What is an ambassador? (1) An ambassador is “an authorized representative, he/she is an agent, delegate, or messenger. (2) An ambassador is a person sent on a mission to represent the authority of another.
*(1) Apostle Paul is our pattern, & he was an ambassador. **Cf. Ephesians 6:19-20. Paul says “I am an ambassador in bonds (a prisoner of JC, chained to the gospel). Paul was an authorized representative, agent, delegate, with a brand new messenge, & the privilege (the right granted by God) & responsibility of an Ambassador for Christ, to the CBOC.
Paul was “a person sent on a mission, with the authority to represent God. And Paul’s mission as an ambassador, was to (vs19) “And for me utterance (power to communicate) may be given unto me, (WHY?) that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery (secret) of the gospel (of the grace of God).” Paul was sent by God specifically, to establish the body of Christ. And that, brethren, is exactly who we are called to become & perform. We like Paul, are (authorized) ambassadors for Christ! We are standing in Christ’s stead now. (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:15) And we know the WILL of God is, that “ALL MEN BE SAVED & COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. (“Rightly dividing the Word of truth”).
**2) 2 Cor. 5:17-18; This is our “Grace Commission,” (Not “the great commission”-Kingdom Prg, Read : **Vs 16). The “ministry of reconciliation is our marching orders during this dispensation of Gentile grace now in effect. Our heavenly Program. To reconcile means (to change the status, or restore) “to make of enemies friends again (Peace).” (ex. In our Relationships, with friends, spouses after a falling out) = reconcile, to restore, make peace.
Paul is pointing out 4 aspects of our ambassadorship: Our Privilege; Our Responsibility; The Fight; & The Glory. Paul highlights 4 different reconciliations. (1) The reconciliation of God & the world (2 Cor.V19) God can at this time dispense grace directly to Gentiles (all nations). (2) The reconciliation of the Individual **(vss. 20-21). Both world & individual reconciliation. Today both Jew & Gentiles are saved by grace, without having to go through Israel. (3) God has reconciled the members of CBOC to one another, Jew & Gentile making “one new man.” **(Gal. 3:28). There is no individual, national, social, or gender distinctions in the BOC, because we are all ONE. (4) The reconciliation of the whole system , the new heaven & the new earth, in the Fulness of Times **(Eph. 1:9, 10). So, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THE RESPOSIBILITY OF BEING HIS AMBASSADORS IN RECONCILING OTHERS TO CHRIST.** (2 Cor 5:20-21).
**(3) We are “saved by grace” now, ( BUT FOR WHAT? “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, to reconcile (restore) peace, by the gospel of the grace of God to all men. God has given us the privilege & responsibility to stand in Christ place as His mouthpiece, compelling men “Be ye reconciled to God.” We are justified “by the cross”* (Eph 2:16). And God’s Word, rightly divided, says we are authorized agents. We are “new creatures in Christ,” we have a new Identity now, a three- fold identity. We studied Romans Survey & the foundation of who we ARE In-Christ has been laid already. We are new creatures, ”justified unto eternal life,” “sanctified (set apart, made holy)” which enables us to “live unto God. “exalted, raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ” right now! And we have been given “a (brand new) ministry of reconciliation,” we are Christ’s ambassadors!
*(4) It is God’s ordained purpose for the BOC to glorify God, HOW? By performing the good works He designed it to accomplish. And that is Evangelism, Edification, & Expansion. It is a two-fold ambassadorship. First, we are to make an IMPACT (influence) men on earth…”To make all men see the fellowship of the mystery, the dispensation of grace is now in effect. “Preaching among Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ. Second: We are to make an IMPACT upon principalities and powers in heavenly places, that the angels might know by the church the manifold wisdom, the eternal purpose of God. And how is this accomplished? By the Divine method of studying scripture according to* 2 Tim. 2:15. The KEY to having God’s approval on our ambassadorship. The KEY to understanding His Word! Our point of contact with God, is His Word, rightly divided!
Yes, as we study it, preach it, teach it, witness it, We are sending an IMPACT into the heavenly places, in the face of Satan to his shame and dishonor. and to God’s honor and glory. As we study, the word “rightly divided” equips us, educates us, perfects us, & our ministries. To be perfected means: to become “skilled” in the handling of God’s word. To become “mature saints,” “perfect men,” “adult, grown sons.” WHY? “for the work of the ministry! ** CF. Ephesians 4:11-13. READ ALOUD! (evangelists, pastors, teachers) (5) READ Vs 13 (UNTIL we all become perfected, mature Saints (skilled in the handling of the scriptures), until then we cannot do the work of the ministry. As you and I grow spiritually, th
doctrine begins to effectually (power of God is released, through the tranquilizing ministry of the Holy Spirit) working in our inner man. He will empower and motivate us to do the work of the ministry, which is the ministry of reconciliation. And the first thing I learned in GSB was: “FAITHFULNESS TO THE DOCTRINE WILL VALIDATE (CONFIRM) MY (OUR) MINISTRY.”The second thing that I hid in my heart was: The Measure Of A Successful Ministry! **READ 2 Tim. 1-2. I got the doctrine from Paul. I need to look for faithful men and women, who I can commit the doctrine to. Who are faithful men? “Who shall be able to teach others also.” That is the measure of a successful ministry! Read: 2 Tim. 2:2. Paul admonished the Corinthians because they were carnal, and lazy, they did not appreciate the privilege and the responsibility of their rights to ambassadorship. So, Paul corrected them: “We then, as workers together with him, (Christ) beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and making manifest the savour (flavour) of his knowledge by us in every place.(2 Cor. 6:1; 2:14-17). For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish
Colman J. Gilliland 