John Steward of Jesus
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Paul's Citizenship

September 12, 1985

Does Paul's Roman citizenship mean that a Christian may have any citizenship?

If Paul's life is our model, then sharp disagreements causing the parting of company are also acceptable.  (Acts 15:39)

Though Christ and other New Testament Christians neither appealed to earthly courts, nor appeared in them voluntarily, Paul used his Roman citizenship to appeal to Caesar.

Yet Paul's imprisonment is one of the longest recorded, lasting until his death.  Agrippa said Paul could have been freed if he had not appealed to Caesar.(Acts 26:32)   Perhaps Paul would have been freed by an angel if he had concentrated on his citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and had appealed only to that jurisdiction.

Dual loyalty doesn't impress one's ruler.(I Samuel 8:7,18)

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