Laws Governing Citizenship

Preview: This lesson is a guide to the laws of the Bible. Since the Bible is the foundation of the legal system of all civilized nations, it is very important that matters concerning the laws be understood.


Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7:1-26.

Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 8:19.

1. What conditions were attached to God’s promises to Israel according to the foregoing Scriptures?
Note: All good and perfect things would be given to Israel if they would only trust God and obey His Commandments!
2. What was God’s warning to this newly established nation? Deuteronomy 6:12-14.
3. What did God say would happen if they failed to keep the law? Deuteronomy 6:15.
4. What was the promise to the citizens who did obey His laws? Deuteronomy 7:11-15.
5. What did He say about their relationship with other nations who did not fear God? Deuteronomy 7:16-22.
Note: Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, this applies to us today. A nation who claims to be God-fearing should not compromise with one who does not believe in God.
6. What was Israel instructed to do with the images of those ungodly nations? Deuteronomy 7:24-26.
Note: Regardless of the monetary value of these false images, Israel was told to utterly destroy them.
7. What did God say was a characteristic of His citizens? Deuteronomy 14:2, Deuteronomy 7:6-7.
Note: Although this was written to the nation of Israel, it applies to the citizens of Christ’s Kingdom today (the Church of God).
8. What did God say about the Ammonite and Moabite becoming citizens of His nation? Deuteronomy 23:3. Why? Deuteronomy 23:4-6.
Note: These two nations were descendants of Lot through his two incestuous daughters, while their father was in a drunken stupor. See Genesis 19:29-38. When God called Abram to get out from his kinsfolk and showed him where to go, He made the mistake of taking family (Lot) with him. All through Israel’s history, even today, Abraham’s descendants have been vexed by that one act of disobedience. Think about that!
9. What does the New Testament say about the citizenship of God’s people (the Church of God)? Titus 2:14, Ephesians 5:25-27, Ephesians 5:29-32, Revelation 22:14.
Note: Here we see that God has not changed, neither have the requirements for citizenship into the Kingdom of God. We must still trust Him and keep His Commandments if we are to be in His Kingdom.