Ambassadors for Christ – 2 Corinthians 5
‘Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.’ — 2 Corinthians 5:20
When Jesus was preparing to leave this world, He told His disciples, ‘…as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you’ (John 20:21). He gave them the awesome responsibility of being sent out by Christ, which is our responsibility as well.
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul explains more about what it means to be sent by Christ, to the point that He says He was praying (begging) people ‘in Christ’s stead’ to be reconciled to God. Notice several things:
- The example of Christ’s sacrificial love for us motivates (‘constraineth’) us to live our lives not for ourselves but for Christ and for the salvation of souls (v.13-15).
- The fundamental identity of those ‘in Christ’ changes us into a new creature (v.17). Old things are passed away and all things are become new. Because we are new in Christ, we should serve Christ.
- God has given us the ministry of reconciliation (v.18).
- God has committed to us the word of reconciliation (v.19).
- God has made us ambassadors for Christ to the point that God speaks His gospel to others through us (v.20).
- We are workers together with God (6:1).
Clearly, God had a plan to use us in the most privileged way. What an honour to serve the Lord, to follow in the steps of Christ, to receive a new identity, to have the honour to represent the Lord Jesus, and, on behalf of Christ, to call the world to reconciliation with God through Christ!
There is no greater privilege than to serve the Lord and to be His representatives in this world! May we serve Him well and may we do all we can to see the world reconciled to God through the gospel of Christ!