Ambassadors for Christ
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Jesus is the new Adam, the perfect image of God, the firstborn of a new creation. Instead of hijacking His own life for Himself, He brought Himself under the rule of God, and through His life, extended the reign of God wherever He went. In Christ, the universe is being set to rights. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Everything belongs to Him.
And we are ambassadors of this crucified, buried, risen, and exalted Christ! We who have been reconciled to God through Jesus, are now entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. Jesus is the King. And we are representatives of His rule and reign sent out into the world with the good news that all people everywhere can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ who died in their place and for their sake, bearing all their sin and shame, and rose again to make them right with God. If only people would admit their sin, believe in Jesus, and commit their lives to Him, they too can be reconciled to God.
But don’t you see, as ambassadors of King Jesus, we’re being welcomed back into our original assignment as image bearers. We are being sent out into all the world under the rule of the King to extend His reign wherever we go! And as more and more people come to faith in Jesus and surrender their lives to Him, the reign of God is once again multiplying throughout the earth. And as we are increasingly conformed to the image of Christ as we live in obedience, our lives display His rule, reign, and glory wherever we go! So, whatever we do, whether in word or deed, we do it all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17), the King we serve with our lives and our kingdoms.
Your Journey Reflection Questions:
What does it mean to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ?
In what ways are ambassadors and image bearers similar?
What does it look like to live as an ambassador for Christ?
In light of what you’ve learned today, what is your next step?