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I. THE MEANS OF ENTRANCE. There are only three ways by which men can become citizens; by all three are we citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem.

1. By purchase. He who was King of that beautiful city gave up His kingdom for a season that He might buy for us an admission to it.

2. By gift. Thus God speaks to those who "take hold of My covenant, even unto them will I give in My house...a place and a name." "He that overcometh...I will write upon him the name...of the city of my God."

3. By birth. Because birth is better than purchase or gift we are born again that we should have our settlement no longer in a slavish world, but be born free.

II. THE TIME — Now. It would be much if we could say, "Our citizenship will be in heaven"; but we can affirm that it is so.

III. THE RIGHTS.

1. Immunities. Doubtless it is because there are so many immunities that heaven is generally described by negatives — no tears, dividings, sighs, temptations, conflicts, labour, sin, death. And if we could receive it all these immunities are now for us. For if Christ has borne our sins, where can there be any condemnation? What labour can there be that is not rest?

2. Privileges.

(1) It is the privilege of every citizen to be represented. Accordingly Christ has gone into the heavens to do and say what we cannot do and say.

(a) He represents us as a substitute, showing in heaven His wounds and sufferings that we may have none.

(b) As a forerunner, that we may ultimately sit where He sits, and joy as He joys.

(2) A citizen is under the laws of His own state and no other. He may appeal up to this. We are under the law of liberty, and are judged by no man.

(3) A citizen may go in and out. Is he not free of his own state? But ours is a holy liberty.

(4) A citizen has a right to go to the presence of the King. We have free access to the throne of grace.

IV. THE OBLIGATIONS.

1. Every man's heart ought to be at his own home, and if heaven be your home your heart is there. You may go up and down in the necessary things of this world, and be like the traveller in a foreign country, always gathering something you can take home. There will be nothing worth much to you which has not something of heaven in it.

2. You must be a loyal subject; and if so you will carry the glory of the kingdom to which you belong as a trust, and try to extend its influence. There will be nothing so dear to you as to make that city and its king dear to somebody.

(J. Vaughan, M. A.)

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

WEB: For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;