Everyone likes to be treated fairly. I'm sure, like me, you have been unfairly treated at times. Being a citizen of this privileged country, even with its laws, courts and judges etc. does not guarantee you fair treatment at all times.
But, listen and you will find out about citizen's rights guaranteed. I am very glad to have these guaranteed rights, and hope you will want to claim them too.
We take up the story in Jerusalem where an angry mob was screaming to have the apostle Paul killed! (Acts 22:22-23.) “The commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, ‘Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?’
“When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it, ‘What are you going to do? This man is a Roman citizen!’” (verses 24-26.) Paul had been born as a Roman citizen, but the commander hadn’t. He had had to pay “a big price" to become one. (verse 28.) Among the many rights all Roman citizens had, was the right to a fair trial. So, Paul's citizenship saved him from that terrible and cruel beating. The next day a proper trial was arranged before the Jewish chief priests and the whole council. (verses 29-30.)
Do you know there are citizen's rights guaranteed that could be yours today? Rights that only apply to the true “fellow-citizens with God’s people.” (Ephesians 2:19.) To become such a Heavenly citizen in this life requires the payment of a great price, that not one of us could ever afford!
But, one worthy, true Citizen of Heaven was found who was willing to pay that price in full for you! - None other than JESUS CHRIST, the SON OF GOD. The price was His own DEATH, which fully satisfied God’s justice against our sin. (2ndCorinthians 5:17-21. Romans 3:21-26.)
Do you love Jesus for that? Have you trusted Him to change your sinful life, and make you a true child of God? If you have, then your Heavenly citizen's rights guaranteed include:
# the privilege of being a true child of God (1stJohn 3:1-3.);
# the assurance of Heaven (Philippians 3:20-21.);
# the right of access in prayer to God’s throne in Heaven (Hebrews 4:14-16.);
# the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit within you (Romans 8:9-17.);
# the certainty that you no longer need to fear God’s wrath (Romans 5:8-11.).
These, and many more, are guaranteed to those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save them. (2ndCorinthians 1:20-21.)
But the rights of Roman citizenship could NOT be guaranteed! Paul found that out even in court! There the High Priest unjustly insulted and injured him in a mock trial. (Acts 23:1-5.)
Read Acts chapter 22, verse 22 to chapter 23, verse 5.
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