TALK ABOUT SOME GOOD NEWS

 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-21 NKJ 
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

Chapter five is another 'gusher' chapter.  So much here.  Walking by faith, not by sight vs. 7.  Making it our aim to be well-pleasing to Him vs. 9.  All appearing before the judgment seat of Christ, which is a bit more sobering than exciting vs. 10.  Living for Him who died for us vs. 14-15.  All good stuff! 

Then we have the passage for today, which involves the most quoted verse at The Ark.   

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The reality of becoming a spiritually new creation is something I do not ever get tired of hearing about.  And Paul continues the good news when he reveals God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus.  Reconcile means to restore good relations, to cause to exist in harmony.  And He has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.  

Which means we can share with the people in our world that God is not against them.  That God loves them and is not holding their sin against them.  All they must do is receive the work God did in Christ.   

We are ambassadors of this good news.  That alone is an entire message.  Ambassadors are to be the best representatives of their nation.  We are to be the best representatives of a gracious loving God.  

He put our sins on Jesus that we might be made righteous before God.  We could not do this on our own, so He did it for us.  It doesn't get much better than this.  God did an amazing work in us through Jesus and now entrusts us to represent Him in a dark world.   

APPLICATION 

Have you ever thought of yourself as an ambassador?  I understand this a bit, realizing I am an ambassador for the church.  I don't know that my driving habits befit an ambassador, but we're all growing - right?   

It would be a good thought to take seriously.  And realizing we are His ambassadors helps us recognize a greater connection to God.  And that's always a good thing.  New creation with a mission sharing heaven's mandate to see people reconciled to God.  Good stuff!