Representatives of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:16–6:2 CSB

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” 2 For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!

How do we become a representative of reconciliation?

We need to understand and accept WHO Jesus is and our need for Him.

We need to see that we are all sinners dead in our sins.

We need to accept Christ’s death on the cross to pay the debt for our sins.

We need to understand that Jesus is the ONLY one who could make this transaction happen.

We need to see people how God sees people.

We cannot view people according to the worlds standards.

To judge others according to worldly standards, or from a sinful point of view, only furthers division and discord.

We need to embrace the truth that we are something different in Christ.

We have been renewed and regenerated…

New creations - something radically different than what was before.

We need to trust that God is doing the work.

Jesus took our sin on Himself.

Jesus is making us righteous.

God is reconciling us to Him.

We need to remember that God has made us His ambassadors.

We represent God and His kingdom in this world.

So as God’s ambassador, as His representative, as His messanger let me tell you….

TODAY is the day of salvation!!