Title: “Ambassadors for Christ”
D-Theme: Doing what God has called us to do…
M-Thrust: …because of what Christ has done!
Comment: I felt good about it—and the folks were paying close attention!
Subject: evangelism
Date: 07-01-25.02
Text: 2nd Corinthians 5:18-6:2
18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 6:1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
• Introduction............................. dominating theme
• I know that I didn’t give adequate attention…
• To the call to worship text from this morning…
• So I wanted to spend some time with it again tonight…
• And I wish to focus on being known as…
• “Ambassadors for Christ”
• And all of what that might mean for us…
• Specifically in the context of the passage before us…
• I think we have some idea what an ambassador is and does…
am·bas·sa·dor
am·bas·sa·dor (ăm-băsʹə-dər, -dôr´) noun
1. A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time.
2. A diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations.
3. An authorized messenger or representative.
4. An unofficial representative: ambassadors of good will.
[Middle English ambassadour, from Old French ambassadeur, from Medieval Latin ambactia, mission, from Latin ambactus, servant, ultimately of Celtic origin.] [1]
• When Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, George Shultz kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz would test them. He would say, “You have to go over the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country.” They would go over, spin the globe, and put their finger on the country to which sent—unerringly.
• When Shultz’s old friend and former Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield was appointed ambassador to Japan, even he was put to the test. This time, however, Ambassador Mansfield spun the globe and put his hand on the United States. He said: “That’s my country.”
• On June 27, 1993, Shultz related this to Brian Lamb on C‑Span’s “Booknotes.” Said the secretary: “I’ve told that story, subsequently, to all the ambassadors going out. ‘Never forget you’re over there in that country, but your country is the United States. You’re there to represent us. Take care of our interests and never forget it, and you’re representing the best country in the world.’ ” [2]
• As Christians we need always to remember…
• That we live in a foreign land…
• That we are strangers on this earth…
• That this world is not our home…
• We’re just a passin’ through
1st Peter 1:17 NIV
17[…] live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
Hebrews 11:13-16
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
1st Peter 2:11-12 NIV
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
• Unfortunately too many Christians in Paul’s day…
• …were not living as aliens and strangers in a foreign land…
• And in the process didn’t seem to concern themselves…
• With the role of ambassador that has been given them…
• So Paul called upon them through the text tonight to be…
• Doing what God has called us to do…
• Reconciliation
• 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
• The context here is the message of reconciliation…
• Not that of worldly ambassadors…
• Who talk of things political—foreign and domestic…
• To focus on being known as “Ambassadors for Christ”
• And all of what that might mean for us…
• We have to focus on the content of the message…
• And the message is a simple one…
• God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ—that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself
• So emphatic about the message is Paul that he repeats it…
• Saying…
• 19that is…
• And twice he says that he has given to the body of Christ…
• Speaking through the apostles…
• and has given us the ministry of reconciliation and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…
• So what is the work and purpose of these ambassadors?
• It is reconciliation! Both the Word and the ministry…
• Ambassadors
• 20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• Remember, an ambassador is…
• representative in residence—An authorized messenger or representative—An unofficial representative…
• Who then are we representing?
• None other than God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ…
• And what was the work of Christ while on the earth?
• God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…
• So if we are representing God and Christ in the world…
• What is our work?
• It is the ministry of reconciliation…
• Through the Word of reconciliation…
• For the watching world, we ourselves serve proof that God is alive. We form the visible shape of what he is like. [3]
• And what is reconciliation?
• Nothing other than…
• Salvation
• 6:1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
• Conclusion................................ motivating thrust
• I wonder when you last pleaded with or implored someone…
• To be reconciled to God?
• Becky Tirabassi, in Wild Things Happen When I Pray says [The] “Holy Spirit orchestrates our lives to touch others—strangers, friends, work-related people, service-industry workers and more—if we would just open up and be ourselves. How? Be free to be in love with Jesus in front of people. Be an ambassador through whom he can introduce himself. There is a world out there, hungry and searching for Jesus and his love. Don’t keep him to yourself.” [4]
• Doing what God has called us to do…
• …because of what Christ has done!
----
[1] Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.
[2] Citation: Dr. Wallace Alcorn. From the files of Leadership.
[3] Citation: Philip Yancey in Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 3.
[4] Citation: Becky Tirabassi, From Wild Things Happen When I Pray. Copyright 1993 by Becky Tirabassi. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Marriage Partnership, Vol. 11, no.
vv
04-01-25.01 04-02-01.01
Title: “Ambassadors for Christ”
D-Theme: Doing what God has called us to do…
M-Thrust: …because of what Christ has done!
