we become righteous, what happens next?

I was born again in 1997, but due to the absence of solidified teachings to build my life, I only discovered my purpose three years later. Every day, millions of individuals surrender their lives to Jesus by listening to His Good news message and what follows their decisions bears a strong influence on their purpose.

A good clarification hold strength within one of my favorite analogy comparing ‘righteousness’ with an ‘earthly citizenship’:

I see 'Righteousness' as a new citizenship vested on you and stating that you belong to a territory called Heaven where the King is God. We never worked to acquire righteousness just like a new born baby born in America never paid any money to become an American citizen.

As the years evolve, the new born baby grows up and abides to an American lifestyle such as attending school, paying tax, voting during elections, respecting the law, etc… The American baby turned adult, lives an American lifestyle, not to earn a citizenship, but simply because it is what ‘Americans do’. No amount of actions will make him earn, or deserve the American citizenship he obtained freely. Living the American life, is what Americans do (period).

Analogically, Jesus saved us and through him we acquire righteousness. No amount of deeds on our side can pay for the free gift obtained. After we are saved, we have to adopt a new lifestyle belonging to the Heaven Culture dominated by a constitution also known as the ‘will of God’ for our life. We adopt new course of action, not because we want to be righteous but because doing the ‘will of God’ is what righteous people do!

Your Righteousness should be worn on you, in the same way you would carry your earthly nationality.

Regardless of how uncomfortable this discussion may look, frankness prevails. What do we tell a young fourteen year old man who just gave his life to Jesus and who will probably live on Earth for another seventy years? How do we guide him into the journey of his next seventy years?

Millions of new converts are stuck in spiritual cribs for lack of solidified teachings on purpose living, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and the will of God.

In Ephesians 2:9-10, Paul clearly demarcates our salvation from the deeds we ought, as righteous people, to realize:

‘For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it. God has made what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.’

In verse 9 of Ephesians 2, Paul confirms our salvation by God’s grace and in verse 10, he engages us to move onto the next phase consisting of a set of deeds or works we are called to achieve. Those deeds constitute our purpose on Earth.

Now that we are righteous in Christ, do we all know the deeds God has called us for?