Christ's Ambassadors

(2 Corinthians 5)

“We are Christ’s Ambassadors”

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To understand the basis for Paul's hope despite his suffering

2) To see what motivated Paul in his work as a minister

3) To appreciate the gospel as a "ministry of reconciliation"

SUMMARY

As Paul continues describing the nature of his ministry, he explains

why he remains "hopeful" in spite of his suffering.  He knows that

should his "earthly house" be destroyed, there is a "house not made

with hands" that God has prepared for him.  For this he longs, being

confident because God has already given the Spirit as a guarantee.  So

while he must walk by faith, and not by sight, he makes it his aim to

be pleasing to the Lord, before Whom he knows he will one day stand to

give an account (1-10).

Paul then describes his "devotion" as it pertains to his ministry.

Motivated by his knowledge of the terror of the Lord, he persuades men.

He endeavors to serve God and his brethren in such a way that the

Corinthians will be able to provide a defense to those who judge only

by appearance.  Throughout it all, it is the love of Christ which

constrains Paul to live no longer for himself but for the Lord.  Unlike

his detractors, he no longer judges people based upon appearances, for

he knows that if one is in Christ, he is a new creation (11-17).

Finally, Paul depicts the work of God in Christ as one in which God is

reconciling the world to Himself.  Paul's own role is that of an

"ambassador for Christ", who has been entrusted with the "ministry of

reconciliation" so he might implore people on God's behalf that they be

reconciled to God (18-21).

2 Corinthians 5:1-21

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To 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.

20Now 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. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

OUTLINE

I. THE "HOPEFUL" NATURE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY (1-10)

A. THE PROMISE OF A "BUILDING" FROM GOD (1-5)

1. A house not made with hands, to replace the "earthly tent" (1)

2. In this "earthly tent" we groan (2-4)

a. Earnestly desiring to be clothed with the habitation from

heaven (2)

b. So as not to found "naked", and that mortality may be

swallowed up by life (3-4)

3. God has prepared us for this very thing, and has given the

Spirit as a guarantee (5)

B. WHAT THIS PROMISE PRODUCES IN PAUL (6-10)

1. Confidence... (6-8)

a. Knowing that at home in the body means absence from the

Lord, necessitating walking by faith and not by sight (6-7)

b. Preferring to be absent from the body and present with the

Lord (8)

2. An aim to be well pleasing to Christ (9-10)

a. Whether present or absent (9)

b. For we must all be judged by Christ (10)

II. THE "DEVOTED" NATURE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY (11-17)

A. MOTIVATED BY THE FEAR OF THE LORD (11-13)

1. Knowing the terror of the Lord, he persuades men (11a)

2. He is aware both God and they know him well (11b)

3. His desire is to so live in service to God and them (no matter

what some may think of him) that they may find reason to glory

in him (12-13)

B. MOTIVATED BY THE LOVE OF CHRIST (14-17)

1. Constrained by the love of Christ who died for all, he now

lives for Him (14-15)

2. He ceases to make superficial judgments based upon appearance,

even as he had once done with Christ (16)

3. For one in Christ is a new creation, and all things have

become new (17)

III. THE "RECONCILING" NATURE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY (18-21)

A. PAUL HAS BEEN GIVEN A MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (18-19)

1. He himself has been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ

(18a)

2. God has given him the ministry of reconciliation (18b-19)

a. The reconciliation of the world is actually God's work in

Christ (19a)

b. The "word of reconciliation" has been committed to Paul

(19b)

B. PAUL PLEADS WITH THEM TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD (20-21)

1. As ambassadors of Christ, pleading for God and on Christ's

behalf (20)

2. For Christ became sin for us, that we might become the

righteousness of God in Him (21)

His Love has set us Free!!

His love has set us Free!!

He has held our pieces in his hands

And took the pains and sorrows for every man

We didn’t ask him to, nor did we know

All the love that he bestowed

His love is pure, his love heals, how can we know the pain he feels

He’s proved by bruises, and torn with scars

He’d give his life, time again in reward in ours

Where we are slaves trapped in captivity

He holds the key that will set us free

 Our chains have fallen, and were no longer bound

To a life of chaos, and a place so profound

He’s standing there, his arms are open, here to stay

Will we forsake all, and follow him, or will we hold the chains and turn away

(Romans 6:2-14)

**Count yourselves dead to sin means we should regard our old sinful nature as dead and unresponsive to sin. Because of our union and identification with Christ, we no longer want to pursue our old plans, desires, and goals. Now we want to live for the glory of God. As we start this new life, the Holy Spirit will help us become all that Christ wants us to be. **

