Tag: reconciled to God
Ambassadors for Christ
Scripture reading for August 2nd: Psalm 65-68, 2nd Corinthians 5
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 ministry 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.”
When we repent and are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ, God makes us His ambassadors to the rest of the world that is still hostile to Him. We received the gift of reconciliation and the forgiveness of our sins and share this “good news” with others. We actually represent Christ, as His ambassador and call people to come into Christ and the kingdom of heaven. What a glorious mission!
Psalm 67:1-2 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.”
Prayer: Thank You Lord for the privilege of being Your ambassador and for Your decree to share the good news with all nations and peoples. Amen!
Out with the old, in with the new!
Scripture reading for November 27th: 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 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 God’s breath comes into us by the Holy Spirit! We haven’t added a new set of rules to live by. 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. He put our sins on His Son and He paid the penalty. 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 found in Christ.
The best day to get saved!
Scripture reading for September 2nd: 2nd Corinthians 6:1-13
When many people hear the plea of one of Christ’s ambassadors: “Be reconciled to God!”, they make excuses as to why they are not yet ready. Some may feel that they have many things in the world that they want to do and see, and they don’t want God interfering. Others may have pet sins that they know God would ask them to give up. Their consciences have already been convicting them, but the sin is bringing them too much temporary pleasure. Others feel that they are young yet, and that religion is for old people who are near death. When they get older, then they will consider Christ’s plea for reconciliation. Still others feel that they are ‘good’. There are many others who are worse ‘sinners’ and God surely knows that they are trying to do good works. It is easy to find justification!
“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, “In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2nd Corinthians 6:1-2) It is possible to hear the message of the Gospel of God’s grace and receive it in vain! Failure to respond with personal faith and trust actually makes you more liable for God’s wrath and judgment. To whom much is given, much is required! Paul urged those at Corinth to respond when they had the opportunity. “Today” was the best day and the right time because no one could guarantee themselves a “tomorrow”!
Paul continued his plea for these Corinthian’s reconciliation by explaining his own efforts to offer the message of reconciliation to them and not cause them to stumble. He had loved them sincerely and spoken the truth to them at every turn. He had worked hard to provide for himself and suffered for their sake to provide what they needed in an example of Christ’s love. (2nd Corinthians 5:3-10) Paul had opened his heart to them and demonstrated Christ’s love.
In spite of all this, the Corinthians were withholding their love to Paul and many had not opened their hearts. As you examine your heart, where are you with your response to Christ’s plea? Today is the best day to open your heart!
Compelled by Love!
Scripture reading for September 1st: 2nd Corinthians 5:12-21
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them.” (2nd Corinthians 5:14-15) Love is one of the strongest of human motivations. God’s love poured into a human vessel through Christ Jesus is stronger than natural human love. Paul had received the love of God that brought forgiveness of his many sins. He had heard the Gospel message, even received it directly from Jesus Christ by revelation. (Galatians 1:11-12) He was fully convinced that Jesus died for all men’s sins. For him, he was compelled by the love of Jesus to live fully for Christ!
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2nd Corinthians 5:16-17) Paul’s vision of Christ had changed. He was no longer a false teacher and messiah pretender whose followers needed to be removed from the earth. Paul’s worldly vision was blinded on the Damascus road and a new revelation took its place. Christ was Lord of All and the Son of God! Paul was adopted into God’s family and made a new creation that day. The “old Paul” died, and a “new creation Paul” emerged through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul’s vision of others changed that day too.
Paul got a new mission: the ministry of reconciliation. “We are 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 5:20-21) Compelled by the love of Christ, Paul was pleading with men and women everywhere on Christ’s behalf. He was now an ambassador for the Lord, sent in Christ’s place to make the King’s plea! All men could become righteous through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Have you responded to this plea? If you are already a believer, are you offering this plea, compelled by Christ’s love, to your family, friends and neighbors?