The First Leg of the Race

TEXT: JOHN 20:19-23

SUBJECT: MISSIONS

THEME: God extends to each of us the grand privilege of co-laboring together with him in worldwide missions—the ministry of reconciliation. The four Characters of this passage represent the four legs of the world missions’ relay race, and we will consider their labors through the course of human history on into the future.

INTRODUCTION:

1.  Mission is the work of God, and it began in the Garden of Eden after Adam’s fall into sin. That is correct, missions did not began merely 2 thousand years ago with the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. It began with the entire Godhead as the Father leads.

2.  Now let us consider ourselves in a “Missions Relay Race” with four Participants. John chapter 20 give us another Great Commission passage, and in this instance the entire Godhead is mentioned in relation to Christ’s church. Of course all of this is in the context of advancing and continuing the ministry and mission of God in the world. The four Participants are found in verse 21, “Father,” “Me,” “You” and in verse 22, “Holy Ghost.” Each participant represents another part of missions’ history on into missions’ future. Each time the baton is passed from one participant to the next, we enter another leg of missions.

LESSON:

THE FIRST LEG OF MISSIONS: JOHN 20:21 “Father” (Jn. 5:17)

THE LABOR OF THE FATHER; A WORK OF PREPARATION

John 5:17, But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

According to John 20:21, The Lord Jesus is unmistakably the Son of God sent by Father God—God’s sent One. Jesus is operating in full harmony with the Father’s will and goals, and here as the sent One he commissions his disciples/apostles and sends them into the world to evangelize.

Up to the point when the Son starts His public ministry, the Father is busy preparing, situating, designing, and sovereignly bringing about his great purpose of redemption. Jesus says, “My Father worketh hitherto….” He is organizing and providentially guiding history on a course that provides salvation to humanity—preparation. This is the labor of the Father; His incredible contributions to the plan of reconciliation.

So then, since The FALL in the Garden of Eden, God has been busy about the Ministry of Reconciliation. Christ Jesus executed the critical role of presenting himself as the supreme sacrifice for our sins. And as we preach the gospel we engage in this Ministry of Reconciliation. This statement presupposes several thoughts.

       A.  THE FATHER PREPARED A PLAN (Gen. 3:1-24)

If humanity is to be reconciled to God, it presupposes that the human race had a relationship with God previously. Generally, in principle you can’t restore or reunite total strangers or two that have never been united! Humanity cherished a relationship and fellowship with God in the person of Adam (we were all in Adam). Adam is not only a literal person, but he is both the Federal and Seminal head of the human race. That is, he represented all humanity officially, and we all are biologically connected to him. Humanity’s treasured relationship to the Almighty Creator was changed and this incredible fellowship with Him was severed by SIN when Adam rebelled in the Garden (Gen. 3). Ever since that Fall, we are all born in sin and separated from God. The spiritual connection between God and fallen humanity is utterly shattered and dashed to a trillion pieces. Hence our need to be reconciled; a reconciliation we cannot effectuate ourselves…it depends entirely upon the Lord God’s initiative. Let’s take a look at his great plan.

                 1. The Father’s Plan of Salvation: The Picture of the Salvation (Gen. 3:21)

Genesis 3:21, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 

Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, God sprung into decisive action providing a covering for them. This primitive form of atonement involved sacrifice of life—death and bloodshed. When God provided “coats or skins” it prefigure how he would ultimately provide atonement and covering for fallen humanity through a substitute and representative. In essence we have the Gospel and the Father’s plan of Redemption—Reconciliation—in embryonic form:

                         a. The Plan Involves the Grace of God

                         b. The Plan Involves the Shedding of Blood

                         c. The Plan Involves a Covering by Righteousness

                         d. The Plan Involves a Substitutionary Sacrifice (innocent blood)

                         e. The Plan Involves Acceptance of God’s Salvation by Faith

These same principles of salvation are brought to their fullest expression in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this incredible passage the Father foreshadowed them brilliantly!

                 2. The Father’s Plans for a Savior: The Promise of the Savior (Gen. 3: 15)

Genesis 3:15, And I [God] will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve/Mary], and between thy seed and her seed [Jesus]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou [Satan] shalt bruise his heel.

The Protevangelium is declared first by the Father! Though Adam and Eve along with all humanity will suffer greatly under sin’s curse, enslavement and the brutality of Satan, the Father declares the good news that Satan and sin will ultimately be defeated by the “Seed of the woman,” which is the earliest reference to the Lord Jesus in the role of Savior/Deliverer. Again, this portrays God coming to our rescue. Note in detail what is given in Genesis 3:15:

                        a. Satan is exposed as the Enemy of the Human Race

                        b. The Savior will be Virgin Born into the Human Race    

                        c. The Savior will be Victorious over Satan and Sin

                        d. The Savior will die a Vicarious Death by means of Crucifixion

Furthermore, we are informed by the Apostle Peter how the eternal Godhead planned for humanity’s reconciliation before the creation of the universe.

First Peter 1:18-20, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (Rev. 13:8; Tit. 1:2-3; 2Tim. 1:9-10; Eph. 3:11)

No, the matter of our reconciliation is not piecemeal, disjointed, willy-nilly, random, or haphazard. It is the very plan of God being pictured, forecasted, and prefigured in such passages. A plan that would unfold over several millennia, but a fully intact strategy with specific outcomes in view—reconciliation to God. What love and grace it must involve to devise such an elaborate and extraordinary plan. Another observation here is irresistible…. God does not merely react to developments; he is a planner, designer, strategists, and manager. Understanding what would happen in the future, he proactively devised an incredible plan for reconciliation. Thus, before there was a world, God had a well thought out plan as to how he will redeem fallen humanity.

