We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that we are ambassadors for Christ. Just what is an ambassador? Briefly summarized, an ambassador represents his country and his country’s leader to other nations and their heads of state.
An ambassador needs to be mature and respected — one who is familiar with the customs, laws and regulations of his nation which he is to represent to others.
As we have seen, Paul admonishes US to be ambassadors FOR CHRIST. Let us ask ourselves, then, how are we doing in our role as ambassadors? Are we mature and respected Christians — well rounded and familiar with the customs, laws and regulations of God, as revealed in His Word, the Bible? If we are not, then we are falling short of our responsibilities as Christ’s ambassadors that He, the living head of His Church, bestowed upon us.
Notice, it doesn’t say that we are to become ambassadors — or we that we are to fulfill roles similar to those of ambassadors. Rather, we are told that we ARE Christ’s ambassadors. With that responsibility given to us, it behooves us to be very familiar with God’s laws and the application of God’s laws in our lives. We need to diligently follow Paul’s admonition to Timothy: “Study [God’s Word] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, Authorized Version).
The Bible gives us many examples that we need to emulate in our roles as ambassadors. It is important, as Paul continued to point out in 2 Corinthians 5:20, that, in order to be effective ambassadors for Christ, we are to “be reconciled to God.”
We cannot be reconciled to God unless we put sins out of our lives. Sins, unrepented of, cut us off from God (compare Isaiah 59:1-2) and therefore become a barrier to developing that close relationship with God, that we need to have to be effective ambassadors for Christ. Rather than refusing to repent, we are to draw near to God, and He will draw near to us (compare James 4:8, first sentence). We do so, when we cleanse our hands and purify our hearts (compare James 4:8, second sentence). This is how we can “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” as we are admonished to do in 2 Peter 3:18.
As we approach the Passover season, let us examine and test ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5), whether we are truly in the faith and whether Jesus Christ is mightily living in us. We can only be effective ambassadors, if Christ lives in us, leading and directing our lives. Christ will only live, and continue to live within us, however, if we are diligent to overcome our sins, as God and Christ will not dwell with sin (compare Deuteronomy 23:10-14). Let us therefore draw near to God by repenting and forsaking our sins, and by cleansing and purifying our hearts. When we do this, we will be faithfully fulfilling our roles as ambassadors for Christ.
