Pilgrams, Strangers, Sojourners We Are

We Are Pilgrims, Strangers, and Sojourners in This World

As born again believers in the body of Christ, we all can claim a position that some would bestow on only a few. As members of the body of Christ, were called to be Saints and in all actuality of our calling as adopted children of God have become pilgrims, strangers, and sojourners in this world. We have obtained an inheritance that is not of this world and an inheritance that places our citizenship in a higher place of existence than this world only.
“Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."
“1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:"
“1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?"
“1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
“Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."

The Greek word translated as saint used throughout the epistles is "hagion." It is used of believers and it designates all believers as saints. The term saint is not applied merely to persons of exceptional holiness, or to those who, having died, were characterized by exceptional acts of saintliness. In Thessalonians, "His saints" are also described as "them that believed," literally the whole number of the redeemed (all the members of the body of Christ). Seeing that we have been chosen by God before the foundation of the world and predestined to receiving adoption by Him in Jesus Christ according to God's will (Ephesians 1:4-5), we all are sanctified and beloved of God, we all have been called to be saints, we all will judge the world, and we all as children of God have a higher citizenship to a greater place than any single country on this earth. We are truly a people who are pilgrims and sojourners (temporary residents)

Jesus Christ described in his prayer for his disciples, this temporary condition that we as believers in him have achieved. As believers in Jesus Christ and the Word of God, we have received the joy of knowing the promise of our eternal life, but at the same time have positioned ourselves at the enmity of the world (enmity of those who do not believe). We have been chosen by God to obtain the same status that was Christ's, being in the world but not of this world any longer.
“John 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."

Jesus further instructed the disciples, that to place higher value on things of the world than on things of him and of God made it impossible to be a true disciple of him. In the truest sense a disciple is not only a pupil but an adherent, an imitator of their teacher. We as saints, pilgrims and sojourners, are to be imitators of Christ Jesus, and we as saints should not expect any difference of treatment by the world than was given by the world to our lord and savior. We bear the hatred of the world with the realization of the joy of the hope we have and our position we have already obtained as God's children and do so with contentment resulting from the peace God places in our hearts.
“Luke 14:26-27, 33 - 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

Let us examine what we as saints should confess of ourselves, the things we should know and believe that we have obtained, and the position we have acquired through our faith and subsequent adoption as God's children in this world.

We as saints they are actuated, moved to action, by faith and are not at home in this world.
“Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:"

We as saints we look for a heavenly city, the place we will live through all eternity with God.
“Hebrews 11:10; "10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
“Revelation 21:2, 10 - 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,”

We as saints, keep that which has been promised in view and die in faith, with hope of the resurrection (the hope those of the world do not have).
“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."

We as saints look for a heavenly country and are not mindful of this world.
“Hebrews 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, God is not ashamed to be called our God. He has prepared a city in the future (new Jerusalem) for our habitation.
“Hebrews 11:16 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."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, should esteem the reproach of Christ as being greater than the treasures of this world, in realization of the much greater reward in heaven to come and eternal life for suffering reproach as Christ did.
“Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, must be willing (if required of us) to forsake all for Christ, knowing that what ever we give up to follow Christ will get blessed back one hundred times what we gave up. We will also be rooted in our inheritance of everlasting life.
“Matthew 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, are to spend our time here in sojourning (temporarily residence) in fear (reverence, respect, and love of God). The end result of which being that our faith and hope might be in God who raised Christ Jesus up from the dead for our salvation.

“1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, should shine as lights in the world, Holding forth the Word of life in the middle of a crooked and perverse nation. The light we manifest is a mere token of the light we will live in when we arrive in heaven.
“Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, are exposed to the same persecution our lord and master Christ Jesus was given.
“John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
“John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, should abstain from fleshly lusts.
“1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, should have our treasure in heaven. That which we set in our hearts to be our treasure is that which is the controller of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. If our heart is set on gaining more and more of what the world values, we will loose out on many possibilities we encounter in life to gain a greater reward in heaven from God for well doing as Christ Jesus exemplified in Matthew 25:31-46. The ease of this perspective of living life is made easy for us when we realize that we are already dead and our life is hide with Christ Jesus in God and that when Christ who is our life shall appear we will appear with him in glory as well.
“Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
“Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
“Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, should not be over anxious about worldly things.
“Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"
“Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

We as saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, should long for our pilgrimage to end, we should look forward to eternal life in heaven.
“2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him."

As we saints, pilgrims and strangers in this world, proceed on our journey in this world as imitators of Christ, followers of God, and as lights in this world we walk by faith and not sight. We have been called to victory in Christ as we fight the spiritual battle against the darkness of the world. As we walk the Word of God and apply it in the situations we encounter in life, we will always overcome all temptations toward attitudes and behaviors that would robe us of the treasures in heaven (rewards from God) that can and will be ours for exemplifying by our lives Christ to others. The world can no longer see Jesus Christ in person, it can only see Jesus Christ in us through our behaviors and actions. We can preach the gospel for all we are worth, yet if we do not exhibit Christ likeness in our lives our words are wasted. When we walk this earth as pilgrims and strangers as our lord and savior Christ Jesus did, then we will see the daily increase in the church, we will see fruit produced in our lives, and we will truly know the peace of God that passes understanding in our minds.

As Paul said in the epistle to the Philippians:
“Philippians 1:21-24, 27-28 - 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 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; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God."

The exhibit of our lives as saints, pilgrims and strangers in the world is needful for the work of the ministry of reconciliation we have received to bring others to Christ. And we can surely live in nothing terrified by our adversaries.