Called To Be Ambassadors
Greetings Brethren,
What if President Obama called you one day and told you that he had chosen you to go live in a foreign country and represent the United States of America on his and the nation's behalf?
Would you be excited and honored? Probably not.... if you are a follower of Christ. Who would want to be a representative for a country that has become one of the most immoral nations in the world with laws on it books that go against everything Christ teaches?
But what if the King of the Universe called you one day and told you that He had chosen you to be an ambassador for Him and to represent His Kingdom? Now that would be quite an honor and the opportunity of a lifetime!
But, oh wait, that is exactly what has happened if God has called you to become one of His own precious children. God the Father has called us to become reconciled with Him through Christ and then to become lights of examples of what it means to be their true followers, to all whom we come in contact with. As ambassadors for Christ we are to preach the message to all who will listen that they too can become reconciled to God as well.
In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul discusses the subject regarding the ministry of reconciliation, and he uses the term "ambassadors" in referring to those who are now in Christ. Paul further explains that it has been given to all who are Christ's to act on behalf of their Lord and Savior by bringing the message of reconciliation to others. As God's called out ones, God has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal, through His human instruments living here on earth, to others to be reconciled to the Father.
2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ and how are we to live that shows those around us what kind of country we belong to and what the citizens of that country are like? And what would be our message to those we come in contact with in the foreign land that we have been sent to?
First, we have to be called by God the Father to become an ambassador for Him and for Christ.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
If we are in Christ "Therefore if any man be in Christ" [that is called out and have repented and accepted the atoning blood of Christ and have committed to go and sin no more], then we are "new creatures" forgiven, washed cleaned, and renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] of our character has passed away. By the power of the Holy Spirit we have been spiritually renewed which brings a whole new way of living and thinking.
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ", Paul tells us that all of these things are from God who only can reconcile us to Himself through Christ which is by His sacrificial death that makes it possible for us to be made acceptable to Him. God then gives us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him] by helping those whom He is calling to come to see and understand that they, too, can be accepted by God through the forgiveness of their repented of sins through the sacrifice of Christ and thereby be reconciled to the Father. Again, those who belong to God are to be ambassadors for Christ for the rest of our lives, here on earth now and throughout all eternity.
2nd Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us [God were making His appeal through us]: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [we as Christ's representatives plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God.]
Note: that Paul in his letter to the Ephesians referred to himself as an ambassador.
Ephesians 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
As ambassadors for Christ, we are made God's messengers which He leaves in the world to be examples for others around us to come to know how they, too, can be reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sins through Christ's blood and how to live righteously obeying from the heart the whole Word of God.
2nd Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Definition of Ambassador
The Greek word for "ambassador" in 2nd Corinthians 5: 20 is presbeuó (Strong's #4243) and means: From the base of presbuteros; to be a senior, i.e. (by implication) act as a representative (figuratively, preacher) -- be an ambassador. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)
The English Definition: an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country:
1. A diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as itsresident representative (ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary [as a diplomat)
2. A diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization.
3. An authorized messenger or representative. (Dictionary.com)
Synonyms: envoy, plenipotentiary, emissary, (papal) nuncio, representative, high commissioner, consul, consul general, diplomat, legate. (Oxford Dictionary)
By these definitions, we see both from the Bible and the secular meanings that basically an Ambassador is a respected official envoy acting as a representative of a country, sent to a foreign land to set up residency and live among the citizens of that land, but retaining his own citizenship.
The ambassador's function is to reflect the official position of the sovereign body that gave him authority to act on its behalf. Paul likens his own calling to that of an ambassador, and he teaches that all believers must consider themselves ambassadors for Christ as well.
To Be Reconciled to God
2nd Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
And according to this passage in his letter, the principle of reconciliation is always at the heart of Christ's Gospel message, for reconciliation involves healing the breach that keeps a person separated from God by their sins; it is the changing of a person's mind from being at enmity with God and with His Word; to that of acknowledging and agreeing that God's ways are right after all. The person then changes his life to reflect that he is now in agreement with God. He has therefore made peace [reconciliation] with God.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The English definition of "reconcile" means: to restore to friendship or harmony [reconciled the factions] settle, resolve [reconcile differences].
The Greek word for "reconcile" is katallassó (Strong's #2644) and means: I change, exchange, reconcile.
From HELPS Word-studies: 2644 katallássō (from 2596 /katá, "down to an exact point," intensifying 236 /allássō, "to change") - properly, decisively change, as when two parties reconcile when coming ("changing") to the same position.
2644 /katallássō ("decisively changed, reconciled") is applied to marriage partners (1 Cor 7:11), but usually in the redemptive sense of a sinner reconciling to the Lord.
