As I was studying this lesson and thinking about our ambassadorship this week, the lyrics of this song came winging to my soul. “When Jesus was on the cross, I was on His mind.”
“We have nothing to boast about (You & I). We are nothing on our own. We have made mistakes, we often slip, we are just common flesh and bones. But we will prove someday just why we say, “we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Because when Jesus was on the cross, LOVE, for You & I, was on His mind .
The look of LOVE was on his face, and thorns were on His Head. The BLOOD was on His scarlet robe, stained a crimson red. Although His eyes were on the crowd that day, He looked ahead in time. Because when Jesus was on the cross, LOVE for You & I, was on his mind .
Yes, Jesus knew us, yet He still LOVED us. He whose glory makes the heaven shine. We are so unworthy of such grace & mercy. Yet when Jesus was on the cross You & I were on his mind. Yes, when He was on the cross, LOVE for You and I, was on His mind.
(1) This is why Apostle Paul said: “For the LOVE of Christ constrains (motivates,) us; because we thus judge, that if ONE DIED FOR ALL, then were all dead. And that CHRIST DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth (from now on) live unto themselves, but unto Him which DIED for them, and ROSE again”. That’s why Paul can say: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise. Paul realized just like you and I, he had a debt to discharge! Now you may ask, just what is our debt? (2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 1:16; 14). “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, for Christ has given us (MCBOC) the ministry, and the word of reconciliation. Yes, when Jesus, our Substitute Redeemer was on the cross, “God was in Christ reconciling (changing the status) of the world (of sinful men) unto himself.” Now, we stand as ambassadors in Christ’s stead, discharging our debt, telling men “Be Ye Reconciled to God. (2 Cor. 5:20).
We as members of the church, body of Christ (MCBOC) have been granted by God a two-fold Ambassadorship. 1. We are ambassadors to men. 2. We are ambassadors to (angelic beings) the principalities, the powers, in high (heavenly) places. (2 Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 3:9-10; 6:19-20).
We are now “to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery (The secret plan & purpose of God regarding the unity of believing Jews and Gentiles into one body). Yes, God was in Christ forming “the one new man,” the CBOC. Which from the beginning of the world was kept hidden in God, until now (Eph. 3:9).
(2). This is where we begin our ministry of reconciliation. God has designed us to make an impact (impression, influence) to His honor and glory regarding His manifold wisdom, (eternal purpose) in the face of men, and the principalities, and powers, on earth, and in heavenly places. That is why we fellowship face to face every week. And this is why we witness to men. To make all men see & know, that there is a place, & a people on this earth, during this dispensation of grace, that are not afraid “to open our mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. Yes, to honor the plan & purpose of God’s mystery. Believing Jews and Gentiles, in one body, where the manifold wisdom of God is on display. We are making our impact (impression, influence) known every time we witness to men & women. And when we come together, on Sunday, & every time our Men & Women groups meet to study the word “rightly divided.” We grow, mature, rejoice, & magnify the mystery of Christ, to the glory and honor of God. And every time we do, we put to shame Satan openly, afresh! (2 Cor. 5:18; Eph.3:9-11; 6:12; 6:19-20; Rom. 16:25; 2 Tim. 2:15; Col. 2:15). Which brings us to the second aspect of our ambassadorship.
(3)” To the intent (God’s intended purpose & goal) that now (right now), through the church, the mystery, the manifold (multifaceted) wisdom of God, might be made known (or taught) to the (angelic) rulers & authorities in the heavenly places (Eph. 3:10)”.
There is also an impact (impression, influence) to be made in the heavenly realm. Paul wants us to realize that we have an unseen guest, the angelic host, in heavenly places. God designed Israel with the vocation (occupation) to make an impact (impression, influence) upon the governing authorities of the earth. Through the agency of a Kingdom vested (guaranteed) in the nation of Israel. God intended to reconcile the earth & repossess the governmental authorities that Adam lost to Satan, the prince of the world, back unto himself (Deut. 4:5-8).
(4) But God had to suspend His dealings with unlawful Israel and ushered in the dispensation of Gentile grace. God then tore down the middle wall of division, and He is presently forming a new creation, called the one new man, the church the body of Christ. And the purpose of the one new man is, the reconciliation (to change the status) of the heavenly places, back to God. (Eph. 2:14; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:15).
Satan, the Prince of the power of the air, in his rebellion not only took possession of the governmental authorities of the earth, but he also took possession of the governmental authorities in heavenly places. As It is written: “And by wicked hands they crucified & killed the Prince of Life,” on the cross. But God took Satan in His craftiness. For had Satan & his demons known the plan & purpose of God “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” . “And God, having spoiled principalities and powers; made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in the cross. Satan is a defeated foe! (Eph. 2:2; Acts 2:23; 3:15; 1 Cor.2:8; Col. 2:15)
And because of God’s Genius, when Jesus was on the cross, you & I were on His mind. God has given to us a vocation, an occupation, of being the one new man, the church the body of Christ, & we will repossess, and occupy, the positions of principalities and powers in heavenly places. Therefore, this manifold wisdom, this eternal purpose of God, as we study it, teach it, preach it, rejoice in it, Is OUR IMPACT into the heavenly places, in the face of Satan, and his principalities and powers, and puts them to open shame. To God be honor and glory! Amen.
Colman J. Gilliland 