Ambassadors of Christ
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. –– 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
If you were to ask me what I believed to be the quintessential verse that expresses the Gospel, I would reply instantaneously, 2 Corinthians 5:21. Expiation, the removal of our sin is there. Imputation of Christ’s righteousness on the sinner, it’s there. Christ’s sinless perfection, there. Man’s fallen condition, yep it’s there. Paul says that the––Father––made Jesus to be sin, so we clearly had nothing to do with it; Sovereignty in salvation––there. There’s even an understanding of propitiation, that in order for us to be considered or counted as righteous, Jesus had to take our sin and pay for them on the cross. The depth of 2 Corinthians 5:21 is vastly immeasurable. The gospel presentation is probably clearest and most completely expressed, in my opinion, in this solitary verse.
What I find interesting Church, is that directly preceding what I believe to be the most gospel-clear verse in the entirety of the Bible is the most evangelism-oriented verse as well. As a matter of fact the whole passage, beginning in verse 18, we’re being pressed toward pleading as Paul pleads with those who are perishing without Christ. The clearest expression of the gospel is providentially placed within some of the strongest urgings on Christians to be about the task of evangelism––appealing to the lost and dying world to be reconciled with Christ.
Let’s be encouraged today Church, to be about the work that our Lord has called us to. Let’s be encouraged Church, to be working out our faith by being the ambassador’s that God has made us to be. And as A.W. Tozer said, let us also be encouraged that our role as ambassadors is that not of “…diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.”
Much love to you Church,
– Josh