What role does Paul say believers have while living on earth?
Paul teaches that believers living on earth serve as ambassadors of heaven, representing their true homeland before the world. Though physically present here, they are citizens of heaven and members of Christ’s kingdom, left to visibly represent that heavenly government and its interests.
Les explains that Paul describes believers in the here and now as having the same kind of role as an ambassador or foreign service representative. Just as an American ambassador abroad is expected to be a visible representative of his government in Washington, believers are left on earth as ambassadors of their homeland, which is in heaven. In Colossians 1:12–13, Paul gives thanks to the Father who prepared believers to share the inheritance of the saints in light, delivered them from the power of darkness, and translated them into the kingdom of His dear Son. Because that kingdom is in heaven, believers are now citizens of heaven and members of the Kingdom of Christ, representing it while still living on earth.
Now 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.