Ambassadors of the King.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 we have both a Ministry and a Message, centred in and around the reconciliation offered by the gracious hand of a gracious God.  Moving on, v. 20 presents us with four things: [1] the Messengers— we are “Messiah’s Ambassadors;” [2] the means— “as though God were making His appeal through us;” [3] the mediation— “we implore you, we beg you, on Messiah’s behalf;” and [4] the Message— “be reconciled to God.”

In light of these spiritual realities, the Apostle says, “We are …Messiah’s Ambassadors.”  Because Abba has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, because He has given us the Ministry of Reconciliation, and because He committed to our care the Message of Reconciliation, consequently, “we are Ambassadors” of the King.  Which, if you consider the implications, makes us Royal Ambassadors!  “As though God were making His appeal [to the lost] through us.  We implore you on Messiah’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” {v. 20}.

And what is reconciliation?  In the spiritual context of the New Testament it is ‘the power to effect a change.’  This change is between two estranged parties: fallen man on one side, an enemy of God and in rebellion against Him; faithful God on the other, constantly and eternally vigilant over the hearts and lives of His creatures.  Between these two was the Barrier of our sin.  On the negative side Jesus’ glorious Work removed all enmity between God and man; on the positive side He established permanent peace between the two parties.  Enmity is removed and peace is established— eternally.

Paul finishes this section of Scripture {vv. 14-21} by saying, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” {v. 21 NIV}.  The Wycliffe Bible Commentary sums up v. 21 like this.  “The Sinless One became— by imputation— sin for the sinner, that the sinner might become— by imputation— sinless in the Sinless One.”  I love that.  Imputation is the means by which God justifies His Sons and Daughters.  To be ‘justified’ means we’ve been ‘vindicated’ in His eyes, ‘acquitted’ of all crimes, that we stand judicially righteous in His sight forevermore.  Imputation has been a vital part of the Gospel since the beginning of Time: that God through His Redeemer would take away the guilt and penalty of man’s sin, and find a way to make sinful man as righteous as He is righteous.  He does this by imputing His impeccable righteousness to each of us the very moment we believe in Jesus as our Savior and Sovereign and enter a relationship with the Lord of Heaven and Earth.  God’s grace and our faith— an unbeatable combination.

Even though this insurmountable Barrier of sin once stood between righteous God and sinful man, God reconciled us to Himself by not imputing our sins to us, by not counting our trespasses against us.  He charged them instead to His Son on the Cross— cf. Romans 4:3-8.  Do you realize Abba will never impute sins to any member of the human race?  He will never charge their sins to their eternal account!  Not just His Sons and Daughters, but any member of the human race.  Are you following the enormity of this?  No one ever has or ever will commit a sin which was not paid in full by the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  All it takes to be reconciled to God forever is to believe in this full and finished Work.  It begins with the Cross and the removal of our sin and shame; it glories in the Resurrection and our Triumph over fear and death; it concludes with the Ascension and Jesus’ granting of ultimate Authority to those who follow in His footsteps.

So, what’s it going to be?  “As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.  For He says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the Day of Salvation I helped you.’  I tell you, now is the Time of God’s favor, now is the Day of Salvation” {2 Cor. 6:1-2 NIV}.

— the Apostle Paul, 56 AD

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296 | hjcommunity.org
Heart’s Journey – where the Word and the Spirit are one.