Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

(Based on Ephesians 2)

There’s something in all of us that longs to belong. From the time we’re kids, standing in line at recess waiting to be picked for a team, to adulthood when we’re searching for community, friendships, and a sense of home—we crave belonging. No one wants to be the outsider. No one wants to feel like they’re on the edge, looking in at what everyone else seems to have.

And yet, that’s exactly the way the Gentiles—the non-Jewish believers—felt in the early church. In Ephesians 2, Paul addresses them directly. They were the ones considered “far from God.” They weren’t circumcised, which was the Jewish sign of covenant with God. They didn’t have the history, the law, the temple worship, or the promises. They were looked down on as outsiders to God’s people.

But Paul has a message for them—and for us today—that changes everything: in Christ, they were no longer strangers. They were no longer foreigners. They were full citizens of God’s kingdom. And that changes the way we live, the way we see ourselves, and the way we see the world.

Remember Who You Were Without Christ

Paul begins in Ephesians 2:12 with a sobering reminder:

“Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”

That’s heavy. Paul doesn’t sugarcoat it. Without Christ, we were separate, excluded, foreigners, hopeless, and godless. It’s not just that life was a little harder—it’s that we were spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1).

Think about your own life before Christ. Where did you look for hope? Where did you try to find peace? For many, it was in relationships, career, money, achievements, pleasure, or recognition. But the problem with all those things is that they’re temporary. Success fades. Money runs out. Relationships disappoint. Even good things can’t fill the hole in our hearts.

It’s like drinking salt water when you’re thirsty—it looks like it should satisfy, but it only leaves you emptier. That’s what life is like apart from God. We search for joy, but it’s short-lived. We long for peace, but it slips through our fingers.

And Paul says that’s exactly where we all were—outsiders, without hope, and without God.

But God Had a Plan

The best two words in Scripture might be these: “But God.”

Ephesians 2:13 says,

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

You were far away—but now you’re near. You were outside—but now you’re inside. You were excluded—but now you belong.

And how did that happen? Not by effort. Not by heritage. Not by good works. It was by the blood of Christ. Jesus willingly laid down His life on the cross so that the barrier between us and God could be torn down. His blood covered our sin, satisfied God’s justice, and opened the door for us to step into relationship with Him.

I love how Paul says in Ephesians 2:18,

“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Access. That word is huge. Before Christ, the Gentiles had no access to God’s promises or His presence. But now, through faith in Jesus, they could come boldly into the very throne room of God (Hebrews 4:16). And so can we.

The Citizenship Illustration

Let me put it this way. Imagine traveling to another country. Let’s say Canada. You can go there, enjoy the beauty, experience the culture, maybe even spend some time with the people. But no matter how much you enjoy it, you’re still not a citizen. You can’t vote there. You don’t have the rights, authority, or privileges that come with belonging.

That’s the picture Paul paints for life before Christ. We were like tourists—just passing through, able to see glimpses of God’s goodness, but without the full rights of citizenship.

But in Christ, everything changes. Paul says in Ephesians 2:19,

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.”

You hear that? No longer strangers. No longer foreigners. Fellow citizens. Members of God’s household.

When you become a citizen of a country, you gain certain rights. As citizens of the United States, for example, we have the right to vote, to receive certain protections, and to live under the authority of our Constitution. Citizenship gives you both responsibility and privilege.

In Christ, you now belong to His kingdom. You have the rights and privileges of a son or daughter of the King. You have direct access to your Father. You carry authority in His name. You have an inheritance that is secure and eternal.

Children of the King

Catch this: you’re not just a citizen—you’re family. Paul says you’re a “member of His household.” That means you’re not only under the King’s rule, you’re in the King’s family.

Think about what that means. A child of a king doesn’t worry about whether they’ll be provided for. They don’t doubt whether they belong. They walk with confidence, knowing who their father is.

Romans 8:16–17 says,

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”

That means what belongs to Jesus has been promised to us as well. We share in His inheritance. We share in His authority. We share in His eternal kingdom.

But here’s the key—you only step into that inheritance when you surrender your life to Him. It’s not about saying a quick prayer and then going on with life as usual. It’s about laying down your life and picking up His. It’s about surrendering your plans and embracing His.

Living With a Kingdom Mindset

So let me ask you—what kingdom are you living as a citizen of today?

Are you still focused on success in this world? Still chasing the temporary? Still trying to build your identity in things that fade? Or are you living with a kingdom mindset—seeing yourself as a citizen of heaven, sent here as an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)?

Here’s the reality: if you’re in Christ, this earth is no longer your home. You’re a foreigner here. Your true home, your true citizenship, is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). That means your values, your perspective, your hope, and your purpose should all flow from that kingdom.

When you understand this, it changes everything. It changes the way you face trials, because you know this world isn’t all there is. It changes the way you see people, because you want them to join you in God’s kingdom. It changes the way you use your time and resources, because you’re investing in eternity, not just the temporary.

Practical Ways to Live Out Your Citizenship

So how do we actually live this out? Let me give you a few practical ways:

1. Walk in your authority. As a child of the King, you have authority in prayer. You can speak the promises of God over your life and over others. Don’t walk in defeat when you’ve been given victory.
2. Stay connected to the household. You’re not meant to live out your faith alone. Be connected to God’s family, the church. That’s where you grow, where you’re encouraged, and where you serve.
3. Keep an eternal perspective. When challenges come, remind yourself that your home is in heaven. This trial is temporary. Your hope is secure.
4. Live as an ambassador. Represent the kingdom of God wherever you go. Show His love, His grace, and His truth in your words and actions.

A Final Challenge

Paul’s message to the Gentiles in Ephesians 2 is the same message to us today: you belong. You’re no longer an outsider. You’re no longer a foreigner. In Christ, you’re a citizen of heaven and a child of the King.

So the question is—are you living like it?

Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? Have you given Him not just your Sundays, but your plans, your dreams, your future? Are you living with a kingdom perspective, or are you still clinging to the temporary things of this world?

Today, you can make the choice to step fully into your identity in Christ. To lay down your plans and take up His. To live not as a foreigner on earth, but as a citizen of heaven.

Because in Christ, you belong.