We are Ambassadors

Introduction

We are thankful to God for what he is doing through the work of MEGA. Kaya nga even in small ways ay nakikipag-partner ang church namin sa MEGA, because we want to participate with gospel work hindi lang sa Bulacan, kundi dito rin sa Mindanao. Napakaganda ng pangalan ng MEGA, Multi-Ethnic Group Ambassadors. Ambassadors! Kapag na-appoint ka ng presidente na maging ambassador ng embassy ng Pilipinas sa America, mataas na posisyon ‘yan. May malaking trabaho, pero isa din ‘yang amazing privilege. Kapag sinabi ni Paul tungkol sa kanya at sa mga kasama niya, “we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20), kasali rin hindi lang ang mga preachers at mga missionaries, kundi pati lahat ng mga Christians. Many Christians today remain unaware about what being an “ambassador for Christ” means and what it implies for our life, our churches, and our ministries. For us to understand and appreciate what that “title” means, let’s look at the four verses na kinabibilangan ng phrase na ‘yan, 2 Corinthians 5:18–21:

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.

From this passage, my aim today is to help us answer three questions:

Regarding God’s work: “What is God doing?”

Regarding our work: “What must we be doing?”

How does God’s work and our work relate?

God’s work

First, regarding God’s work. Siyempre ito ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, more important than what we are all doing. So, we ask, “What is God doing?” On a more personal level, we need to ask first about what God has done for us. Answer: He reconciled us to himself. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself…” (v. 18). This is utterly personal for us. It is a past event that we need to remember and never forget. To be “reconciled” presupposes past hostility between two parties. We have offended God with our sins. So, dati tayo ay mga kaaway ng Diyos. God cannot be at peace with us in our sins. Pero in amazing display of love, siya pa ang gumawa ng hakbang para maayos ang relasyon natin sa kanya. “This astounding statement reveals God's infinite love. We offended God by breaking his commands and sinning against him. Therefore, the initiative for reconciliation should have come from us, for we are the offending party. Instead we read that God, as the offended party, reached out to us to achieve restoration of relationships. God took the initiative and completed the work of reconciliation before we, as sinners, began to respond to God's gracious invitation to be reconciled to him (Rom. 5:10-11)” (Kistemaker, II Corinthians, 194). Romans 5:10, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

At ang gawang ito ng Diyos ay nagpapatuloy. Hangga’t meron pang mga makasalanan at malayo sa Diyos na kailangang maibalik sa Diyos, hangga’t hindi pa bumabalik si Cristo, God is always at work. Ano ang ginagawa niya? It is not just personal for us, God’s work is also global in scope. “That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself…” (v. 19). God’s work is both global in scope and present in reality. Meron pa siyang unfinished business. Sabi ng Panginoon, John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 10:16, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” This worldwide scope of reconciliation is rooted in the Abrahamic covenant, na ang layunin ng Diyos in blessing Abraham and his descendants ay upang dumaloy rin ang blessing na yun through him, Genesis 12:3, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Our work often fails, but God guarantees the success of his global purposes in history. Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” At ito yung vision na nakita ni apostle John at the end of human history, Revelation 7:9–10, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” God’s work in reconciling the world (that is, all nations, all tribes, all peoples, all languages) to himself will not fail.

How does God accomplish this work of reconciling us and the world to himself? God’s work is personal, global, and Christological. Meaning, God’s work is accomplished through Christ, in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself…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.” Paano nga naman tayo makalalapit sa Diyos kung meron tayong mga kasalanan na nakahahadlang sa relasyon natin sa kanya? Kailangang masolusyunan yun. To be reconciled means “not counting their trespasses against them” (v. 19). At hindi pwedeng basta-basta balewalain o isantabi ‘yan ng Diyos. He is perfectly holy, just, and righteous. Kaya nga ipinadala niya ang kanyang Anak na si Jesus para siya ang humalili sa atin, siya ang umako ng mga kasalanan natin, siya ang ituring ng Diyos na makasalanan sa kanyang kamatayan sa krus, and by faith in him, tayo naman ang maituring na matuwid (justified) sa harap ng Diyos. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Ang “substitutionary work” ni Cristo sa krus ang naging paraan para matanggap natin ang gift of justification. ‘Yan din ang sabi sa isang old catechism, “God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me” (Heidelberg Catechism Q60). Kung tayo ay itinuring na matuwid sa harap ng Diyos, we have peace with God, we are reconciled with him. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our work

To consider God’s work in reconciling us to himself and that even now he is reconciling the world to himself is truly amazing. Pero amazing din kapag marealize natin na hindi lang tayo recipients o beneficiaries of his reconciling work. Kasali rin tayo. Meron din tayong participation sa ginagawa ng Diyos. So, that brings us to our next question, na tungkol naman sa work natin, “Ano ba ang gawain natin?” Tinawag ito ni Paul na “the ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18). Meron tayong “ministry,” merong trabaho para mapaglingkuran natin ang iba. At ano ang goal nun? Same goal ng Diyos, reconciliation, para madali rin natin sila palapit sa Diyos. May community development, merong pagtuturo ng values, merong literacy program, merong livelihood program, pero secondary lahat yun, at balewala kung hindi naman natin sila mailalapit sa Diyos.