[2644 (katallássō) was originally used for the exchange of coins; "properly, to change, exchange (especially of money); hence, of persons, to change from enmity to friendship, to reconcile" (A-S).]
An ambassador for Christ, as well as living an excellent example of what it means to be a follower of Christ, also has a very important message to give to the world, for the whole message of reconciliation to the Father is centered around the love of God and the death of Christ which makes it possible to go from being an enemy of God to becoming His friend. (John 15:14)
If we are reconciled to God in this way, and we remain faithful unto death, we will attain to the resurrection to spirit and eternal life and become a member of God's family.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
1st John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Our reconciliation with our Father is possible only because of Christ's atoning sacrificial death that paid the debt for the sins of those who repent and put their trust in Him. Those who are reconciled no longer live according to the flesh but walk according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Our reconciliation with God is based on the salvation Jesus provides for those who accept it by faith, and further ask for forgiveness, repent, and commit "to go and sin no more".
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Our reconciliation with our Father in Heaven is possible only because His Son Jesus Christ died in our stead and received the punishment due us. Just before Christ died, He cried, "It is finished," meaning that the work that He had been sent to do on earth as a man in the flesh was completed.
Mathew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
The veil (or barrier) between sinful man and our Holy God was removed, making all those who trust in Jesus and His sacrifice for them holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
As Christ's ambassadors we are taught that we are to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves":
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must take this message of our King to the "ends of the earth" imploring men and women everywhere to be reconciled to God.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
43:11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.
43:12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith theLord, that I am God.
The Hebrew word for "witness" is ed (Strong's #5707) and means: witness, testimony, evidence, of things. (Strong's Concordance)
A witness gives evidence and testimony by how he lives and with his message of the truth about God and of His coming Kingdom. A witness for God is therefore an ambassador for Christ and the Kingdom of God in that sense for he represents God and speaks on God's behalf by his life and by his words.
Those who have committed themselves to be faithful followers of Christ are God's ambassadors in that they have been "approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel".
1st Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
God's Kingdom is Not of This World
The called out people of God are on a journey, traveling through this world on our way to the Promised Land, realizing that even though we have to live in this world for a short time this is not our real home.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
As ambassadors for Christ, it is our responsibility to reflect the "official position" of the Kingdom of God. We are in this world, but we are not to be of it!
John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
What Does it Mean to Be "In Christ" and Why is it Important?
To be an ambassador for Christ is truly a privilege and an honor and if we have been called and are now in Christ, we can be tremendously thankful for being given such a calling. To be in Christ means that we are new persons and that we are becoming like Christ and no longer identify with the former person that we were; but we now belong to Him.
2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
When we become a believer, we have a new identity in Christ. Scriptures tell us that we become a new person, and our identity "in Christ" should be first and foremost one of "newness". We are new creations in Christ with our old persons left behind in the waters of baptism.
The English definition of "identity" is: (a) the fact of being who or what a person or thing is: (b) a close similarity or affinity.
The word "identity" is defined as "the collective aspect of the set of characteristics by which a thing is definitively recognizable or known."
Synonyms: name, ID, specification, identification, recognition, naming, singling out. (Oxford Dictionary)
When we become converted and we are then "in Christ", our identity should reflect the characteristics of Christ and the newness should be easily recognizable as we leave our old identity (what we were before baptism) behind. We and others should be able to see the change because of the new way we conduct our lives.
If we are "in Christ," we reflect evidence of the fact, just as being "in the world" is equally apparent. We will live the way Christ lived and we will emulate His character. If we are to be His ambassadors we must reflect His character to those we have been sent to.
If our identity is in Christ, then we can be identified as being one of Christ's [a close similarity or affinity, "the quality or condition of being the same as something else."] If we are followers of Christ, we follow His example and we live the same "way" as Christ lived. Paul said that he was a follower of Christ. "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1st Corinthians 11:1) and that he was a worshiper of the God of his fathers, implying the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and that he believed all that was written in God's Word.
Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Like Paul, if we are in Christ we will be living the Way of Christ, we will emulate Him in all that we do and therefore become ambassadors for Him and of His WAY.
Those who are called and strive to live for God must seek to live by His every Word and incorporate it into their lives. We must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to apply the Word to every situation that challenges our will to obey God and all His commandments.
Living for God means giving up ourselves and desiring God's will above all else. As we draw nearer to God and come to know Him more, our minds adapt more to His mind and His way of thinking. Our desires will reflect what God desire. As we become spiritually mature, our desire to obey God's laws increases as our love for Him grows. Jesus told His disciples at the last Passover that "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15), and as our love increases, we will want to keep all of His commandments and live our lives according to the whole Word of God.
