Embassy Reports
“We are ambassadors for Christ.” Such a reality is hard to comprehend—that God would take the very sinners He saved and use them to reach other sinners. What an awesome God we serve!
The plan of the ages is a redemptive one that was executed on Calvary’s cross when Jesus paid the sin debt that we owed. When a sinner accepts that payment, it initiates a rebirth transaction. The apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) He continues to write about the process of reconciling that Jesus set in motion. God is in the business of bringing lost humanity back to Himself through Christ. The incomprehensible part is that He chose to trust those same sinners to join Him in the work. That passage goes on to read that God has given to us “the ministry of reconciliation” and “the word of reconciliation.” (vv. 18-19) The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of the Kingdom of God. That means we are representatives of a realm and its Ruler. Along with our new life in Christ, we have gained a new citizenship in His kingdom. Though we may reside in this world, we are only passing through. The only reason we are here after spiritual rebirth is to function as ambassadors. What is our primary task in representing the Lord in this world? The apostle tells us clearly that we are to lead people to Jesus: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (v. 20) The question that begs to be asked—What will you report to the King about the embassy appointment He gave you? Be found faithful as a steward of the gospel of salvation!
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.