Last Days Essentials-9

lastdays13
7 days ago
4 min read

Ambassadors

2Cor. 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.

Few verses more precisely summarize Paul’s ministry and message (cf. Acts 26:16-18). As Christ had preached peace to all men (Eph. 2:17) on the basis of what He would accomplish (Eph. 2:16), Paul continued that proclamation in His stead. The immediate representative of God’s message of reconciliation was Paul, whose ministry is shared by all who are “in Christ” (2Cor. 5:17, 5:19). All believers should serve Christ as His ambassadors. Paul’s appeal was not a perfunctory pronouncement but an impassioned plea (“we try to persuade men” [2Cor. 5:11]) addressed to the world on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (cf. 1Tim. 2:3-4).

Now then...

οὖν

oun

oon

Apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjugationally) accordingly: - and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.

we are ambassadors...

πρεσβεύω

presbeuō

pres-byoo'-o

From the base of elderly, older; to be a senior, that is, (by implication) act as a representative (figuratively preacher): - be an ambassador.

for...

ὑπέρ

huper

hoop-er'

A primary preposition; “over”, that is, (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than. In compounds it retains many of the listed applications: - (+ exceeding abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to (-ward), very. In compounds it retains many of the above applications.

Christ,...

Χριστός

Christos

khris-tos'

From to smear or rub with oil; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.

as though...

ὡς

hōs

hoce

Probably adverb of compound from who, which, what, that:; which how, that is, in that manner (very variously used as shown): - about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when ([-soever]), while, X with all speed.

God (Father)...

θεός

theos

theh'-os

Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with the) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: - X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].

did beseech...

παρακαλέω

parakaleō

par-ak-al-eh'-o

From properly near and to call; to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): - beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), in-treat, pray.

you by...

διά

dia

dee-ah'

A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal or occasional). In composition it retains the same general import: - after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) . . . fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through (-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general import.

us (Apostles):...

ἡμῶν

hēmōn

hay-mone'

Genitive plural of I; of (or from) us: - our (company), us, we.

we pray...

δέομαι

deomai

deh'-om-ahee

Middle voice of to bind; to beg (as binding oneself), that is, petition: - beseech, pray (to), make request.

you in Christ's stead,...

ὑπέρ

huper

hoop-er'

Χριστός

Christos

khris-tos'

From to smear or rub with oil; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.

Who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 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. Now then we are ambassadors of Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God (2Cor. 5:18-20).

Now, some people talk about God being reconciled to us. Never. God didn’t leave us. God didn’t turn His back and go away from us. We are the ones that need to be reconciled to God. We are the ones that turned our back on Him and walked away from Him. We are the ones that need the reconciliation. And so Paul’s plea, and he said, "I’m doing it in Jesus’ place, in His stead. As for God I’m doing it. I’m an ambassador, a representative of God. I’m speaking on His behalf, in His stead. Be ye reconciled unto God."

So this glorious work of reconciliation. God, in His love, created man; created man in His image, in His government of light and life. That man might live in fellowship with God and know the glory, the joy, the beauty of living in fellowship with God. But man turned from that. Turned his back on God. Walked away from God. And he began to experience the miseries of life without God. The emptiness, the hopelessness, the despair of life without God. And God so loved the world that He send His only begotten Son to die for man’s sins in order that through the death of Christ, man might be brought back to God or reconciled to God. And so Paul said, "I’m God’s ambassador, and I’m here representing Jesus Christ, and I’m saying for Him, ’Be ye reconciled to God.’" Come back into fellowship with God. Come back into the government of light and life. Know again the joy, the glory, the blessing of walking in the Spirit. The life of the Spirit. The life after the Spirit.

be ye reconciled...

καταλλάσσω

katallassō

kat-al-las'-so

From down and to make different; to change mutually, that is, (figuratively) to compound a difference: - reconcile.

to God (Father)...