2 Corinthians 5:20, To Be an Ambassador
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2 Corinthians 5:20, To Be an Ambassador..
2 Corinthians 5:20, To Be an Ambassador..
Psalm 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”
Introduction...
Introduction...
the english definition of the word ambassador....
an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country:
a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a particular body or activity: ..
what we know about being an ambassador,
An ambassador is the ranking government representative stationed in a foreign capital or country. The host country typically allows the ambassador control of specific territory called an embassy..TALK......
so if we summarize this, a ambassador is a representative or spokesperson for someone or something,
a ambassador is in a foreign, this land is not their true home..you can say they are pilgrims passing thru a barren land...
a ambassador only has authority that is given to him or her by a higher ranking authority..(repeat all 3)..
i like this description, I find about an ambassador, There is so much to the idea of being ambassadors! An ambassador does not speak to please his audience, but the King who sent him. An ambassador does not speak on his own authority; his own opinions or demands mean little. He simply says what he has been commissioned to say. But an ambassador is more than a messenger; he is also a representative, and the honor and reputation of his country are in his hands.
and to be an ambassador for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, what an honor and priviledge...
Look at this, Ambassadors are chosen, they are protected, and they are held accountable,..TALK, PREACH......
i am an official representative of my Lord, His will is done thru me for His glory. I am used to help spread the good news so that someone can be reconciled to God thru that good news....TALK, PREACH.......
Let’s look at this text....
Text/Story...
Text/Story...
here are with Paul again with his 2nd letter to the church at Corinth...
in this 2nd letter Paul is more encouraging and uplifting the church, as his first letter he dealt with some issues that the church was having..
but now he was encouraging and also reminding them of who there were and whose they were..
in this text today as i stated last week Paul is talking about being reconciled to God thru Christ… all of this takes place in verses 12 thru 21..
last week we looked at v17 as Paul remind the church then and now about a much needed change and who can change us...
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” ...(work text briefly)....TALK, PREACH.....mindsets change, priorites changes and guess what outcomes change..
and today we see Paul talking to the ones that have been changed with Christ to remind them of their duty...
the duty to be an ambassador...a spokesperson for Christ...to tell the good news and prayfully introduce someone to Him so that they can get that much needed change...
the message of reconciliation is committed to the ambassador...
it is just unfortunate the at times the so called ambassador is not committed to the message...TALK, PREACH.......
however if we follow in Paul’s footsteps and if we had that true change we should be thinking like Paul as well...
Paul sees that he serves in a foreign land as the representative of a King. The King has a message, and Paul is delivering that message as though God were pleading through us...TALK, PREACH........
He is encouraging the church to continue to edify the church by being the ambassador that Jesus would have us to be....
the church at Corinth planted on Paul’s second missionary journey, was a growing church and he that there many more souls there to help introduce to Jesus...
as church you should never get comfortable, knowing that there are people out there unsaved...TALK, PREACH.....
Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament Ambassadors for Christ (5:20–21)
Paul lives like an ambassador for Christ appealing to others to be reconciled to God (5:20). This appeal is based on the grace God showed in punishing Christ in the place of sinners, so that believing sinners might receive his righteousness (5:21). On the basis of the ministry of reconciliation, Paul states that he is an ambassador for Christ. His message to unbelievers is that they should be reconciled to God. He explains the theology of this reconciliation in 5:21.
The message of the church today is one of reconciliation: God in Christ on the cross has reconciled the world to himself and is willing to save all who will trust His Son. Ours is not a message of social reform (although the Gospel reforms lives,
this text tells us of a great privilege we have to be used on God’s program but let’s go deeper into the text and truly understand what it is to be an ambassador for Christ...
Let’s go deeper...
Points....
Points....
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
my words earlier, a ambassador is a representative or spokesperson for someone or something,
a ambassador is in a foreign, this land is not their true home..you can say they are pilgrims passing thru a barren land...
a ambassador only has authority that is given to him or her by a higher ranking authority..
a author from one of my commentary lists the ambassador as this,
the ambassador belongs to the One who sent him out
the ambassador is commissioned to be sent out and only for the purpose they were sent out
the ambassador possesses all the authority and power of the One when sent them
the ambassador is sent forth with the message of the sender
if we put these all together, we see that the ambassador is sent and works for the One that sent them....
what we know is that the ambassador is in a foreign land for the purpose of delivering a message.....
and finally the message the ambassador has is one that is helpful......
let’s have a look...
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
, we see that the ambassador is sent and works for the One that sent them....
let me repeat what i said earlier, An ambassador does not speak on his own authority; his own opinions or demands mean little. He simply says what he has been commissioned to say.
I & II Corinthians D. The Urgency of Reconciliation (5:16–6:2)
Ambassadors held positions of great honor in the ancient world because they represented the authority of the kings on whose behalf they spoke.
All believers are ambassadors, whether we accept the commission or not. “As the Father has sent me, also I send you,” said Christ (
we know who our boss is, it’s not the pastor or the church, or the church clerk or the mother of the church, none them have a heaven or hell to send you to....TALK, PREACH......
the ambassador is in a foreign land for the purpose of delivering a message.....
we are pilgrims in this barren land, trying to get to our eternal home..
i pray you know this and truly believe this.
because the message that should follow is that thru Christ when can get to our home...
Hebrews 13:14–16 “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
The Living Bible translation states, 14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.15 With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name. 16 Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to him..TALK, PREACH.......(work text)...
we need to tell this world, show this world..the truth...TALK, PREACH......
finally, the message the ambassador has is one that is helpful
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
what does that mean...
charles spurgeon states, We are not commanded to do the work of reconciliation between man and God. He has done the work; it is merely ours to embrace and receive. "It is not so much reconcile yourselves as 'be reconciled.' Yield yourselves to him who round you now the bands of a man would cast, drawing you with cords of love because he was given for you… Submit yourselves. Yield to the grasp of those hands which were nailed to the cross for you." (Spurgeon)
This makes it clear that it is we who must be reconciled to God, not He to us. We are the party in the wrong.
I & II Corinthians D. The Urgency of Reconciliation (5:16–6:2)
As the imperative (be reconciled, from katallasso) indicates, those who hear the gospel are responsible to believe in Christ in order to become reconciled to God.
it is for their salvation....TALK, PREACH......
Conclusion...
Conclusion...
as we conclude this thing, Paul sees that he serves in a foreign land as the representative of a King. The King has a message, and Paul is delivering that message as though God were pleading through us.
as representatives it should be as God is talking thru us to the people...TALK, PREACH.......
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Motives for Ministry (2 Corinthians 5:9–21)
If we are to succeed, we must be motivated by the fear of the Lord, the love of Christ, and the commission that He has given to us. What a privilege it is to serve Him!
Let us make sure that our message, methods, and motives are right, so that our work might be lasting and might stand the test of fire when we stand before Him.
and this isnt a message that we need to come up with, the message was given to us a long time ago...TALK, PREACH, CLOSE.......
