Tag: ambassador
Ambassadors for Christ
Scripture reading for August 4: 2 Corinthians 5
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Paul explained to the transformation that takes place when believers place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. The believer is born again and becomes a new creation. The old man has passed away, crucified with Christ. The new man, created in Christ Jesus in righteousness is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Because of righteousness, believers are now able to be reconciled to God. They are no longer objects of His wrath because of sin. This was God’s plan of salvation in action, to reconcile the world to Himself through the message of reconciliation found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This transformation was instantaneous at our repentance and conversion. But this transformation is also ongoing in that now we become available to be Christ’s ambassadors. As ambassadors, we represent Christ and His Gospel appeal to others. We can implore others to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. This is possible because God made His Son, Jesus Christ, to be sin although He was without sin Himself. He bore our sins on the cross and died on our behalf that we might through Him receive the Gift of righteousness from God our Father. As we mature as believers, we joyfully ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit to empower us to be ambassadors, appealing to all to enjoy reconciliation to their Father.
Have you had a believer who shared their faith in Jesus Christ with you? Can you declare today that you are a new creation in Jesus Christ? Has your spiritual transformation progressed to where you consider yourself an ambassador for Christ Jesus?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing plan to reach all people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending ambassadors to me on several occasions, including my mother, my Sunday School teachers, and youth leaders. Fill me with the Holy Spirit again today and send me as Your ambassador. Amen.
New creation realities!
Scripture reading for November 26: 2nd Corinthians 1-5
Many Christians don’t realize who they really are in Christ. They struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority. They try to be different and keep the rules or commandments but always fail or fall short. “Try harder!” some well-meaning saints encourage! But the harder they try, the more frustrated they become. The secret is found in knowing who we are in Christ.
When we are truly ‘born again’, we are transformed inside by the Holy Spirit into new creations. (John 3:3-8) (2nd Corinthians 5:17) As God blew breath into Adam and he became a living being, so the breath of God comes into us by the Holy Spirit and we become alive to God! We haven’t just added a set of rules to live by. We don’t just learn a creed of ethics that makes us different from other religions. We don’t just go to church and sing songs and learn traditions. Our life is brand new at it’s core, in our heart and spirit! We now have an eternal relationship with Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21
We have a new identity! The new creation that is formed in us by the Holy Spirit is reconciled to God. We are no longer cut off from Him by sin. God did this work of reconciliation at the cross by putting our sins on His Son. We are adopted into God’s family and given the task of appealing to others on Christ’s behalf. Our position is “ambassador” of Christ. We are to implore men and women to be reconciled to God. We have a divine purpose and our identity is with Christ.
What a blessing to be forgiven! What freedom to know eternal life and a relationship with our heavenly Father! These new creation realities must be appropriated by faith and lived out daily. Our God is for us and now we are for Him! Appropriate your “ambassador” status today and implore someone you know to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ! It’s who you really are and your divine purpose until Jesus comes and we have complete transformation!
Imploring people to be reconciled to God
Scripture reading for August 4th: 2nd Corinthians 5, Psalm 4, Proverbs 31
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 5:17-20 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Paul explained what happens when anyone believes in Jesus Christ. That person becomes a new creation through God’s work inside of them. In Christ, God made it possible for all men to have their sins forgiven and be made right with Him. Paul and all believers are given this message of reconciliation through Christ to share with others as an ambassador, even imploring them to accept Christ’s open offer of forgiveness.
Faith Confession: Lord, thank You for making me a new creation in Christ and for calling me to be Your ambassador to call others to reconciliation on Your behalf. (Action Step: look for an opportunity to implore someone to be reconciled to Christ today.)
Proverbs 31:8-9 “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”