Our Spiritual Birth Certificate

June 23, 2013 President Barak Obama’s American birth certificate has always been in question. Even the one finally produced is in question as to its authenticity. All of us that are born in the United States of America have no question as to our citizenship, because it is a matter of public record, either signed by the attending physician or state records of some kind. Besides our legal birth certificate, usually with fingerprints to prove it belongs to us, we have another “birth certificate” more authentic and lasting. It never gets lost nor destroyed. It is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life, with our name that is indelibly written by God Himself and He will not erase it (Rev.3:5). When we are “born again” (born of the Spirit), we are adopted into the family of God and the Father gives us a new name, and “it’s written down in glory.” When we are reborn spiritually we become citizens of hope - “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Ps.16:11). This hope never disappoints or shames us for believing in this hope of our citizenship (Rom.5:2-5). This hope is what anchors our minds, will and emotions in this turbulent world in which we live. Because we are not citizens of this world, but are just sojourners and strangers, we live in hope of that heavenly kingdom – our real home (I Pet.2:9-11a). Our spiritual birth certificate (the Word of God) spells out all of this – how to be born again and how to live and die in God’s kingdom. There is a blind civil rights lawyer from China who is seeking asylum in the United States for him and his family so they can be free. If he was permitted to come and desired U. S. citizenship and met all the requirements, the moment he was “naturalized” he would be free from all the laws and bonds of his former homeland and would have the benefits and protections provided to all natural-born citizens. The former laws that ruled him would no longer apply but he would be free to live and enjoy his new “homeland.” Such it is with those who have met the requirements of becoming a citizen of that spiritual kingdom – the Kingdom of God. They are free from the requirements and bonds of their former kingdom (the kingdom of darkness). In that former kingdom (Satan’s) we naturally sinned, we were born in sin and couldn’t help it. But, in our new kingdom we are free from the bondage of sin because we have been born again and have a new birth certificate. We even have a new name. Before our name was “sinner,” but now it is “the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” (II Cor. 5:21). When the Father looks at us He says, “There goes the ‘Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus’.” We have to become accustomed to our new name and that sin is no longer our master; and we must learn all about the benefits and responsibilities of our new Kingdom; and rejoice in our new birth certificate which reads: Name: The Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Time of birth: The moment I believed. Nearest of kin: The Almighty Father God and my elder brother, the Lord Jesus Christ. Telephone number: Jeremiah 33:3. Address: Kingdom of God. Future Address: Streets of Gold, Kingdom of Heaven.