In his letter to the brethren in Rome, Paul says that our old man is to be crucified and that we are therefore no longer slaves to sin.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
To be in Christ means that we are God's children and we may approach Him as His dear children without fear and in faith. Our heavenly Father has adopted us as His sons and daughters and we therefore are able to call Him "Abba! Father!"
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
To Be An Ambassador
In his Second Letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul tells the brethren that they are ambassadors for Christ. Ambassadors are people who represent others or even whole nations and speak on their behalf.
It is awe-inspiring but can also be intimidating to us to think that the Bible tells us that we are to be representatives for Christ. It is a huge responsibility to be an ambassador, let alone an ambassador for Jesus Christ who is King and Maker of the whole earth and the Universe. He has given us a very important responsibility and it must not be taken lightly.
In order to be ambassadors for Christ and to speak for Him we obviously need to know what Christ is all about, what He teaches and what He would have us say or do in whatever situation we face.
The ambassadors in this world need to be in constant training to perfect their ambassador skills and how to be a positive impact to those they have been sent to and to stay up on what is going on around them; and so it should be for those called to be Christ's ambassadors. To be worthy of our calling as ambassadors, it necessitates that His people are in constant contact with "headquarters" (our heavenly Father) with daily, ongoing prayer and study of the Scriptures, meditating on God's laws and precepts, and occasional fasting to draw even closer to the One who has sent us forth. We need to seek His direction daily to show us the way we are to go and how to make proper decisions and how to handle any problems that come up.
2nd Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1st Peter 1:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
When Paul exhorted the members of the Corinthian congregation to be ambassadors, he was not addressing only the elders and pastors of the Ekklesia. His letter was directed to ALL the brethren; not just the leaders.
Every believer is called to be trained and groomed to represent Christ. While Jesus was here on earth as a man, His mission was to act on the Father's behalf and serve as an ambassador for Him and the Kingdom of God. Christ's mission did not end when he died and went back to His Father in heaven. He sent His Holy Spirit to help His disciples continue to proclaim God's message and to reflect the character of God in all that they think, say, and do and to be examples of all that He taught. The way we do this is by striving to live as Christ did, by following His example having the same walk as He walked.
Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
1st John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Even, so, whenever we are confronted with a choice as to what we should do or how to handle something, we can ask ourselves how would Jesus handle that certain problem, or how would He react to someone that was persecuting or slandering Himself or some of His friends? We need to think about the many incidents that happened in Scripture and apply the same principles to our own situations that we find ourselves in. We are to ask God to give us His wisdom and to guide us in our job of ambassador. When we study Jesus' sinless behavior in Scripture, it is a good measurement of what our behavior should be.
Also, Scripture says it can be a wise thing to seek advice from those who are godly, who are perhaps older and more experienced than we are when we come up against something that is difficult. Sometimes it may be unclear as to how to apply God's laws in certain situations and after seeking God in prayer, it is good at times to get another ambassador's perspective on applying God's Word in difficult matters.
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
When we are ambassadors for Christ we submit all our lives in service to doing His will. We are called to use our members, our hands, and feet and every other part of our selves to be working the works of Christ in this present world continuing in the Work He started when He was here on earth. This is awesome, Brethren, but that is what Christ desires for us, in fact, He says that we were created for good works and that we will reap the rewards even if our work is presently taken for granted or even misinterpreted as evil from those who do not understand, whose eyes are still veiled.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
1st Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
And if we are the servants of Christ we would be doing what Jesus Christ wants, who also did the will of God the Father; and not whatever we want! Whatever we do, whatever we say, the way we treat our family, our friends and even our enemies should reflect the way that Jesus Christ has shown to us by His example and by all of His teachings. (Please see the chapters that contain the Sermon on the Mount for Christ taught us how we are to be perfect [complete] and we are to reflect Christ not only in the letter of the law but in the spiritual aspects of the law in all that we do.)
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (see also Matthew 5, 6, and 7)
The Commissioning of the Disciples
Here are some specific Scriptures that pertain to the fact that Christ's followers are commissioned to be ambassadors. Christ sent His disciples out into the world with this mandate to go the lost and to show them the kinds of things that they had seen Him do while He was with them and to teach them what Jesus had taught them. And if we are His disciples we, too, are being sent to do as Christ did and to teach as He taught.
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In this world, an ambassador is sent by the authority of the leaders of his own nation. As ambassadors for Christ, we have been sent out into the world by Christ Himself:
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Ambassadors are sent to a country other than that of their own citizenship, as God's ambassadors our citizenship is in heaven for we belong to Christ.