Comment: I felt good about it—and the folks were paying close attention!
Subject: evangelism
Date: 7259BD2C66F94CEBB0AA055A828B67FF
Text: 2nd Corinthians 5:18-6:2
18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 6:1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
• Introduction............................. dominating theme
• I know that I didn’t give adequate attention…
• To the call to worship text from this morning…
• So I wanted to spend some time with it again tonight…
• And I wish to focus on being known as…
• “Ambassadors for Christ”
• And all of what that might mean for us…
• Specifically in the context of the passage before us…
• I think we have some idea what an ambassador is and does…
am·bas·sa·dor
am·bas·sa·dor (ăm-băsʹə-dər, -dôr´) noun
1. A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time.
2. A diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations.
3. An authorized messenger or representative.
4. An unofficial representative: ambassadors of good will.
[Middle English ambassadour, from Old French ambassadeur, from Medieval Latin ambactia, mission, from Latin ambactus, servant, ultimately of Celtic origin.] [1]
• When Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, George Shultz kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz would test them. He would say, “You have to go over the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country.” They would go over, spin the globe, and put their finger on the country to which sent—unerringly.
• When Shultz’s old friend and former Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield was appointed ambassador to Japan, even he was put to the test. This time, however, Ambassador Mansfield spun the globe and put his hand on the United States. He said: “That’s my country.”
• On June 27, 1993, Shultz related this to Brian Lamb on C‑Span’s “Booknotes.” Said the secretary: “I’ve told that story, subsequently, to all the ambassadors going out. ‘Never forget you’re over there in that country, but your country is the United States. You’re there to represent us. Take care of our interests and never forget it, and you’re representing the best country in the world.’ ” [2]
• As Christians we need always to remember…
• That we live in a foreign land…
• That we are strangers on this earth…
• That this world is not our home…
• We’re just a passin’ through
1st Peter 1:17 NIV
17[…] live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
Hebrews 11:13-16
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
1st Peter 2:11-12 NIV
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
• Unfortunately too many Christians in Paul’s day…
• …were not living as aliens and strangers in a foreign land…
• And in the process didn’t seem to concern themselves…
• With the role of ambassador that has been given them…
• So Paul called upon them through the text tonight to be…
• Doing what God has called us to do…
• Reconciliation
• 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
• The context here is the message of reconciliation…
• Not that of worldly ambassadors…
• Who talk of things political—foreign and domestic…
• To focus on being known as “Ambassadors for Christ”
• And all of what that might mean for us…
• We have to focus on the content of the message…
• And the message is a simple one…
• God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ—that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself
• So emphatic about the message is Paul that he repeats it…
• Saying…
• 19that is…
• And twice he says that he has given to the body of Christ…
• Speaking through the apostles…
• and has given us the ministry of reconciliation and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…
• So what is the work and purpose of these ambassadors?
• It is reconciliation! Both the Word and the ministry…
• Ambassadors
• 20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• Remember, an ambassador is…
• representative in residence—An authorized messenger or representative—An unofficial representative…
• Who then are we representing?
• None other than God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ…
• And what was the work of Christ while on the earth?
• God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…
• So if we are representing God and Christ in the world…
• What is our work?
• It is the ministry of reconciliation…
• Through the Word of reconciliation…
• For the watching world, we ourselves serve proof that God is alive. We form the visible shape of what he is like. [3]
• And what is reconciliation?
• Nothing other than…
• Salvation
• 6:1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
• Conclusion................................ motivating thrust
• I wonder when you last pleaded with or implored someone…
• To be reconciled to God?
• Becky Tirabassi, in Wild Things Happen When I Pray says [The] “Holy Spirit orchestrates our lives to touch others—strangers, friends, work-related people, service-industry workers and more—if we would just open up and be ourselves. How? Be free to be in love with Jesus in front of people. Be an ambassador through whom he can introduce himself. There is a world out there, hungry and searching for Jesus and his love. Don’t keep him to yourself.” [4]
• Doing what God has called us to do…
• …because of what Christ has done!
----
[1] Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.
[2] Citation: Dr. Wallace Alcorn. From the files of Leadership.
[3] Citation: Philip Yancey in Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 3.
[4] Citation: Becky Tirabassi, From Wild Things Happen When I Pray. Copyright 1993 by Becky Tirabassi. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Marriage Partnership, Vol. 11, no.
