What's In a Title?

Introduction

We live in a day where titles define us. People often ask us, “What do you do?”, and we proceed to tell them that we are an engineer, or doctor, or plumber, or electrician, or homemaker. And from that response, they begin to make evaluations about us, and begin to classify us according to our education, economic, or social status. They may now have different expectations of you, or they may talk to you differently, or even seek your professional advice regarding something in their life. Although, you are the same person you were before you answered their question, they somehow have redefined you just from your title.

The same thing happens when you have the opportunity to engage in Spiritual conversations. People suddenly change their language or express their church going or benevolent activities when they find out you are a Christian. I had a woman barber once who was talkative and asked lots of questions until she found out that I was a pastor and the conversation ended, not only on that visit but all subsequent visits.

Is that fair? Should we be evaluated and classified according to our title? Well, I believe that the bible says yes! To have the title of “Christian” should mean the we are devoted followers of Jesus Christ. He our savior and master has bought us with his blood and we live every day of our earthly existence to the praise and exultation of His name, engaged in His work. This morning, the apostle Paul in writing for the second time to the church in Corinth, very clearly expresses to the Corinthians, and then to us that we have been given a title, and are therefore responsible to live out and accomplish in this life, all that this title represents.

Text: 2 Cor 5:1-21

Main Idea: Since we have been reconciled to God, we are therefore given the ministry of reconciliation as Christ's Ambassadors.

Background

Paul established this church at Corinth on his 2nd missionary journey (Acts 18:1-18), where he spent 18 months. On his 3rd missionary journey, he came to Ephesus and was visited by a messenger from Corinth with a number of questions and a troubling update on the many problems in the church. Paul then writes 1 Corinthians with its harsh tone and sends it by means of Titus. After some time had passed and Paul’s anxiety grows concerning the Corinthian church, Paul then meets up with Titus in Macedonia who reports concerning the genuine repentance of the Corinthians. Paul is filled with overwhelming joy, and writes 2 Corinthians from Macedonia to express thanksgiving for their repentance and renewed obedience.

There are two chief themes in 2 Corinthians that are reminiscent of this purpose, and reveal the nature of Paul’s apostolic ministry. The first, in chapters 1-7, we see that it is a service of divine comfort and encouragement in the midst of suffering and troubles. The second is found in chapters 10-13, where the experience of God’s strength is clearly seen in human weakness. Our message this morning is found in the first major theme where we are comforted and encouraged by our own reconciliation, and therefore engage ourselves in that same ministry of reconciliation.

1. The Dwelling of Christ’s Ambassador (vv. 1-10)

a) The proper view of our earthly dwelling (vv. 1-5)

b) The proper view of our heavenly dwelling (vv. 6-10)

2. The Urgency of Christ’s Ambassador (vv. 11-15)

a) God’s judgment breeds urgency (vv. 11-13)

b) Christ’s love controls the urgent (vv. 14-15)

3. The Mission of Christ’s Ambassador (vv. 16-21)

a) The mission begins with a new creation (vv. 16-17)

b) The mission is the delegated ministry of reconciliation (vv. 18-20)

c) The mission ambassadors are credentialed by the imputed righteousness of Christ (v. 21)

So What?