AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2)

MEMORY VERSE

2 Corinthians 5: 20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 - 6:2

May 13, 2018

Lesson prepared by krisha of Solomon FB page

Scheduled teacher: SIS. LIZA F. BIADO

INTRODUCTION:

-         An ambassador is a diplomatic representative that attends international meetings, banquets and parties and acts as a figurehead for their country of origin.

-         Ambassadors are subject to a wide range of responsibilities dealing with foreign relations. Each task is carried out in a diplomatic manner that's engineered to meet the needs of the ambassador's home country while maintaining a positive relationship with that country.

-         One of the primary responsibilities of an ambassador is to notify their home country of economic and political developments in the host nation. They write formal reports in order to communicate foreign development, especially in the area of trade policies. Because of their unique and inside experience with the host nation, ambassadors are able to aid in the development of foreign policy with that nation. All of these actions seek to protect their home country's interests within the host nation.

-          Another responsibility of an ambassador is to act as a representative of their country of origin. They attend social functions, political parties and banquets with the intention of smoothing relationships between nations. As a representative, they also offer up their home country's position on numerous political, social and economic platforms. Additionally, ambassadors meet with important political leaders and greet or host other diplomats. https://www.sokanu.com/careers/ambassador/

-         Jesus thought of his disciples as brothers in a great task. He called them his friends. Jesus placed himself among his disciples as a fellow servant of God. Jesus issued his commission to his disciples as if they were soldiers in Matthew 28:18-20.

-         In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul gives a beautiful picture of a compassionate and gracious God and a graphic and forceful portrayal of the service we are to render: “We are the ambassadors for Christ.” An ambassador is an envoy or minister of a state sent on a mission by one sovereign or state to another. An ambassador is a spokesperson or representative of one state with authority to speak to the authorities of another state.

-         As ambassador for Christ, we have been authorized and clothed with divine authority and power to speak his reconciling message of love to the unsaved world. We are the representatives of the King of Kings. We are the stand in the courts of human conscience authoritatively representing the authority of our King.

LESSON OUTLINE:

1)    AN AMBASSADOR MUST BE CITIZEN OF HEAVEN (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17)

-         You can’t be an ambassador of a certain country if you’re not a citizen in it. Just the same with an ambassador of Christ, we should be a resident of heaven. The hymnal song “This World is not my home” is a good reminder of our residency.  The time we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour was the time we have become the ambassador of Christ.

-         Personally, have you feel blessed upon reading in the Bible that you are a resident of heaven? Most people have the difficulty of getting a permanent residency in a certain country like for example in USA but for being a resident in heaven is free. It was all paid by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.

-         Another thing is when we suffer trials and problems on earth, it’s comforting that these won’t take long because our permanent residency is not on earth.

2)    AN AMBASSADOR IS A REPRESENTATIVE

-         One of the responsibilities of an ambassador is to be representative. An example of this is the news reported last 2016; USA television reported that President Trump ordered the US Ambassador in the Philippines, Sung Kim, to report back in the country because they were reliably informed that the ambassador had been working with De Lima. He was ordered to report back because this might cause problem against the program of the Philippine government against drugs. An ambassador represents the country he is belong and he should represent properly the country he represents to.

-         Spiritually speaking, we are the representatives of the King of Kings. We are the stand in the courts of human conscience authoritatively representing the authority of our King.

-         We represents Christ on earth. We must guard against the peril of misrepresenting the Christ.

We must be diligent to represent Christ properly and adequately by being genuinely Christian.

-         Have you seen and felt the responsibility of being a representative? You should speak and act as representatives of our Lord. The Bible says in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven”

3)    AN AMBASSADOR HAS THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Corinthians 5:18)

Did you notice how many times the word “reconciliation” (or its variation) was used in this passage? Our sin and infidelity with the world has caused separation between God and us. However, God offers to forgive our sins when they are atoned for by the death of Christ (verse 21).

But remember, God has done us no wrong. He has no faults that we need to overlook and forgive. This is why Scripture never speaks of God being reconciled to us. It only speaks of us being reconciled to God (Ephesians 2:12 – 16).

Here’s another key idea about “reconciliation”: the heart of the word in Greek is “change” or “exchange”. When we are reconciled to God, we are not just forgiven and accepted as is. There is a metamorphosis on our part. We begin growing from a stance of resisting God to honoring and obeying Him. The creation of a new heart is the result.

So when we “evangelize” or “share our faith”, we are to act as His representatives; helping others come to peace with their Creator. But the concept or activity of “evangelism” or “sharing our faith” are not the totality of our “ministry of reconciliation”. And the goals are not just getting people to clean up their lifestyle, adopt a certain set of doctrines (rules) or to attend worship services.

The solemn responsibility (and result) is encouraging a rebellious soul and heart to be re-united to God.

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4)    AN AMBASSADOR IS A MESSENGER (ACTS 8:35, 38)

-         God wants to speak through us to a lost, wayward, and guilty world

A)     We are messengers of the pleading Christ.

B)    We are messengers of the beseeching God.

- Jesus prescribing one of our functions as being that of a witness.

a.      By this commission our Lord intends that each of us should be communicators of the message of redemption to both the eyes and ears of those who live in our world.

b.      Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

-         The message of the ambassador of Christ (v. 21)

a.      Our message is a revelation of what God has done in Christ so as to save people from sin.

b.      God has promised a Savior who knew no sin

Heb. 4:15 “…but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”

c.        God has placed our sins on the sinless Savior.

Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

d.      The Sinless One suffered for the sinful - 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ hath also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” 2 Cor. 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”

e.       It is now possible for the sinful to be saved from sin and to be treated as if they were righteous (Romans 3:23-25)

(Contributed by Baptist man named, Carl Allen)

-         As ambassador of Christ, we should speak only or give the message what Christ wants us to say to people.

CONCLUSION:

In Acts 21: 10-13, some Christians wept because they saw the possible persecutions & suffering of Apostle Paul may encounter in preaching the Gospel. Then Paul answered in verse 13, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.” We can see in this verse that Paul was willing to be bounded and died for Christ and let’s try to see our soul winning life; for us in church age with no persecution at all have seldom shared the Gospel. For the worst, weeks and months pass without sharing is a sad situation right?

The need of our world for the message of God’s love is indescribably great. God will use and bless each of us as we yield ourselves to become communicators of his love and ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Let’s try to go out and strive to tell at least one person about our Savior.