Category: Repentance

Ambassadors for Christ

A young woman and a young man with closed eyes, resting their heads on a globe, symbolizing unity and awareness of the world.

Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we beg you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2nd Corinthians 5:20

Did you know that if you are a Christian, you are now an ambassador for Christ? If you are a follower of Christ, you are His ambassador. The Strong’s concordances for the Hebrew word for ambassador is [tsiyr], which means “an official envoy or messenger of a country or state. Today, this may be akin to a goodwill ambassador appointed by a charity or other organizations to publicize their activities or promote a specific cause. An ambassador for Christ is a messenger of Good News, for the ambassador brings healing and health to the souls of those who will listen.

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Proverbs 25:13

We should enjoy hearing the Good News of the Gospel, because it brings the message of Christ and reconciliation to God. In Acts chapter 3 in verse 19, Peter spoke these words, “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” We may have missed the meaning of what Peter was saying in Acts 3:19, in that everyone should repent so that the time of refreshing comes upon us all. Having sorrow about our sins is not repentance. Even Christians need to repent from their sins and be reminded that if they have lost their standing with God, they need to confess before God instead of carrying the sorrow of sin within their heart. Repentance means to change your mind. A changed mind regarding sin, and the self-life to which only God can bring times of refreshing. Let us not be fooled in this regard about the true meaning of repentance. It follows Christ in word and in deed because he changed his mind not to be of this world.

As messengers of Christ, we must remember that our faith will be tested to prove where our mind and heart truly are. Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God,” see Luke 9:62. We are either for Christ or against Christ. We do not look back to what we were living in, for we came out of darkness since the light has shone upon our hearts. We no longer walk in darkness but in the light of His glory. Our eyes are now open to the truth, and our minds have changed to walking on a new path. The Lord may send you out like the seventy he sent forth in chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke. We should pray for the laborers who are sent forth into the harvest field. We are all sent out into the field knowing about the ministry of reconciliation, as is stated in 2nd Corinthians 5:18. Are we not a new creation in Christ? Hasn’t the old man passed away because of Christ?

Let us examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith of the one to whom we believe. Prove yourself that you are walking in faith, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin [see Romans 14:23]. In Luke 10:17, the seventy returned to the Lord with joy and were amazed, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject unto us through thy name.” Yes, they came back as victors in Christ Jesus, and Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” You must read the rest of the story of that wonderful chapter. About the things being revealed unto babes, the power of God. These seventy people that Jesus appointed were not elders of a church; they were babes in Christ doing the will of Christ. Will you go forth and share your testimony of what Christ has done for you? Will you go forth and heal the sick and cast out demons?

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

Jesus gives us power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over the enemy. Yet, I have not always witnessed this power in the church. However, laborers are to go out into the harvest field and gather the harvest. What if you were appointed as one of the seventy people? Does this frighten you? My husband asked the elders of the church to come to the men’s homeless mission in Seattle, Washington. To my surprise, some were afraid to go to a Christian-based homeless shelter for men. Granted, the scene sometimes in and around the shelter was not always pleasant to witness. Men were living in cardboard boxes by the mission. Some were intoxicated, some had mental conditions, and some were just rough around the edges. This was witnessing human degradation due to circumstances that happened in their life. This is where Human dignity was violated. You may think, Why would God be concerned about those who violate themselves as well as others? Why? Because God so loved the world that he gave us his only son.  Everyone needs the love of God residing in their heart.

Human dignity is lost when there is slavery, torture, poverty, starvation, armed conflict, domestic violence, racism, genocide, rape, and human trafficking. The evil power in these practices does not reflect on the goodness of men, but rather the opposite. We may not want to be reminded of such wicked or cruel acts, but they are written down in many history books for a reason. The reason is that we should not fall to such a low estate ourselves. Can we change our way towards repentance instead of seeking our own success and power? Yes, we can. Charles Colson, who was involved in the Watergate scandal under President Richard Nixon, changed his mind and was reconciled to God. He told his story in a book titled “Born Again.” Colson became the founder of Prison Fellowship, a non-profit ministry. He made a promise while in prison to remember prisoners and their families. What a change of mind and profession Colson had, and many thought he was crazy. Would you be crazy for Christ?

To walk under God’s power is the best way to walk as ambassadors for Christ if we are reconciled to God. Our minds have changed from doing wicked works to doing good works in the love of Christ. This new life gives us human dignity because His love for us is genuine and not fake. We remember who we once were, but now we walk in the light of His glory. We go where he sends us, even if it is our own backyard, because we are now ambassadors for Christ. Do not be afraid of what you might see. Share how you have changed your mind for Christ and received freedom from the burden of sin. Live in the light of His love, hope, and peace and become ambassadors for Christ.

Let us go on to Perfection

Let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.

Hebrews 6:1

Let us go on to perfection instead of continuing to lay a foundation of repentance from dead works. What is dead works? Are they not the carnal nature of man which is vanity such as one’s own pride. It is the self-righteous attitude of a Christian to do God’s work in their own flesh instead of believing in faith through the Spirit of Christ. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to walk in love and not in hate. We must remember what the apostle Paul told the Ephesians in chapter four and five. Our mind is to be renewed on a daily basis by the reading of the word of God. Each day we are to put on the new man which is Christ and do good works and not dead works. This means we let go of all bitterness, outrage, and anger. We forgive one another since God has forgiven us through Jesus.

We do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, [see Ephesians 5:11]. We are sanctified by the washing of the water by the word [see Ephesians 5:26]. We are sanctified through Christ and because we believe in Him as the son of God, we now partake of His divine nature. This is worked out through the Holy Spirit and not of ourselves. Christ is being formed in us every day. We receive the Holy Spirit through prayer to the Father God. The Holy Spirit helps guide us toward the image of Christ and works through us to share the Gospel of the good news. We are ambassadors for Christ since we have been reconciled to God through Christ’s blood. We are now the temple of the living God, therefore; we come out from those who do the works of darkness.

Separation from the works of darkness is so we do not compromise our position in Christ. Many Christians are involved in illegal activity or wrongdoing and do not know that they are being deceived. Separation is from false teachers, and motives of others who are unbelievers. God wants us to be wise and move unto maturity in the Lord having the knowledge and experience of salvation. Do you have this experience of salvation? Look at what the apostle Paul told the Philippians.

Be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is by the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

Philippians 3:9

We are to be found in Christ, for He is our righteousness. It is not what we have done with our good works, but what Christ has done for us. Paul told the Philippians that he did not attain perfection, but He followed after Christ to understand Him who became the perfect sacrifice on the cross for all of humanity, [see Philippians 3:12-13]. Paul knowing who he was, stated that the one thing he would do, is to forget those things which are behind and continue to reach for those things that are before him. In doing this Paul exclaimed, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 3:14]. In otherwards, we are not stuck in the past in our failures, but we move on toward the prize possession in Christ towards our future. We must progress into being faithful servants in the Lord. We must exclaim like Paul that “the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen [see 2 Timothy 4:18]. Is this your prayer that the Lord shall deliver you from every evil work?

Moving unto perfection in Christ is for those who are reaching maturity and who can now discern between good and evil [see Hebrews 6:1]. These are those who can now eat solid food and have their senses exercised unto good works. Those who move forward in the Lord are not unskilled in the word but are able to teach and witness for the Lord and are able to do the work of an evangelist.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

2 Timothy 4:2

Do the work of an evangelist stated Paul to Timothy. This was said after exclaiming that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, [2 Timothy 3:16]. Why? So that man may be perfect and furnished unto all good works, [2 Timothy 3:17]. What is necessary in doing good works is the word of God, for it is the discerner of all thoughts and intents of the heart. This was stated in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12. But let us look at the verse before verse twelve, “Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief,” [Hebrews 4:11]. It is unbelief that befalls man from gaining perfection and rest. Perfection can only come through Christ. We must believe in who He is and stay in that belief.

It is Jesus who learned obedience by the things he suffered in being made perfect in order to become the author of eternal salvation to all who would follow and obey him, [see Hebrews 5:8-9]. Thus, a warning is given to those who are believers and are in danger of falling away through unbelief or sin. We have a high priest who is Jesus Christ, and he is the offering for our sins. Jesus is the new living way that is dedicated for those who believe. We are urged to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. This is done without hesitation. If you are wavering in your belief, ask God to help you out of it. God is able to help you out of your unbelief if you confess this before him. In Mark chapter nine there is a father who brought his son to Jesus. The son had a dumb spirit since he was a child. Jesus told the father that all things are possible to him that believe.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou, my unbelief.“

Mark 9:24

I believe, help my unbelief. If this is your plea, God can help you with your unbelief. God knows our heart and He is able to see us through when we have a true confession of the heart.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Hebrews 10:22

We have a sure foundation in Christ, and he is the author and finisher of our faith. Christ has reconciled us back to God and He is the final sacrifice for our sins. We can boldly come unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need, [Hebrews 4:16]. Let us come to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and help for our unbelief and sins that we may continue on to perfection through Christ Jesus. Let us let go of dead works by our confession, repentance, and move forward in the love of Christ. “Looking forward to that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,” [Titus 2:13].