Strangers and pilgrims

The Pilgrims in America were not called pilgrims until almost two hundred years later. When someone used that term they probably drew it from Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11.

They called themselves friends and everyone else strangers.

Today, some think we are still "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" without a city. But that does not seem to be the consensus in the early Church. Of course they were doing things much different than modern Christians who seem to have lost their way or at least the way of Christ.

The early Christian had a city but was not a fixed city on the land like London or New York or LA which will crumble into the ground some day but they were a city of light and righteousness.

To find that city of light you cannot just leave the "city" you are in today you have to repent seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness striving to attend to the weightier matters according to the way of Christ.

Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

The word city is polis ^[1] in the Greek.

Jesus uses the same word in Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." He is instructing his apostles and followers to be that light and city as he continues in Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

The people of Israel were pilgrims and strangers but Hebrews is talking about the city that actually is given us, not as a location but as something to be a part of.

Hebrews 12:22 "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant..."

Jesus appointed His Church to be the Benefactors of the people with out exercising authority one over the other. They cannot do this without the people taking back the responsibility of being the children of God and the citizens of His city of light.

Separating oneself from the world does not keep us from being strangers to God.

We are given clues as to how to prepare ourselves for His citizenship in Hebrews 13:12, 16:

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

The early Christians did not just separate themselves from the world but were a government of love expressing that love through the Daily ministration of righteousness through the daily sacrifice of their charity.

Paul tells us that in Philippians 1:27:

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

The word "conversation" is politeuomai ^[2] which means "to be a citizen" which means "to administer civil affairs" of that city of light.

We are told in Philippians 3:20:

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"

The word conversation here is again politeuma^[3] which is defined "the administration of civil affairs or of a commonwealth".

Christ preached a kingdom, a government, where men were not bound by oaths and contracts but by coming together in one accord through law of love of one another. This meant they attended to the Weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith which include caring for the needs of our neighbors and the widows and orphans of our society through Pure Religion in matters of health, education, and welfare. We are NOT to provide for the needy of society through the Covetous Practices and the men who call themselves benefactors but who exercise authority one over the other like the socialists do.

The Way of Christ was like neither the way of the world of Rome nor the governments of the gentiles who depend on those fathers of the earth through force, fear and fealty who deliver the people back in bondage again like they were in Egypt. Christ's ministers and true Christians do not depend upon systems of social welfare that force the contributions of the people like the corban of the Pharisees which made the word of God to none effect. Many people have been deceived to go the way of Balaam and the Nicolaitan and out of The Way of Christ and have become workers of iniquity.

The Christian conflict with Rome in the first century Church appointed by Christ was because they would not apply to the fathers of the earth for their free bread but instead relied upon a voluntary network providing a daily ministration to the needy of society through Faith, Hope, and Charity by way of freewill offerings of the people, for the people, and by the people through the perfect law of liberty in Free Assemblies according to the ancient pattern of Tuns or Tens as He commanded.

The modern Christians are in need of repentance.

"Follow me!" —Jesus the Christ.

One of the most important things to do is to become involved in a network of Charitable Practices. Everyone should want to join a Living Network of Love and Charity.

If you think you have a calling to be a Minister of God or you might want to dedicate your life to Christ as an Ordained Minister of His Holy Church, contact us to start the process of discipleship and become the benefactors who exercise only love, NOT authority.^[4]

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This is why we see in Ephesians 2:19, 22:

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Many think they have come out but that command was to His people who were already walking in the citizenship of God the Father. They were not just saying Lord Lord^[5] but they were doing the will of the Father.^[6] It was those people baptized in water and in fire who had gathered in congregations of Elders connected in a Network of charity according to the ancient patters of tens, hundreds and thousands and were fitly framed together ... unto an holy temple in the Lord.

The ministers of Christ are the servants of Christ who serve the people in righteousness. They do not come to exercise authority one over the other. They are the living stones of His Altars and Temple who come in His name practicing Pure Religion, not the name of Nimrod practicing Public religion.

The ministers can not perform the service of the living temple of God without the loving sacrifice of the people moved by the Holy Spirit in their hearts and in their minds. The early Christians did that and because of that Christian conflict they were persecuted yet persevered. It was these people who believed in Christ and kept his commandments and it was these people whom he called My people.

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4

There is no point in claiming to have come out if you are not diligently walking in the ways of Christ and His appointed Church. Those who say they are His people but have not repented nor are they administering civil affairs of His Kingdom of God and city of light fall short of the Gospel of the kingdom.

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== Footnotes ==

↑ 4172 ~πόλις~ polis \@pol’-is\@ probably from the same as 4171, or perhaps from 4183; n f AV-city 164; 164 1) a city 1a) one’s native city, the city in which one lives 1b) the heavenly Jerusalem 1b1) the abode of the blessed in heaven 1b2) of the visible capital in the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world by fire 1c) the inhabitants of a city
↑ 4176 ~πολιτεύομαι~ politeuomai \@pol-it-yoo’-om-ahee\@ middle voice of a derivative of 4177; v AV-live 1, let (one’s) conversation be 1; 2 1) to be a citizen 2) to administer civil affairs, manage the state 3) to make or create a citizen 3a) to be a citizen 3b) to behave as a citizen 3b1) to avail one’s self of or recognise the laws 3b2) to conduct one’s self as pledged to some law of life"
↑ 4175 ~πολίτευμα~ politeuma \@pol-it’-yoo-mah\@ from 4176; n n AV-conversation 1; 1 1) the administration of civil affairs or of a commonwealth 2) the constitution of a commonwealth, form of government and the laws by which it is administered 3) a state, commonwealth 3a) the commonwealth of citizens
↑ Matthew 20:25-26 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mark 10:42-43 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Luke 22:25-26 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
↑ Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matthew 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the
↑ Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

About the author

Brother Gregory
White Rock

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