We are Ambassadors of Peace

Title: We are Ambassadors of Peace

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (linked to 5:1-11) (Part 1-2)

Subject: Pleasing the Lord motivates the believer to proclaim Christ's death and resurrection

Complement: Reconciliation with God is the goal through Christ and His atoning work

Big Idea: Knowing the reality of our coming accounting before Christ moves us to call others to find eternal peace through Jesus.

Speakers Purpose: I want my audience to see that the reality of our coming accounting before Christ moves us towards others to call them to find peace with God through the finished work of Jesus

FCF: The temptation is to live as though we are not going to give an account before the Lord and that the terror of the Lord will not be released on all who do not trust Christ for salvation. Our fear of man supersedes our fear of God and thus we shrink away of living and declaring Christ

CCF: Christ’s finished work is not just the means of peace with God but is the motivator to live for the Lord. Christ’s path was a path that led to the cross. He gladly laid down His life to reconcile us with God.

1. Love for Christ moves us to declare Christ. (11-15) (Good Friday)

2. Peace with God comes through Christ alone. (16-21) (Easter Sunday)

Scripture Reading

Good Friday: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Easter Sunday: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

2 Corinthians 5:11–21 ESV

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 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. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 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.