Upon our baptism, we become citizens of the Kingdom of God, and as Colossians 1:13 states, the Father has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. In Philippians 3:20, Paul describes our heavenly citizenship, noting that we are citizens of the state which is in heaven, from where we earnestly await the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. The Greek word used here is *politeuma*, from which we derive our words politics and polite, with its root *poli* meaning a city, suggesting that one's community influences behavior and interactions. Paul implies that this spiritual community, this divine fellowship, should be the source of our general course of manners, behavior, and deportment, especially with respect to morals. As citizens of this heavenly Kingdom, our loyalty to it places constraints on us, requiring us to promote the interests, culture, position, standards, and overall will of our heavenly homeland, as Paul further describes us as ambassadors for Christ in II Corinthians 5:20.

In Philippians 3:20, the Greek word *politeuma* (G4175), from which the term politics is derived, indicates citizenship. Before God's calling, our citizenship was tied to the place of our birth, where we grew up, voted, and directed our patriotic feelings and efforts. However, through God's calling, a spiritual separation occurs, producing a legal transfer of citizenship for Christians. This transfer is reinforced by Paul in Colossians 1:12-13, emphasizing that our citizenship now lies in the Kingdom of God. As a result, we are legally responsible to God to live our lives as strangers or aliens in a foreign land, placing higher priority on the laws and activities of this new nation, the Kingdom of God, in all aspects of our conduct.

In Philippians 3:20, the concept of citizenship is highlighted through the Greek term *politeuma* (G4175), which is translated as commonwealth or citizenship. This term encapsulates the idea that wherever our citizenship lies, it must be the central focus of all our actions and life direction. While we may hold earthly citizenship in various nations and take pride in fulfilling those roles, our ultimate priority, as directed by God, must always be the Kingdom of God. When conflicts arise between the demands of an earthly kingdom and the heavenly Kingdom, the latter must take precedence with the highest priority. The verb associated with *politeuma* in this context carries an intense emphasis on the present, indicating that our citizenship is in heaven now, urging a withdrawal from lesser concerns to focus on preparation for the coming of Christ. As parents, it becomes our responsibility to guide our children toward this heavenly citizenship, preparing them for the Kingdom of God just as we prepare ourselves, ensuring that our family governance reflects this ultimate goal.