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
20:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
When we become followers of Christ our real home is in heaven which will come down to earth some day and our citizenship is among the household of God. We look for a city which has God as its foundation, a city or country whose builder and maker is God.
Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
As ambassadors from God we do not really fit into the culture of this world; we are to be a people of high moral standards, we behave differently and we have a different way of doing things than the people of the world. We must always reflect the high standards and values of the One who sends us. As ambassadors we need to represent our Leader of our country just as the ambassadors of this world strive to do.
Christ as the Ambassador of the Father was a Perfect Representation of God the Father and we too are called to be a perfect representative of God.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
As ambassadors we are to show love as Christ shows love to our brethren and also to the people in the world who are not called yet, but will be given a chance at a future time.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
How do we truly show love to one another? By doing God's commandments to one another, being filled with the fruits of Gods Spirit and practicing those fruits toward one another and helping others when they have needs.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
We are to show love not only in the letter of the law, (yes, love is the keeping of the commandments), but in the spirit of the law as well. This is a very telling way that others will know if we are truly Christ's disciples, if we show love to them by acting according to God's law and by how we exhibit the fruits of God's Holy Spirit. All of the fruits are different aspects of God's agape love and if we lack these things we show that we really are not reflecting the love of God.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
1st Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1st Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
And along this same line, we are to serve others as Christ served:
John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
God's ambassadors are to be holy as Christ is holy:
1st Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Paul admonished the brethren to mark those who were living as good ambassadors of Christ and to follow their example.
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.
3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
We are no longer citizens of this present evil world and Paul warns us be separate even as we witness to those who are still in darkness.
2nd Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Ambassadors for Christ understand that they are a part of a heavenly, God-ruled kingdom. Things of this world are no longer attractive to them nor do they place importance on things that the world values.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
1st Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Those who belong to Christ do not fear or dwell on the suffering and the trials that they face from time to time, knowing that they are temporary and that God will not allow us to go through more than what we can handle. I know this is easier said than done, but this is what we must strive for to be ambassadors to others, for if we stay calm and remain faithful during our trials its shows the people of the world evidence that we truly do have trust and faith in a God that cares and has good things planned in the future even if we have to suffer for a time in this life.
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
1st Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1st Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
As ambassadors, we are to have the fear of God by way of an awe of Him that makes us want to obey Him and love Him, quite different from fearing God as the guilty fear judgment; as those who are sincerely repentant of sin we now have access to God as our Father and have the wonderful privilege of being able to come to Him with confidence and ask of Him the things that we have need of.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
As ambassadors, even our bodies and our actions reflect that our minds are no longer conformed to this present world:
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
And as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, we perceive that the people we deal with from day to day who act as our enemies are under the influence of unseen forces. We come to see and understand that our real enemies are not the people around us, but they are the spiritual forces that endeavor to keep all people from knowing God and from following Him as their Lord.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
As ambassadors who are the children of God, we BELONG to and are to represent a new nation, a holy and special nation, a nation of priests that should shine to all others around us the praises of God who called us to come out of this dark evil world and shine out the message of His glorious Kingdom.
1st Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Will we be persecuted for being Ambassadors for Christ? Yes, we will be; the Bible does not hide the fact that we will be hated by those in the world who do not want to hear or to be reminded that they are sinners in need of a Savior, in need of repentance and need to become like Christ.
But that should not deter us from being what Christ wants us to be and from being God's representatives on earth while we are in these earthen vessels.
For those who persevere through the rejection and persecution, Christ promises that there will be great reward.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Psalm 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
What are the True Treasures?
Ambassadors for Christ have a different perspective of the world we live in; we see the world with the big picture in view and what is really important and what is not. Those who are in Christ have a whole different perspective on life than those who are in the world and need to be aware that if we do not stay close to God we can be lured back in or we may become lukewarm to our calling. As ambassadors for Christ we have to ask: "What are the things in this world that truly have eternal value?" The only things of eternal value in this life are those that we can take with us into eternity.
Life in this world is temporal, not eternal, and therefore, the only part of life that has eternal value are those things that will last throughout eternity. Clearly, to those who are called and have come out of the ways of this world, the most important thing in this life is having a relationship with Jesus Christ, to know Him and to love all that He stands for; and if we are His and we remain faithful until the end, we will be given the gift of eternal life which comes only through Him. These are the things that we are to represent to the world we live in during this age.
As we all know and as the saying goes: "we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it" but sometimes we can get our eyes off of the fact that there is so much more to this life than the creature comforts and material gain.
