2 Corinthians 5:20, 21 says...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 5:20, 21, which read,
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
This is the sixth "therefore" of this chapter and it is a big one. A temporary earthly tent has been given to us by God that for this time we call home but that same God is building for us in heaven a house that will last forever. Just as there are two sides to a coin, so there are two sides of a Christian's life. The "here and now" side of the coin is to be lived in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. The "present with the Lord" side of the coin is to be lived in the presence of the Lord standing in judgment before Him to present the glory of Him while we lived on the other side of the coin. Paul and his companions continued to tell them of the gospel of Jesus Christ even in the face of persecution and opposition. They were driven by Christ because their lives were no longer about themselves but about the One who died and rose again for them. The conversion of their own souls has made them look at others with the other side of the coin in mind. As they were reconciled to Christ, Paul and his companions are speaking to them of that same reconciliation as their mission given to them by God. Paul ends with this all out plea as an "ambassador," an official position given by another to represent that one that gave the position, to call others to God.
Paul ends the chapter with the heart of the gospel message. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who knew no sin came from God to us and for us for the purpose of paying the price for our sin. This was done so that we might become justified before God through Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Paul's plea is for them to hear this, understand this, believe this, and confess this. He is pleading and even begging that they "might become" right with God through what God has already done through His Son. Will some answer the call of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ? This is what Paul is putting out before them.
God went "all out" for all the inhabitants of the world to present His own Son with the saving gospel. Paul is following suit by going "all out" even in the face of persecution and opposition to make Christ known to them. The question this morning is if we are also going to follow suit and be an ambassador of Christ to our world with the gospel message? We have been given a position by another to represent the giver of the position to the place we have been assigned. We speak and act on behalf of the giver of the position of ambassador. How is that going?
"Lord, what a lofty and privileged position you have put us in as ambassadors of You. First You gave Your Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we might be justified before You and experience eternal life with You and then You give us the message of Your Son to carry to the world in which You have placed us. May we let that sink into our lives today that before we are our given name that was given to us at our physical birth that we are forever to be known by the position that was given to us at our spiritual birth. May we speak of You and for You and about You today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
This is the sixth "therefore" of this chapter and it is a big one. A temporary earthly tent has been given to us by God that for this time we call home but that same God is building for us in heaven a house that will last forever. Just as there are two sides to a coin, so there are two sides of a Christian's life. The "here and now" side of the coin is to be lived in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. The "present with the Lord" side of the coin is to be lived in the presence of the Lord standing in judgment before Him to present the glory of Him while we lived on the other side of the coin. Paul and his companions continued to tell them of the gospel of Jesus Christ even in the face of persecution and opposition. They were driven by Christ because their lives were no longer about themselves but about the One who died and rose again for them. The conversion of their own souls has made them look at others with the other side of the coin in mind. As they were reconciled to Christ, Paul and his companions are speaking to them of that same reconciliation as their mission given to them by God. Paul ends with this all out plea as an "ambassador," an official position given by another to represent that one that gave the position, to call others to God.
Paul ends the chapter with the heart of the gospel message. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who knew no sin came from God to us and for us for the purpose of paying the price for our sin. This was done so that we might become justified before God through Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Paul's plea is for them to hear this, understand this, believe this, and confess this. He is pleading and even begging that they "might become" right with God through what God has already done through His Son. Will some answer the call of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ? This is what Paul is putting out before them.
God went "all out" for all the inhabitants of the world to present His own Son with the saving gospel. Paul is following suit by going "all out" even in the face of persecution and opposition to make Christ known to them. The question this morning is if we are also going to follow suit and be an ambassador of Christ to our world with the gospel message? We have been given a position by another to represent the giver of the position to the place we have been assigned. We speak and act on behalf of the giver of the position of ambassador. How is that going?
"Lord, what a lofty and privileged position you have put us in as ambassadors of You. First You gave Your Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we might be justified before You and experience eternal life with You and then You give us the message of Your Son to carry to the world in which You have placed us. May we let that sink into our lives today that before we are our given name that was given to us at our physical birth that we are forever to be known by the position that was given to us at our spiritual birth. May we speak of You and for You and about You today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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