Ambassadors of reconciliation

Do you realize we are ambassadors?

What in the world is an ambassador?

Ambassador (Dictionary): “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country”.

Benjamin Franklin was ambassador to France at the most crucial time in American history. During the time of the American Revolution against Great Britain. Benjamin Franklin was highly respected and admired by the French people and the members of French high Society. Ambassador Franklin's efforts to gain the support of the French finally won out, establishing important military aid to the struggling colonies. France signed a military alliance with those colonies in 1778 only two years after the revolution began. . Franklin also negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which formally ended the American war for Independence. It is believed that only Benjamin Franklin could have accomplished what many in the colonies thought was an impossible feat. His personality, disposition, wisdom and reputation helped him to communicate and mediate on behalf of the newly formed United States of America.

John Adams, the second President of the US was also assigned to assist Franklin in his ambassadorial mission to France. However, the French found Adams so distasteful that he was almost completely ignored. He left this assignment returning back to the US, but he was later assigned to serve as Ambassador to Great Britain! Unlike in France, Adams was much more successful in representing the United States in Britain— largely due to his personality, disposition, wisdom and reputation. It is notable that these men were gifted and talented in very specific ways— and when their leadership was used within the correct context, they were successful in representing and advocating for the country.

Now- let’s begin our time today with a hypothetical, or fictional situation:

You have just been selected as a representative of our country to be an ambassador to another country. This is a very important and exciting opportunity. You will travel to and live among the people of that country, probably for the rest of your life. You will certainly travel back and forth, communicating constantly with our country, our leaders— and the leaders of the country you are an ambassador to.

How will you approach your assignment? What will the goals be? How will you handle conflicts between the two countries, the two cultures, the two different worlds?

That would be a very difficult— but perhaps also a very rewarding job. Being the representative of our country— our people, our way of life, to a whole other group of people— challenging, but very important and critical work right?

This role sounds kind of familiar to me— how about you? It sounds exactly like what a MISSIONARY does!

Today in our passage, we will read that as Christ-followers, as those who have believed in Jesus as our Savior and Lord-- that is EXACTLY what we are assigned to be— Ambassadors.

Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, representatives to the world that God has created, and all the lost and broken people that He loves so much.

In fact, we are given very specific instructions on how we will represent Him and His Kingdom. Are you excited to get started? Are you ready to learn what the goals are of our work for him? Well, hang on, because we can read and learn some of these key principles in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Corinth is a very important city. There is a tremendous amount of activity and culture clash from all over the world. Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, guiding them and encouraging them on how best to live as Ambassadors for Jesus in their lives.

There are two primary goals for our work as ambassadors for Christ:

Regeneration- “to bring new and more vigorous life; revive”.

Reconciliation- “to bring into harmony; to make compatible”.

Let’s look at our passage, and begin some “ambassador training”:

Step #1: Viewing the world (and people) through “Regeneration glasses”!

2 Corinthians 5:16 (ESV)

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.

Think with me about that phrase “according to the flesh”.

We don’t look at someone only considering the outside. We see the world differently.

2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

This has tremendous ramifications! Think about how different we will view the world! Everyone we meet, all our relationships, all are viewed not from a human point of view— but from a GODLY point of view. I pray for that almost everyday. Lord please help me to see people the way YOU see them.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Regeneration! The newness of life! The old way is gone, the new way has come. Old way of what? New way of what? Everything! Thinking, speaking, loving, living. Galatians 2:20 The old person has been crucified with Christ, and the life we now life is in Christ! Jesus stated that we would be “salt and light” in the world. Salt for sure was used as a preservative— Light is how things grow!

We experience his regeneration in our own souls, we are now citizens of another Kingdom— and are now forces of regeneration in the world.

2 Corinthians 5:18 (ESV)

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Note: God does the reconciling— it was him who acted first.

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Step #2: Take up the Ministry of Reconciliation:

Ministry: the office, duties, or functions of a minister Minister: to give aid or service; a diplomatic representative (such as an ambassador) accredited to a seat of government of a foreign state

We, because God has reconciled us, are now ministers of reconciliation!

2 Corinthians 5:19 (ESV)

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.

Some other translations say “committed to us”, or “gave to us”, the original language infers a meaning that God literally “Lodged” it inside us. He stuck it inside us!

That leads me to believe that even if you feel like you’re not worthy, or not equipped, or not ready—

If you have experienced and believe in the saving power of Jesus in your own life— You do indeed have the regenerative ministry of reconciliation inside you.

And what is that message?

It’s the gospel. The good news of God’s plan. It’s what gives us meaning, purpose and belonging. Back to the Reformation period of our history—

“Five Solas”

We are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for the Glory of God alone.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Matthew Henry wrote an extensive commentary on the bible, and I really connected with how he explains this reconciliation:

Matthew Henry: “It is an unquestionable privilege and an indispensable duty to join Jesus in the ministry of the reconciliation of the world to God the Father.”

Unfortunately, we may not always remember this privilege and duty. Do we have anything else in our lives that compares? I count it a great privilege to serve God as a pastor. Perhaps you have a role in your life that you cherish that way too. Maybe parenting— for those of us who have had the privilege and duty to raise children.

Paul lays out a most memorable statement to end this section of the letter:

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Why did he do it? For our sake

What did he do? He made Jesus, who had no sin of his own, to become sin.

What did it accomplish? That we, who have no righteousness of our own, might become the righteousness of God.

How do we respond? We live our lives in a broken world, as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, observing this world through God’s eyes, seeking to bring regeneration and his message of reconciliation through our words, acts of service, humility, peace and love.