Yes, Christians are ambassadors because their citizenship is in heaven while they live on earth, representing Christ and carrying the message of reconciliation.
Les teaches that as believers, we are citizens of heaven living in a foreign land, and like an ambassador, we represent our home government. Our role is to carry out God's purposes and share the word of reconciliation that God has committed to us.
2 Corinthians 5:20 — This verse explicitly calls believers ambassadors for Christ, directly answering the question.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 states that God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Verse 19 says that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses, and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Then, verse 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 passage directly identifies believers as ambassadors and connects that role to the message of reconciliation.
Les emphasizes that as Christians, we are citizens of heaven living in a foreign world. Our role as ambassadors is to represent our homeland and its government to those around us. This involves carrying out God's designs and sharing the good news of reconciliation—that God has already done everything needed for people to be reconciled to Him. Les stresses that if believers do not fulfill this role, no one else will.
Les explains that an ambassador is a representative of a home government in a foreign country. Christians are in foreign territory on earth, but our citizenship is in heaven. We are to carry out the designs, hopes, and aspirations of our homeland, being the extension of heaven on earth.
Les teaches that God reconciled us to Himself and then gave us the ministry of reconciliation. This means that we are to tell a lost world that everything has been done for them to be reconciled to God. We are to let the world know that God was in Christ reconciling the world, not counting their trespasses against them.
Les explains that as citizens of heaven living on earth, we are to be ambassadors. This is our position, and it comes with the responsibility of representing our heavenly citizenship faithfully. We are to stand in the gap and be a dam in the river of iniquity until Christ returns.
Reconciliation Linked to Redemption
Les connects reconciliation with redemption, setting a foundation for understanding why we have the ministry of reconciliation.
Ambassadors as Citizens of Heaven
Les explains that as believers, we are citizens of heaven living in a foreign land, and like an ambassador, we represent our home government and carry out its purposes.
Ambassadors as the Only Hope
Les teaches that if believers don't act as ambassadors, no one else will; we are the extension of heaven on earth and must stand in the gap.
Ambassadors and Reconciliation
Les reiterates that as ambassadors, we bring people to reconciliation with God, echoing the term used in 2 Corinthians.
Ministry of Reconciliation Given
Les highlights that after being reconciled to God, believers are given the ministry of reconciliation, making them ambassadors.
Ambassadors of Reconciliation Message
Les emphasizes that we are to be ambassadors of the tremendous message of reconciliation, and no one can claim ignorance at judgment.
Ambassadors in Foreign Territory
Les connects the cross to the reconciliation of the whole world and reiterates that as ambassadors we carry out God's bidding in foreign territory.
Ambassadors Until Complete
Les notes that we are left as ambassadors on earth until we are with Christ, completing our role.
2 Corinthians 5:18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
This verse establishes that God reconciled us and gave believers the ministry of reconciliation.
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 content of the message: God was in Christ reconciling the world, and this message is committed to us.
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 verse directly calls believers ambassadors for Christ and defines our role as speaking in Christ's stead, urging reconciliation.
Christians are called ambassadors because their true citizenship is in heaven, and they represent their heavenly government while living on earth. Just as an ambassador represents his home country in a foreign land, believers represent Christ and carry out God's purposes.
The primary duty is to share the ministry and word of reconciliation. Believers are to tell the world that God has already done everything necessary for them to be reconciled to Him through Christ, and to urge people to be reconciled to God.
Les explains that as citizens of heaven living in a foreign world, believers are ambassadors representing their homeland. He emphasizes that if believers don't fulfill this role, no one else will, and we are to stand in the gap and be a dam in the river of iniquity.
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