At paano natin sila mailalapit sa Diyos? We bring them “the message of reconciliation” (v. 19). Meron tayong kailangang sabihin sa kanila. At ano yung message na yun? The same message na narinig natin, the gospel, the good news kung paanong si Cristo ang paraan ng Diyos para akuin ang kasalanan natin so that we might be justified and be reconciled to God. At hindi sapat na sabihin lang natin yung message na yun. Of course, we trust the Lord will work sa puso nila, pero meron din tayong appeal na gagawin for them to respond in repentance and faith. Tulad ng appeal ni Paul sa mga Corinthians na baka yung iba sa kanila ay malayo pa rin sa Diyos kahit nasa church na sila, “We implore you (nakikiusap kami sa inyo) on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (v. 20). May trabaho tayo na gagawin. Hindi madali. Hindi lang naman tayo magsasalita. We reach out to these people. We give our lives to them. Hard work ang ministry kasi it is heart work. Hindi lang pagod ang puhunan, kundi puso. Kasi it’s about relationship. Not mainly our relationship with them, siyempre mahalaga yun. But mainly yung relationship nila at relationship din natin sa Panginoon.

How does God’s work and our work relate?

Alam natin kung ano ang ginagawa ng Diyos, he is reconciling the world to himself. Alam natin kung ano ang dapat nating gawin, makibahagi sa ginagawa ng Diyos at dalhin ang mabuting balita ni Cristo sa mga tao, hindi lang sa sarili nating people group, kundi sa ibang ethnic groups din. Mahalaga rin na maintindihan natin how our ministry relates to what God is doing. That’s our third question. At meron akong apat na sagot diyan:

Secondary: Our work is under God’s work. Sabi ni Paul, “All this is from God” (v. 18). Katatapos lang niyang sabihin s verse 17 yung “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Kung ang lahat ng bagay sa nilikha ng Diyos ay gawa ng Diyos, ang “new creation” din ay gawa ng Diyos. Yes, ginagamit niya ang preaching of the gospel to accomplish that, so merong human means. Pero hindi pantay ang kahalagahan niyan. God’s work is ultimate. Ang gawa natin ay nakapailalim sa gawa ng Diyos. This keeps us humble, dependent, and hopeful sa pagkilos ng Diyos.

Privilege: Our work is a gift from God. We have received not just salvation, but ministry as a gift. Sabi ni Paul, God “gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18). Tinanggap niya ang ministry na ‘to “by the mercy of God” (2 Cor. 4:1). Hindi dahil mas magaling o mas mabuti siya kaysa sa iba, kundi dahil sa awa at grasya ng Diyos. So, if God is inviting you to join in his work, hindi ka niya pinapahirapan, he’s giving you a gift, a privilege, a joy. So, pasalamat tayo sa Diyos dahil kasali tayo dito.

Responsibility: Our work is a duty to God. God “[entrusted] to us the message of reconciliation” (v. 19). Merong ibinigay at ipinagkatiwalang trabaho sa atin. At dahil siya ang Diyos na lumikha at nagligtas sa atin, hindi natin pwedeng tanggihan at sabihing, “Lord, ayaw ko, busy ako, hindi ko kaya, iba na lang.” Tinawag mo pa siyang “Lord” kung hindi mo naman susundin? Kaya nga sinabi ni John Piper na tatlo lang ang pwedeng responses natin sa Great Commission: Go, send, or disobey.

Authority: Our work is with divine authority. “We are ambassadors for Christ” (v. 20). Ang church ay parang “embassy,” nire-represent natin ang paghahari ng Diyos sa mundong ito. At tayong mga followers ni Cristo, we represent Christ. Kapag nagsasalita tayo, we speak for Christ, “on behalf of Christ,” “God making his appeal through us.” When we speak the gospel, God himself speaks. Kaya kailangang maging maingat tayo, baka ma-misrepresent natin ang Diyos at ang mensaheng bigay niya kung babaguhin natin ang gospel message. At the same time, ito rin ang nagbibigay sa atin ng confidence, dahil humahayo tayo hindi dahil sa kumpiyansa na meron tayo sa sarili nating lakas at galing at dunong, kundi dahil ang kumpiyansa natin ay nasa kapangyarihan ng Diyos, karunungan ng Diyos, at salita ng Diyos.

Challenge

I hope na itong maikling reflections natin sa 2 Corinthians 5:18–21 ay nakatulong sa atin pa mas maintindihan kung ano ang ginagawa ng Diyos in reconciling the world to himself, kung ano ang dapat nating gawin sa pakikibahagi natin sa gawaing ito ng Diyos, at kung paano tingnan ang gawa natin in connection with what God is doing. So, let me conclude with these three challenges para sa ating lahat:

Preaching the gospel: Let us participate in what God is doing by telling other people and other people groups the gospel, the good story of how God reconciled us to himself through Jesus and his work on the cross. Wag tayong magsasawang ikuwento sa mga tao kung sino itong Diyos na nagliligtas at ano ang ginawa niya through Jesus.

Partnership in the gospel: Let us partner with those who are going to other ethnic or people groups (like MEGA) by regularly praying for them, encouraging them, and giving financial support to them. They need our partnership. Anumang maibibigay nating tulong ay napakalaking bagay para sa kanila.

Passion for the gospel: Let us spread this passion to see all nations draw near to God through Jesus to our churches and to other churches as well. Napakaraming Christians at churches ngayon ang sobrang passionate para sa sarili nilang wellbeing at sa health and growth ng kanilang mga churches—which is a good thing naman! Pero hindi ito nagiging mabuti kung sarili lang natin ang iniisip natin at nakakalimutan na natin ang napakaraming tao na kailangang marinig na merong Diyos na lumalapit sa atin, nagpapatawad sa atin, at nagliligtas sa atin sa pamamagitan ng Panginoong Jesus. So, ikuwento natin sa iba ang ginagawa ng mga churches at ministries tulad ng MEGA na umaabot sa ibang people groups, at anyayahan din natin sila to participate in what God is doing in reconciling the world to himself. Totoo nga na wala nang mas prestigious at mas privileged na position kaysa ang maging ambassadors for Christ. Merong responsibilities, merong hard work, merong sacrifices, pero in the end, masasabi nating, it is all worth it. Sulit, at hindi sayang.