(Romans 6:17-18)

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

(Romans 6:22-23)

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

**You are free to choose between two masters, but you are not free to adjust the consequences of your choice. Each of the two masters pays with his own kind of currency. The currency of sin is death. That is all you can expect or hope for in life without God. Christ’s currency is eternal life—new life with God that begins on earth and continues forever with God. What choice have you made? Jesus says we can have only one master. We live in a materlistic society where many serve money. They spend all their lives collecting and storing it, only to die and leave it behind. Their desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. **

(Matthew 6:24)

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

** Many people say they have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. Although they think this is freedom, they are really enslaved by their own desires. When we become Christians, the Holy spirit comes to live in us. Therefore, we no longer own our bodies. That we have been bought with a price refers to slaves purchased at auction. Christ’s death freed us from sin, but also obligates us to his service. If you live in a building owned by someone else, you try not to violate the building rules. Because your body belongs to God, You must not violate the building rules. Because your body belongs to God, you must not violate his standards for living. **

(1 peter 1:19-20)

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”

** A slave was redeemed when someone paid money to buy his or her freedom. God redeemed us from the tyranny of sin, not with money, but with the precious blood of his own son. We could not escape from sin on our own; only the life of God’s son could free us. **

(Colossians 2:13)

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”

(Isaiah 53:6-8)

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”

--The Truth shall set you free—

(John 8:31-32)

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

**Jesus himself is the truth that makes us free. He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from the consequences of sin, from self-deception, and from deception by satan. He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. Thus Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be. **

(1 Corinthians 4:3-6)

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 6And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.”

**The good news is open and revealed to everyone, except to those who refuse to believe. Satan is the god of this world. His work is to deceive, and he has blinded those who don’t believe in Christ. Those who refuse Christ, preferring their own pursuits, have unknowingly made satan their god. **

From whence cometh my help? From the Lord!!

Anytime when the static of life is all around me with worries, I always go back to what is stated from the word of God; ‘Where does my help come from?’

 (Psalm 121:1-3)

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.”

Another great scripture to look up as well…

(Romans 8:31-32)

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Where is the source to everything that we deal with in life? It always leads us to the beginning of our life in Christ; when we recited the sinners prayer within our heart. To Him we freely confessed our sins and accepted Him into our life while letting go of the weight of chains that has been binding us for so long; from that time we laid all of our burdens upon Him.

(Matthew 11:28-30)

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

So many times we have made the mistake to try to handle situations through our own abilities and by our own understanding and with all efforts, everything fails to work. The reason is obvious; we didn’t go to the source: Jesus Christ, where we simply ask Him and it shall freely be given to us. The Lord constantly reminds us all the time throughout His truth that we are to seek Him, Ask Him, Trust in Him. Do you notice everything involves Him. Well, here are a few scriptures to look at, that is in reference to what I am discussing today.

*Don’t lean on your own understanding*

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy paths.”

*Ask and Seek Him and you will find what you are looking for*

(Matthew 7:7-8)

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

We can either do two things;

1.       Allow the static of this world to overwhelm us to the point of it overcoming us

Or

2.       Allow Jesus to take full control of what all is around you and receiving peace at the same time

People often say that it is easier said then done, but through experience if you don’t struggle how can you grow.

(John 15:2)

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

Definition of Purgeth- To remove or eliminate (an unwanted element)

*In this case defined (More room for growth), Jesus is saying that in order for us to grow and produce more spiritual fruit, we have to go through trials and tests, to make better improvements in our walk with Him. We can’t stay comfortable to grow with Jesus and overcome satan’s crafty plans by staying in one spot.

Ex:  Just like school, we can’t stay in the same grade, we have to go to the next level and what we learned in the previous grade will be mentioned in the higher grade but it will be a little more complex than what we are used to. (room for growth)

 In school, we learned each topic in chapters/blocks, and for us to learn the advanced areas it takes us time to learn through the chapters previous. There are ups and downs, and within reach you have the teacher there to answer questions throughout the whole process of learning. But there comes a time when taking the tests and pop quizzes, the teacher has to step back slightly for them to see how much we know on our own, and see how much we have learned over time. These tests can make you or break you, it is how you make it to be, and with that comes experience. It all requires TRUST and FAITH in Jesus; the Ingredients needed to get through it all.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

(Ecclesiastes 3:6-7)

“A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;”

 This is how we learn as we are walking in a righteousness path with Him; there is a time we fall and rise up, but always while dealing with these times He is there to pick us up. We may think we are alone, but He is closer to us than we realize, especially in these points in our life.

(Psalms 34:18-19)

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”