The question may be asked; “Which is more important, the life that I live, or the words that I say?” That’s like asking which wing of an airplane is more important, the right or the left! To be an effective ambassador, it’s obvious that both are essential.

    An Ambassador must accurately represent the character of his King with a humble integrity. – In 1 Corinthians 2:1 Paul says, “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

    An Ambassador must be convinced and compelled, and also accurately reflect the passion of his King or country. Again, Paul says “Christ’s love COMPELLS us!” If we profess to be Christians, followers of Christ, and have no passion for the church or the ministry of the gospel, we are not a church at all!

    An ambassador must also accurately reflect the message of his King or country. We cannot speak the truth if we do not know the truth. We cannot tell of what we have not experienced…or are not experiencing…in our own lives.

    So, let’s ask the question – you know I’m going to ask the question – I know you are waiting for me to ask the question – so here it comes – What kind of ambassadors have we been for Christ? Are we compelled? Are we convinced? Do we have passion, compassion, and integrity? Are we accurately representing the message of our King? Do you think there is room for improvement? 

    There are three things –3 motivating forces – of this ministry of reconciliation;  the first is the Character of God, the second is the Command of Christ, and the third is the Condition of Mankind. I will get into those further next week. See you then.

(As a side note, please click the follow button on my new web site revfred.com and you will receive an emailed copy of my book “The Promised Gift”. You will also receive an email whenever I post to my blog. Thanks.)

“Ambassadors For Christ”

 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

     Let me start this teaching in an unusual way; I want you to answer this question: “If it were up to you to choose a person to be an ambassador for the United States of America in a foreign country, what kind of person would you look for? A person of integrity?  A patriot?  How about well educated and knowledgeable? I think that an important factor for me would be a person who sees and knows all of our countries problems, and nevertheless is proud to be an American and is absolutely convinced that the U.S.A. is the best country in the world!

     Now, let’s apply these things to Christianity and the church: Paul tells us in this scripture that – not only have we been reconciled unto God – but, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation! And, in verse 20 – he says “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us”… So, what kind of a person would you choose to be an ambassador for Christ? If you go back and look at these verses once again…you will see Paul’s character evaluation of an ambassador for Christ; 

     First, in verse 14, - “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all”!  God is looking for people who are absolutely convinced that Christ is the “Way the Truth and the Life”… or as I like to put it, “The truth is that Christ is the only way to life!” And, because they are convinced, they are also compelled to tell others the good news!

      In verse 17 – Paul says that those who are in Christ are a “new creation”. Not just the old “remodeled” – “repainted” – “cleaned up and given a makeover!” Not someone who is trying to be a better person, but, a “new creation”! It’s not an external change – (I am still me – on the outside) – but it is an internal change; a change of mind, and of heart, and a soul that longs for God.

     Paul goes on to say that this “new person” – this “ambassador of Christ” will – in verse 16 – “no longer regard anyone from a worldly point of view.” An ambassador for Christ is a person who sees everyone – absolutely everyone – as a child of God…created by God… loved by God…and in either one of two states; saved by grace…or lost and separated from the love and blessings of God. The Word says that “Satan has blinded the eyes of unbelievers (those in and of the world) so that they cannot see nor understand the gospel.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) 

     An American ambassador sees other countries and the people in those other countries as “having great potential” to change the way they think and feel about America and Democracy…THEREFORE, he himself, must be absolutely convinced!

     We in the church ought to see every person as having the potential to change the way they think and feel about God and His Word! And, as having great potential for becoming a part of God’s family and using the gifts and talents God has given them to help bring others into the kingdom as well.

     Most people from foreign countries will never see or experience life in the United States, so what they see reflected in the ambassador is how they see America. The sad thing is that just like every one of us is an ambassador for Christ, so every American is an ambassador for America.  And, far too many reflect all the negative qualities when they are on foreign soil, or on the news today! I wonder if the same could be said for the church?

     So, an ambassador must be compelled and convinced, but there are more requirements that I will continue with next week lest this gets too long. See you next Sunday.

(God’s secret)

    One obvious keyword in this passage is "mystery." What does it mean? What did it mean to Paul and the recipients of this letter? Paul uses it quite differently, as "the private counsel of God, (God's) secret," which is hidden from human reason and ingenuity, and can only be known by revelation. Paul is talking about a secret, hidden for the ages and only now ready to be revealed.

    Paul tells us that he has been particularly chosen for this mission of revealing God's hidden secret. He makes it a point that it isn't his idea or his discovery or something he figured out, but that "the mystery was made known to me by revelation" (3:3), that is, that God revealed it to him.

    Christianity is not a religion that men figured out or inferred. It comes to us by revelation, that is, God revealed it directly to us through inspired writers of Scripture, the "holy apostles and prophets." Okay, but what is this mystery Paul is talking about? "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (3:6)

    That's it! Gentiles are equally the people of God with God's chosen people, the Jews. That may not be a revelation to you, but it sure was an eye-opener to the early Jewish believers, and to the Gentile believers.

    Now Paul comes to the Church's place in all this: "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." (3:10-11)

    The church is the agent of making known God's wisdom. But our audience in declaring the Gospel is not only mankind who are lost. But it is also the evil spiritual powers that have usurped God's authority here on earth. Why it is important that we proclaim the Good News in their hearing, we don't really know. But Paul is clearly saying that the Church's proclamation of the Gospel is not merely local and temporal, but cosmic in its importance. 

    Paul has been assuring the Gentile Christians of their full status and full citizenship in the Kingdom of God. On the basis of that status, he encourages them to draw near to God: "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

    The Apostle Paul reveals to the church one of the greatest revelations of God, the secret that the love and mercy of God was not just for the Jews, but for all mankind, that God was reaching out the Gentiles, the pagans of the world with the message of hope through Jesus Christ.

    This seems rather academic to us today, but in Paul’s day this was the issue! It was almost inconceivable to the Jews that Gentiles would be allowed to join them in sacred worship of Jehovah…much less any kind of fellowship.

    Imagine what would happen if a large group of Jehovah’s Witnesses were brought into your congregation and allowed to be trustees and teachers and elders…and that we were to fellowship together with them! This is exactly what the Jews were experiencing. This prospect of Gentiles being accepted by God was repugnant to them and was partly responsible for keeping many Jews from embracing Christianity. However, this was just as hard for Jewish Christians to accept! That is why we are told that they were placing strict rules on their fellowship like requiring that they be circumcised, and eat certain foods. Let me ask you this, “What kinds of things do we impose on those whom we will accept into our fellowship?

    The mystery is important to Paul, it is important to the Gentiles, and it…was important to the angels. Verses 9-10. 9 “and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” How do you feel about that?

    Did you know that God is educating the angels through the church? Angels are created beings just like we are. 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us; “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.  It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

    Even the angels are curious about God’s plans because there are parts of what God is doing which are not revealed to them just as they are not revealed to us. God’s plan concerning the church was hidden in the beginning, now Paul is making it known and with the knowledge comes responsibility. I cannot even begin to explain the spiritual realm of things that is all around us, I simply believe it because God’s Word says it exists; and I can see its effects upon people… To that extent, if angels are watching and learning from the church, how are we doing? What impression is the church giving?