In our day to day living sometimes just to make ends meet, we can forget about the fact that this world is passing away. Moses reminds us to remember that it is God that enables us to gain wealth and the things we need while we are here on earth and that we must never become complacent and begin to set our hearts on our nice houses, wealth, and the abundance that this world offers.
Moses warns us, too, not to forget about God, but implies that we are to keep our eyes set on the city that is to come, for all that we have here is only temporary and we will leave all behind at some point. So why let it occupy all our time and energy in trying to attain more and more?
Deuteronomy 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
8:12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
8:13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
8:14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
8:15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
8:16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
8:18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
8:19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
8:20 As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.
We must still live in this world, so we do need to work and build and have certain things to make our way through this life and we need to provide for our families; but there is no eternal rewards if we live our lives just for ourselves and our own pleasures, looking to get out of this life all that we can, as modern day Babylon would have us to believe. As some of us who are older know, this life goes by fast and we realize just how short our time here is in these earthly bodies, so it behooves us to seek those things that are above, to put God first before everything and everyone else, and seek to be good ambassadors for Him while we have the chance.
As Jesus said to His disciples:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
And the apostle John warns us:
1st John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Regarding the temporal material things this world has to offer which many so desperately seek after, Jesus teaches us not to store up for ourselves earthly treasures that can be destroyed or stolen.
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
That Future Day
What a glorious day that will be when the country [God's Kingdom] that we have envisioned in the far distance most of our lives is suddenly our reality and we will know that we had a part in representing that country as we lived here as ambassadors for Christ! Do not neglect the opportunity we have been given to belong to the Ruler of that Kingdom and to be able to be a part of His Kingdom when that day arrives.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Many Scriptures give us a glimpse of what God's Kingdom will be like, along with His promises; and fills us with much anticipation and longing for it to be here soon.
Psalm 36:5 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
36:10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
The Bible says that we will be eternally rewarded according to what we have done while here on earth.
The things we do that have eternal value is what really counts. As Christ Himself said:
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
God's children are God's workmanship, Paul says that they are "created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for then to do".
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
These "good works" pertain to obeying and serving the Lord and all of His Word with all of our hearts with what He has given us and with full dependence on Him and on His Spirit which empowers us to do good works.
The apostle Paul tells us that the quality of the works that we do is what will determine what our eternal reward will be. He equates believers to "builders" and the quality of our works with certain building materials. Paul points out to us that it is the precious materials that we choose to use in our lives that will survive God's tests; those things will have eternal value. The excellent things that make up our life and how we served with diligence and great zeal are the "gold, silver, and costly stones"; whereas using the inferior materials of "wood, hay and straw" to build upon the foundation that is Christ will not last and will have no eternal value; and if we are building with inferior materials, they will not earn any rewardr. (This brings to mind the Laodician attitude that we are warned of in Revelation 3.)
Here, Paul is exhorting that not all of our conduct and works will merit rewards and that we must be careful to only seek and bring forth those things that will have eternal value when it comes to how we live our lives and what we did with what we were given.
1st Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
What kind of an ambassador have we all been in our day to day walk with Christ? None of us have done it perfectly and we are all still very much in training. But we can strive to improve using every day of our lives to live even more for Christ.
How are we doing and how is the Ekklesia doing in our current times at being ambassadors for God? As we approach the Passover season, we all need to reflect on our individual lives and seek to represent our Lord in the way He would have us to do, knowing that the world is watching and the way we live brings either honor or reproach to God's name and His Ekklesia. How will we measure up when it is time to give an account to the One who commissioned us to be His trusted Ambassadors?
Some day we will stand before Christ to give account of our service as Ambassadors for Him.
2nd Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1st Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
Most of us will never receive a call from the president or some other high ranking official in this world to be an ambassador for our country; but if we are one of God's faithful children, we have been commissioned by God the Father to go forth, to live out our lives in this present evil world and to the best of our ability (with His help by His Holy Spirit), to show what the Kingdom of God on earth will be like by our behavior.
Let us pray that we may all be humble, obedient, and loyal Ambassadors for our Mighty King who is Sovereign over all the earth and over the whole Universe and that all our works will glorify Him and His Kingdom now at this time and also throughout all eternity.
Have a wonderful and refreshing Sabbath everyone,
Constance
*Next week we will look at how God called the ancient children of Israel to be His ambassadors on earth but how they utterly failed and what God expects of His spiritual children (the Israel of God), in this end time generation. Just as the world's governments sends out their ambassadors to other countries to represent them in their affairs within those nations, God chose Israel to represent Him. In our day He has chosen His Ekklesia to represent Him and to be a witness to all nations.
