Per 2 Corinthians 5:17 (reviewed in the previous article), followers of Jesus are a new creation (or are experiencing a beginning of the eternal world in our own lives [ref. Baker, p.232, see also NIV, NASB footnotes]). One thing about something that is created, though: it did not create itself. We didn’t change our lives. We didn’t save ourselves. We didn’t create eternity. Only something – or, in this case, Someone – outside of us and greater than us could make us completely new.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV
God was the one who reached out to us – to the world – not the other way around. And, for Paul at least, God’s mission for him was to share that good news.
The result of Paul becoming a new creation, and having had the good news committed to him (and others), was to make him an ambassador.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NIV
Although Paul had a secured claim in the Kingdom of God, he went into the “foreign land” of a sinful world and invited people to become reconciled to God. Like diplomats in an embassy within a foreign country, Paul was part of a different kingdom (i.e., the Kingdom of God) from the one that was right outside his door.
We might think of Paul as bringing a peace treaty to a warring country for whom destruction by a vastly superior power is imminent. This peace treaty from God is already signed by Jesus, and all of the reparations are already paid by Him. All that Paul’s hearers (those who are currently lost and separated from God) need to do is to accept the treaty and sign on. With that, their rebellion against God is settled, and – even if they mess up after that – they are reconciled with Him.
And, Paul doesn’t want just “other people” to accept this reconciliation with God. He asks – he begs [NASB] – his audience to “Be reconciled to God.” [NIV] If they will, they can make this great exchange, accepting Jesus Christ’s righteousness instead of their sin. How can grateful people like that keep from living to please the God who gave them this offer?
So, what’s the result of you or I becoming a new creation? It might be to tour the Mediterranean region to make disciples like Paul did, but it is definitely whatever God created each of us to do with our life.
Don’t worry about following a bunch of rules to keep God from being “mad at you”. Figure out what He is calling you to do – even if He only guides you for one day or one step at a time – and live for Him in a life of gratitude. Remember, upon receiving Jesus’ gift of salvation, you already have justification (a pronouncement of righteousness) from Jesus, and when you focus on God’s direction, good works naturally follow as a result. That is ambassador-level living!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 19, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, May 19, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 2 Corinthians, by William R. Baker. © 1999 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 