Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
This text defines for us the mandate that every Christian has from God to engage in the ministry of reconciliation, to proclaim the message of reconciliation, thereby functioning as an ambassador for Christ through whom God is conveying His message.
Reconciliation is
- By the will of God.
- By the act of forgiveness.
- By the obedience of faith.
- By the work of substitution.
We all long to go to heaven so we can get rid of this cantankerous flesh that keeps subjecting us to sinful things. I’m not righteous. But then again, on the cross Christ was not a sinner. But God treated Him as a sinner and though I’m not righteous, God treats me as if I am righteous. On the cross, God treated Jesus as if He lived my life, and now He treats me as I live – as if I lived Jesus life. Is that a startling thought?
That’s why there’s no condemnation. God looks at the cross, sees Jesus. Looks at – looks at the cross rather, and sees us bearing His fury. Looks at us and sees His Son. That’s what it means to be in Christ. This is the gospel. This is the message, the word of reconciliation that we are to discharge in the ministry of reconciliation as ambassadors.
Read the full message by John MacArthur here.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20
Highlights Written By: Anne Gurley