Freedom in Christ — Citizenship— Law, Civil and State: To submit to national and local officials. This is a hard action when you are in the mist of persecution or even feel like you are being persecuted and have lost so much because of the persecution. But note: the word submit is an essential part of the action of the Believer, it is a strong command. God expects believers to submit themselves to the laws of government, and note the word every: every ordinance or institution is to be obeyed. Every level of government, local as well as state and national government, is to be obeyed. Why is this so important? The reason is self-evident; it is perfectly clear: without law and the keeping of the law, society would be in utter chaos.

Lawlessness would run wild, no one would be safe to walk the streets, people would have to live behind closed doors, abuse, attacks, murder, and war would be a constant threat, no property would be safe.
God knows what is best for us, therefore, how loving and joyful, peaceful and wonderful life can be if we will obey God and obey the civil authorities of this world. Read Romans 12:18, Romans 13:1,

1.   Citizenship: the truth about citizenship. A Believer in Jesus Christ has two citizenships.  The first citizenship is of this world; this also applies to non believers.  Therefore, he owes to the earthly powers what belongs to them. The second citizenship is one that makes all the difference in your life. It is the citizenship of heaven, of the spiritual world; therefore, he owes to God what belongs to Him.  We are in the world but not of the world. Read John 17:1-26  key verses 14-20

In Matthew 22:15-22- 
A conspiracy is developed to try to trap Jesus in a plan to show his disobedience to the law of the land and to God. The plot was to ask Him a question about a person's citizenship. The question was supposed to "entangle him in his talk"  it was supposed to be impossible for Christ to answer without discrediting Himself either with the people or with the Roman authorities.  If He discredited Himself with the people, they would react and desert Him; if He discredited Himself with the Romans, they would arrest Him.

Jesus Christ saw through the false concepts of these men. He saw through their plot. Jesus Christ used the occasion to teach the truth about citizenship, a truth which was earth-shaking to the people of that day,—earth-shaking because the Jews believed that the loyalty of a citizen belonged only to God, and the Herodians  believed  that loyalty belonged to the ruling government of their territory. Christ astounded the world of His day by declaring there was an earthly, physical citizenship to which some things are to be given; and there was a spiritual, heavenly citizenship to which some things are to be given.  He was the Son of God, so He naturally knew that they held a false concept of citizenship. Moreover, as the Son of God, He also saw that they had an evil motive.

Christ was pointed and forceful: "Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?" He knew their heart, their selfish ambition with every act of compromise and intrigue, their deception with all the flattery and destructive poison of their tongues, their close-mindedness and obstinate unbelief that led them to reject Him and to condemn themselves.

Jesus called them "ye hypocrites". They were wicked and they were hypocrites. They were pretending something that was not so.  They were pretending to seek the truth when they were not really after the truth. They were pretending to honor Jesus when they really did not have the desire to honor Him at all

Discussion Point.  Why do the people of this world try to discard the Believers’ Citizenship in Heaven through some philosophical explanation through politics Buddhism, Islam, Scientology and other religious groups?

There is something which belongs to Caesar: an earthly citizenship. Christ was brilliant and brief as He dealt with the Pharisees and their false concept of citizenship. "

 Look what Jesus did with his response to the conspirators

a. He forced the Pharisees (religion is supreme concept) to admit that some things belonged to an earthly power. The image was Caesar's; the superscription was Caesar's; and the coin had been made by Caesar's government. Therefore, the coin was Caesar's if Caesar said it was due him. The point was clear: since the religionists, as citizens, used what was owned and provided by Caesar, then they owed to Caesar what was due him. Christ said "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's."

b. He revealed a very important truth for believers of all time: they have a double citizenship. They are citizens of heaven, yes, but they are also citizens of this world. They have an obligation to the government under which they live. They receive the benefits of government just as the worldly-minded do: for example, roads, sewage, water, protection, public transportation, and on and on. Therefore, believers are to pay their due share. Read Romans 13:1

There is something which belongs to God: a heavenly citizenship. Jesus Christ was dealing with the Herodians and their false concept of citizenship. The Herodians not only subjected religion to the state, but they were worldly minded and denied much of the supernatural, including life after death.

a. Christ declared clearly to the Herodians: there is a spiritual world. God is; God exists, and there are things which (We know all things) belong to God. "Render therefore...unto God the things that are God's." Again, the point is clear. Since the Herodians (the state is supreme concept), as citizens of the world and of life itself, used what was owned and provided by God, then they owed God what was due Him.

b. Christ revealed a very important truth to all men. They are beings of God as well as of this world, spiritual as well as physical beings. Therefore, they are responsible to live as citizens of God as well as citizens of this world. All men have received much from God:

All men receive these benefits and many more from God. Therefore, they are to pay their due share to God.

Additional Scripture Reading

Matthew 6:33.Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1-2,1 Cor. 6:19-20,Exodus 23:25,(Deut. 8:18,Deut. 11:13-15,Romans 13:1,Matthew 17:27,Titus 3:1,Ezra 7:26,Eccles. 8:2, 1 Peter 2:17).