Yes, being an ambassador for Christ means representing the Kingdom of Heaven as a citizen of Heaven living in a foreign world, tasked with proclaiming the message of reconciliation.
According to Les Feldick, an ambassador is a representative of a home government stationed in a foreign country. As believers, our citizenship is in Heaven, and we are left on Earth as Christ's ambassadors to represent our homeland. Our primary mission is to tell a lost world that reconciliation with God has been accomplished through Christ and to urge them to be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 — This verse explicitly calls believers ambassadors for Christ and defines the ministry of reconciliation.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians, declares that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them. He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Then, in verse 20, Paul writes, "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." This passage clearly identifies believers as ambassadors, with the message that God has already reconciled the world to Himself through Christ and pleads with individuals to accept that reconciliation. Furthermore, verse 21 states that God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Les Feldick explains that being an ambassador for Christ means that believers are representatives of Heaven, stationed in a foreign land (the world). As soon as we become a child of God by faith in the gospel, we become citizens of Heaven, and our task is to represent our home government—not by isolating ourselves, but by engaging with the world and bringing people to reconciliation with God. He emphasizes that God has left His word in the hands of human believers, not angels, and that our responsibility is to let the world know that reconciliation is already accomplished. Les also uses the analogy of a government ambassador who must stay in communication with his home government and reflect the values of his homeland. He stresses that if we do not fulfill this role, no one else will.
An ambassador is a representative of a home government stationed in a foreign country. As believers, our citizenship is in Heaven, and we are living in a foreign environment. We are to carry out the designs, hopes, and aspirations of our homeland. This includes staying in communication with our home government and being an effective representative.
As ambassadors for Christ, we are to let the world know that they have already been reconciled to God. The message is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and that this is done and finished. We are to beseech people on Christ's behalf to be reconciled to God.
As soon as we become believers, we become citizens of Heaven. This is our true home, and we are strangers in a foreign land. Even as we live on Earth, we are to be a dam in a river of iniquity, standing in the gap and holding back evil until the Lord returns.
How Are We Reconciled to God? 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Explained
chapter 5. I promised the people in the studio that I would finish chapter 5 today, and I hope we can make it. All right. So now verse 19, that is to say that God was in Christ as He hung on that cross. It was the Creator of the universe who hung on that cross. And again, I know there are people who have never contemplated that.
Ambassadors as Representatives in a Strange Land
Les explains that an ambassador represents a government in a foreign land, which is exactly what believers are as citizens of Heaven on Earth.
Citizens of Heaven and Our Role
Les makes the connection that as believers, we become citizens of Heaven and are thus ambassadors for Christ, urging people to be reconciled to God.
Responsibility to Let the World Know
Les emphasizes that we are ambassadors representing our home government and our job is to let the world know that reconciliation has been accomplished.
Sharing the Word of Reconciliation
Les reiterates that God has left evangelism in the hands of believers, and as ambassadors, our role is to bring people to reconciliation with God.
We Are the Extension of Heaven
Les describes believers as ambassadors and the extension of Heaven on Earth, standing as a dam against iniquity until Christ returns.
Carrying Out Our Homeland's Designs
Les explains that as citizens of Heaven in a foreign land, we are to carry out the designs and hopes of our homeland, which is to tell the world they are reconciled.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Les sets the stage by showing that God reconciled us and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, leading up to the ambassador role.
2 Corinthians 5:20: 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.
This is the key verse that defines believers as ambassadors for Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:19: To 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.
This verse explains the message of reconciliation that ambassadors are to carry.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
This explains the basis for the reconciliation we proclaim.
All believers are citizens of Heaven, but an ambassador is specifically a citizen who is sent to represent their homeland in a foreign country. As citizens, we belong to Heaven, and as ambassadors, we represent Heaven's interests while living on Earth.
We are to act in a way that reflects our home government—Heaven. This includes staying in communication with God through prayer and the Word, and carrying out His designs by proclaiming the message of reconciliation to a lost world.
Watch the Teaching: How Are We Reconciled to God? 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Explained