Worship and Praise · Commitment and Service

Are we ambassadors?

7 min read, approximately

Ephesians 6:17-20
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times with every prayer and supplication in the Spirit, keeping watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me, so that when I open my mouth, words may be given to me to make known boldly the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, and that I may speak boldly of it as I ought.”

An ambassador, in simple terms, is an official accredited to a foreign government or an international organization to officially represent the state to which they belong. Among an ambassador’s main duties, I will mention only these:

\1. Create, develop, and maintain a public image of the country or organization represented, doing everything possible to show and promote what it offers in the foreign location.

\2. Promote the principles, values, and customs of their country abroad.

\3. Remain deeply obligated and committed to caring for people, seeking to accompany them closely, resolve doubts and problems, and offer helpful solutions.

We know that

“… we all once lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of our thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:3)

Yet God’s Word teaches us that

“… to all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God; they were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Therefore, if this is so,

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17)

Well, what happens now?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. All this comes from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s sins against them, and he entrusted us with the word of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors in Christ’s name, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you in Christ’s name: Be reconciled to God. He made the one who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Here is what happens:

\1. The old things have passed away

Why? Because we have been adopted, rescued, freed, and redeemed… And what was the payment? Christ’s blood shed on the cross of Calvary (Ephesians 1:7). Therefore, it is no longer we who live; Christ now lives in us! (Galatians 2:20)

\2. Christ reconciled us to God!

Certainly,

“… God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, then, now that we are justified by his blood, we will be saved from wrath through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11)

\3. We are ambassadors in Christ’s name!!

Why? Because

“You are the light of the world; a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Let your light shine before people in this way, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Let us be calm; we are equipped… because

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners set free. He has sent me to announce to those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, along with the day of God’s wrath against his enemies. To all who mourn in Israel he will give a crown of beauty instead of ashes, a joyful blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

As ambassadors in Christ’s name, what will we tell them?

“But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the word of faith we preach: if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10)

Christ’s ambassador

Today is a good day to understand that an ambassador of Christ

• must decrease

“He said to everyone: If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross each day, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

• needs to evangelize

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if living in the flesh means fruitful labor for me, I do not know which to choose. I am torn between the two, desiring to depart and be with Christ, which is far better; yet remaining in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” (Philippians 1:21-24)

• understands the duty to

“… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you every day, until the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

• knows it is with the Holy Spirit’s help

“Then he answered and spoke to me, saying: This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by an army, nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

• and remembers that this work is done with passion!!

“If I speak in human and angelic tongues but have no love, I become a resounding metal or a clanging cymbal. If I have prophecy, understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and have all faith so as to move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing. If I distribute all my possessions to feed the poor and give up my body to be burned, but have no love, it benefits me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Are we ambassadors?

Ambassador! Yes, you!

“I solemnly charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; persist in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears will gather teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn their ears away from the truth and turn to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

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May God continue to bless you, and may you keep having an excellent day in Christ Jesus!