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)