The Royal Birthright of Every Church Age Believer

 Tod Kennedy, 1996

The birthright (the right or privilege to which a person is entitled by birth, American Heritage Dictionary) of every citizen of a country is the national heritage, national purpose, and reason for national courage. The birthright belongs to each citizen because he is a citizen. The value of the birthright depends of course upon the value and credibility of that nation.

Every church age believer is a citizen of heaven, our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). The Father has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved son (Colossians 1:13). We are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26). We are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 3.9).

We have, therefore, a spiritual birthright. God has given to every believer in the church a royal heritage, a royal mission, and a reason for royal courage. This threefold birthright is a foundation for living the Christian way of life (Philippians 1:27-30).

1. Our royal birthright heritage is summarized in Philippians 1:27, that you are standing firm in one spirit (sthkete en eni pneumati). This refers to our unique oneness or commonness of spiritual life in Christ. The Holy Spirit works Bible truths in each believer and so makes the body of Christ.

1.1. In Christ heritage: every believer is in union with Christ and a son of God (1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:13-22, John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17; 1 John 3:1-2).

1.2. Word of God heritage: this is our absolute truth and authority; God revealed and inspired his word. We communicate it. It is our spiritual food (Psalm 19:7-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

1.3. Blessings of God heritage:

1. God made us winners or victors:

1 We are spiritual aristocracy (1 Peter 2:9)

2 We possess spiritual wealth (2 Corinthians 8:9; Revelation 2:10).

3 God is for us (Romans 8:31-32).

2. God gave us our spiritual position of strength:

1 Stand firm in the Lord (God) (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:8; Romans 14:4).

2 Stand firm in grace (Romans 5:2; 1 Peter 5:12).

3 Stand firm in the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1).

4 Stand firm in faith (Romans 11:20; 2 Corinthians 1:24).

5 Stand firm in Bible doctrine ((John 8:44; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:15).

6 Stand firm in the will of God (Colossians 4:12).

7 Stand firm in your spiritual freedom (Galatians 5:1).

8 Stand firm in your spiritual heritage (Philippians 1:27).

9 Stand firm against the enemy (Ephesians 6:11, 12, 14; James 4:7).

3. God gave us our spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3):

1 In God's plan--eternal, historical, and daily (Romans 8:28-30).

2 Solution to the sin problem (Ephesians 1:7).

3 New home and citizenship (Colossians 1:13).

4 New relationship (1 John 3:1-2).

5 New status (2 Corinthians 5:17).

6 Provision for living the Christian way of life (Galatians 5:17; 2 Peter 2:2-4).

7 Future destiny (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

4. God gives us physical blessings: These are the grace blessings from God for temporal life (Matthew 6:32-34; Philippians 4:19).

2. Our royal birthright mission is summarized in the Philippians 1.27, striving together for the faith of the gospel (mia quch sunaylountev th pistei tou euaggeliou). We actively serve together for the faith like athletes who train and compete in athletic games.

2.1. Our common mission is to spread the gospel, learn and pass on the word of God, and support believers; we honor and serve God by our common mission (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 1:14-17; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Peter 3:18; Galatians 6:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4.18, 5.11; Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14; 3.10; 5:15-18; 6:6-8; Colossians 3:17,23-24).

2.2. Our personal mission is to produce divine good through our spiritual gifts combined with the filling with the Holy Spirit and the word of God in our souls (John 15:1-5; Romans 12:21; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10; illustrated in Acts 23:11).

3. Our royal birthright courage is summarized in Philippians 1:28, in no way alarmed by your opponents (mh pturomenoi en mhdeni upo twn antikeimenwn). This spiritual courage, when used, makes us undaunted in the face of enemy attack. We have courage to fulfill our royal birthright mission because we have and believe our royal birthright heritage (Philippians 1:28; Romans 8:33-39; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5).

3.1. We live by faith--the faith rest and faith application of what you have learned from the word of God (2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 6:16; Colossians 2:6-10; Hebrews 10:38-39; 11:1-3, 6, 38-40).

1. Faith toward God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

2. Faith toward God’s word (promises, doctrines, principles).

3. Faith toward God’s plan--sovereign control, one day at a time, privilege and opportunity.

3.2. Our spiritual courage can prevent fear. Neither adversity nor prosperity need destroy our courage (John 16:33; Philippians 4:11-13; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4).