The Christian – An Ambassador for Christ

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” -2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV).

Paul, writing to the church at Corinth (which he had established on his second missionary journey about A. D. 49-51) reminded them of a very important role of Christians.  “We are ambassadors for Christ,” he explained.  And because of this important role each Christian has, it is necessary that the Christian have a close and vital relationship with God.  His next appeal then, is “be reconciled to God.”

Ambassador defined means an appointed representative from one government to another.  A very important work of an ambassador is not only representing his country to another, but to settle, or reconcile, any differences that may exist in governmental relationships between the two countries.

On a spiritual and personal basis, it is an amazing thought that God would choose and appoint Christians as his ambassadors of reconciliation to a troubled and distraught world.  Paul, in this passage from 2 Corinthians, is not only reminding the church that “we”—he and others who had brought them the message of Jesus Christ which they had received, and which had reconciled them to God, but that they, too, as Christians, had the distinctive task of being an ambassador to those with whom they had contact.  They were, in turn, ministers of reconciliation to those they encountered.

In his commentary on I Corinthians 5:20-21, Rev. J. R. Dummelow (A Commentary on the Holy Bible, New York: Macmillan, 1958, p. 934) gives his paraphrase of I Corinthians 5:20-21:  “We, then, are ambassadors in Christ’s place, conveying to you God’s message and desire; we ask you, speaking in Christ’s name, to accept this great salvation.  It was to secure our salvation that God gave up His sinless Son to death, making Him bear the penalty of our guilt, the we might be made partakers of His divine nature by submitting ourselves wholly to Christ’s transforming influence.”

What a privilege that God has assigned each believer responsibility of being an ambassador to others.  And that assignment is to be an agent of reconciliation—to help our fellowman come to know God’s  unmerited grace and be transformed by it.  Can we, therefore, thank God that He has assigned us this responsible task in the world and take it seriously, day by day?  Can we be aware of one-on-one instances of sharing the love and forgiveness of God with others?  Let us pray that we can, depending on Him to supply the spiritual strength we need to be His ambassador.