“SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US, AND WHAT HE HAS GIVEN US TO DO"

“SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US, AND WHAT HE HAS GIVEN US TO DO"

2nd Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation

2nd Corinthians 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

2nd Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

Paul was describing the ministry that God had given to him. And in this section of the letter he goes into great detail as to what the ministry is in it's purest and simplest sense. He explains here that God has done something for us, (actually a number of things) and that in turn, God has given us something to do in our service to Him.

1. God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
2nd Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Reconciliation means that God has brought us to Himself. We were not with Him, but He has provided a way for us to be brought to Him, into a relationship with Him.
He did this through Jesus Christ.

Jesus came and died for our sins, was buried, and then rose from the dead. And when we turn to Him, believing in Him, and receiving Him, we are brought into union with God. We are now with God, whereas we were separated from Him, and without Him, now we are with Him.
We have been reconciled to God.

2. God has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
2nd Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Having reconciled us, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
That is, we are instruments, servants, of God that He uses through the gospel to bring others to Him, just like He brought us to Himself.
It's very important to see that this is our role, this is our ministry from our Lord.

3. God was actually in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and has not imputed our trespasses to us.
2nd Corinthians 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

When Jesus died on the cross we are told that God Himself was in Christ.
How this can be is a mystery, but it's true nonetheless.
God has personally brought us to Himself.
Words fail us to express our gratitude to Him for what He has done for us.

4. God has made us ambassadors for Christ, and He is working through us.
2nd Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

This is just another way of saying what was said earlier. That God has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
We are heaven's ambassadors.
Ambassadors represent a leader, and they bring the message of their leader to those to whom they are sent.
We have God's message, the Gospel.
We are to share that message by example and by verbal proclamation to those in our world, and to those God sends us to.

God saved us, and now He wants to use us to help others become what we are, "reconciled to God”.

Questions:

1. Can you remember the first time you heard the gospel message and really understood it?

2. Do you remember when you responded to the message of the gospel?

3. Do you know that at that time it was God speaking to you, and it was to God that you responded?

4. Do you know that at that very moment you were now brought back to God Himself?

5. Would you please take a moment to meditate on the fact that you have a responsibility to God as His servant, You are His ambassador to share the gospel with others. God wants You to be faithful to Him.

6. Will you pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon You and make you filled with love, compassion, and heaven's ability to share Christ with others?

A Prayer:

Father, You Yourself were in Christ bringing us to Yourself by paying the price for our sins. No one else could do this for us. We could not pay for our sins, nor can we erase them, nor can any other person do for us what Christ has done. Lord, though You speak to men all around the world 24 hours a day through creation, it's us You use to verbalize to a person's mind the wonderful eternal life giving good news of the Jesus Christ. I'm afraid, Lord, that we may not have understood this ministry You have given us. And I'm afraid that maybe we have been negligent to be as faithful as we ought to be in this ministry. Lord, for those of us who are simply afraid to tell others about Jesus, would You please do whatever it takes to make us into faithful ambassadors of heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia