Paul's Metaphors

by J. A. Davidson (Northern Ireland)

PAPER 6 — AMBASSADOR : AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST

"We preach Christ crucified," 1Cor.1.23. "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the (as) Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake," 2Cor.4.5. Those who carry the glorious message of Christ crucified, 1Cor., and Christ glorified, 2Cor., are defined by the Apostle Paul as ambassadors. "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," 2Cor.5.20.

An Ambassador is a representative living abroad promoting the interests of his or her homeland. While absent from home it is the responsibility of the Ambassador to bear the dignity and honour of representing his or her country in a foreign land. The reception of the Ambassador will depend on whether that land is friendly or hostile toward his or her fatherland. The Ambassador will be granted diplomatic immunity but must not while in a foreign land, interfere in its internal politics, marry one of its subjects or practice its religion.

The dignity of the Ministry of Reconciliation to which we are called, 2Cor.4.6-5.21, is seen in the radiance which comes from God Himself. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," 2Cor.4.6. The seals of office are bestowed upon the Ambassador by the highest authority of his sovereign state. God alone, is the Originator of this illumination, this penetrating light, the revelation of the Father in the Son, the full revelation of true knowledge in the Person and Presence of Jesus Christ. The apostle uses this investiture as the clinching reason why there is no room for pride or self esteem. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us," 2Cor.4.7. We have considered the Body and its activities in Paper 5 of this series. Here we have the great ministry of the Gospel, the greatest message in the weakest vessel, the body likened unto an earthenware vase. Human weakness presents no barrier to the purpose of God. It is more important that this vessel be clean than clever.

1) THE MERITS OF THE AMBASSADOR: FOUND "IN" CHRIST. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new," 2Cor.5.17. The first credentials are what we obtain in Christ at conversion which is manifest in a new nature, new love and new desires as we now represent a new Master and a new Homeland. We rejoice that Heaven is our Fatherland but it has pleased Him to leave us down here, strangers away from home, pilgrims going home, we no longer have citizenship down here. It is sad if we live our lives as earthdwellers.

2) THE MANNERS OF THE AMBASSADOR: ABSENT "FROM" THE LORD. "Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord," 2Cor.5.6. We are absent from the Lord but as representing His interests down here we will discover that as He was hated so we shall bear reproach. If an Ambassador of Her Majesty’s Government is sent to India or a representative of the U.S. Government is sent to China, he does not become a citizen of India or China. The Ambassador's language, customs, food and way of living will be in keeping with his standing, status and state. At any formal or civic function it will be obvious by his dress what country he represents. The following chapter, 2Cor.6.14-16, shows that the believer should be separate from the world: the ‘unrighteousness’ of its commercial corruption; the ‘darkness’ of its political crisis; the ‘Belial’ of its material conflicts; the ‘infidel’ (unbeliever) and his moral chaos; the ‘idols’ of the world’s religious confusion.

    "We’re not of the world that fadeth away,
    We’re not of the night but children of day,
    The chains that once bound us by Jesus are riven,
    We’re strangers on earth and our home is in Heaven."

3) THE MOTIVE OF THE AMBASSADOR: ACCEPTED "OF" CHRIST. "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him," 2Cor.5.9. The Ambassador representing his country among a foreign people, will share the esteem or hatred of his homeland. We are in a very hostile environment, governed by the god of this world, controlled by the powers of darkness. Its principles are evil, its practices are sinful and its propaganda is vehemently opposed to the Kingdom we represent. It is not for us to accommodate, compromise or try to fit in with such an environment but set our sights with singleness of eye to please Him Who hath called us out of such darkness into His marvellous light.

4) THE MISSION OF THE AMBASSADOR: LIVE "UNTO" CHRIST. "The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again," 2Cor.5.14-15. The Ambassador and his embassy are part of his own country located in a foreign country. His sole function is to represent the interests of his sovereign state and fellow citizens for the entire duration of stay in that country until recalled home. Our service is with single eye to the Glory of our risen Lord.

5) THE MINISTRY OF THE AMBASSADOR: CONVEYED "THROUGH" CHRIST. "All things are of God who hath reconciled us to Himself by (through) Jesus Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation," 2Cor.5.18. If the Ambassador is to convey messages he must know the mind of his sovereign state. He must keep in constant contact with home, the lines of communication must always be kept open so that there is no confusion or uncertainty as the position of the government he represents on any given matter. We serve through Christ to convey His Wishes, His Will and His Word. The misconceptions, prejudices and enslavements of our former unregenerate life are not to be brought over into the dignified ministry committed unto us. The work we do is to please Him, not others. The words we express have the authority of His commands. The will which we express has the authority of His Throne behind it.

6) THE MESSAGE OF THE AMBASSADOR: CARRIED "FOR" CHRIST. "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," 2Cor.5.20. The Ambassador may be sent to a friendly country and the execution of the diplomatic office will be a formality. On the contrary, we have to convey the message of reconciliation to a hostile world. We confront the powers of darkness, we face the enmity of the wicked, we represent God in a scene of rebellion. We carry the message of reconciliation, that there is an offer of the removal of God’s anger against sin through Jesus Christ. As representatives commissioned and sent by God, the urgent Gospel message to sinners is to accept the reconciliation offered as an answer to man’s mutiny, enmity and rebellion so that conditions of peace can be enjoyed.

7) THE MANIFESTATION OF THE AMBASSADOR: APPEAR "BEFORE" CHRIST. "For we must all appear (be made manifest) before the judgment seat of Christ," 2Cor.5.10. When diplomacy between nations fails and open hostilities are about to break out, the first move by the sovereign government will be the recall of the Ambassador, the withdrawal of the Embassy Staff and the evacuation of nationals. Soon the Day of Grace will close but before the Great Day of His wrath is come, the servants will be called home at the Rapture and the mission of gathering from the Nations a people for His Name, will close. When the service is done, the Ambassadors will be recalled. As identified with Him down here, so faithfulness will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat to reflect His Glory up there.

8) THE MORTALITY OF THE AMBASSADOR: PRESENT "WITH" THE LORD. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," 2Cor.5.1. "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord," 2Cor.5.8. When our temporary mortal service is completed we are assured of a mansion in keeping with the Service of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, eternal in nature, heavenly in sphere and present with the Lord. In the meantime as Ambassadors for Christ, we should keep in touch with Home.

—to be continued (D.V.)