       B.  THE FATHER PREPARED A PEOPLE (Gen. 12:1-3)

Genesis 12:1-3,  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  2,  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  3,  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

God in his wisdom and grace selected and used the Nation of Israel to provide to the world the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. This was a tremendous and arduous undertaking to be certain!

                  1.  God Prepared a Man: He Called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 26:1-5; 28:12-15)

                  2.  God Prepared a Nation: He Choose the Nation of Israel/Jacob (Numb. 24:17)  

                  3.  God Prepared a Tribe: He Choose the Tribe of Judah (Gen. 49: 8-10; Lk. 3:33)

                  4.  God Prepared a Family: He Choose the Family Line of David (Isa. 9:7; Lk. 1:32, 33)

                           a. Through David’s son Solomon—Joseph—Foster Father of our Lord Jesus

                           b. Through David’s son Nathan—Mary—Virgin Mother of our Lord Jesus

                 5.  God Prepared His Son:  He Sent His Son into the World (Jn. 20:21; 3:16, 17)

The unique role of the Jewish Nation in God redemptive plan cannot be overstated. All the families of the earth will be blessed by the Seed of Abraham! All of the toil and challenges and struggles with the Nation of Israel to keep them distinct and devoted to Him is a part of the Father’s plan to supply the only hope of salvation the world will ever know. Through the lives, history, struggles, documents, Scriptures and covenants, the Savior’s entrance into the world would not be strange and unanticipated. Through the nation a stage was being set for the Savior to step out on and provide our redemption. How thankful I am to the Father and the Jewish Nation for giving the world the Lord Jesus Messiah.

       C.  THE FATHER PREPARED A PERSON (Jesus Christ, the Son of God)

Hebrews 10:5-7, Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:  6, In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.  7, Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

This is typically what we celebrate at Christmas season, the incarnation of the Son of God. The birth of the Messiah…the coming of the Savior, Lord, and new born King! Through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived and the Lord or Glory was placed on earth inside the body of a young virgin name Mary. Yes, the seed of the woman is Jesus and the woman is Mary. As the Scriptures predicted, so our Lord comes to execute the very will and plan of the Father voluntarily. Ultimately, all of the Old Testament animal sacrifices pointed to one singular Sacrifice—the death of Christ at Calvary for all sinners everywhere. The Father sent the Son to be Prophet, Priest, and Potentate:

                 1. This Person is to be The Prophet: He will Proclaim God and the Message of God to the People

                 2.  This Person is to be The Priest: He will Mediate between God and the People and even become the Sacrifice for the People’s Sin                                                            

                 3.  This Person is to be The Potentate: He will Reign as God over the People

This will be developed more fully in the next article in this series. Clearly the Father is a designer, strategic planner and project manager. Throughout his leg of the race we witness extraordinary wisdom, power, grace, love, patience, determination, and hope. The Father is not putting forth a token effort, nor is he casual about worldwide evangelism. He cares deeply and has sacrificed greatly that we sinners might be reconciled to him. All of this preparation and labor is for our benefit and reconciliation to him. 

Listen, preparation is never a waste of time and resources in a worthy cause. Preparation for service to God is still a praiseworthy endeavor. Invest the time, energy and effort to be excellent in your ministry for Christ’s glory. Secondly, anything worth doing is worth doing with your entire being. Throw yourself into service to Christ and the ministry of evangelism because the impact is eternal. It is worth the time and effort to present sinners with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thirdly, give in support of world missions endeavors as one who fully realize you are entering into a grand privilege of co-laboring together with the Almighty. Set aside resources to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the greatest work on earth—reconciling lost humanity to the Lord God Almighty. Fourthly, trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior for the forgiveness of sins and to be reconciled to God. It is not through religion, rituals, human relationships, or our performance that we are saved. No, God saves us by his grace through faith purely motivated by his great love for us. Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins, was buried, and arose from the dead the third day as the Scriptures said he would. That is correct, Jesus Christ is the Son of God and living Savior who triumphed over death, hell, sin, and the grave! Like me, you are guilty of more sins than you can count…you need the Lord…just like me. We all have sinned...we all have lied, stolen, cheated, and put other things before God. Admit to God your sinfulness and ask him for forgiveness. I did this, and God forgave me. He will forgive you also. Turn to Jesus in faith for forgiveness of your sin today. There is no reason to put this decision off any longer. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since the Son has been born into the world and his mission defined, the Father God now passes the baton to the Son of God. Yes, the Father ran his portion of the race with power, wisdom, determination, zeal, grace, and focus; now he passes the baton to his darling Son. Mid-stride as Jesus takes the baton we enter the second leg of missions.

Advancing the Truth

3 John 1:1-8

Theme: Believers and churches are to assist traveling ministers of Jesus Christ because such activities advance the march of the Gospel to the unevangelized.

Introduction:

I can recall a little over two years of pre-field ministry back in the mid-90s as our family raised support to serve in Germany as missionaries to the US Military and their families stationed there. The journey started out slow, but quickly gained momentum as we zipped back and forth across the eastern half of the USA. We were privileged to meet hundreds of churches and thousands of Christians, and most of these experiences were very positive encounters. It was wonderful to see God work through us and provide for us; we also witnessed the power of the Gospel here in the USA in many precious lives. God provided again and again through his people as they followed the biblical guidance John gave in this incredible passage.  

The historical backdrop of this little Letter gives us a vivid glimpse into church life in the latter half of the first century. With just a few concise strokes of the pen the apostle sketches in three characters: Gaius the hospitable and spiritual, Demetrius the commendable, and Diotrephes the self-seeking and unloving. In this study John celebrates the kindness and hospitality of Gaius.

Lecture:

I.                  John’s Greetings to His Friend Gaius (3John 1).

A.    John refers to himself as the elder.

B.     He addresses himself to the well-beloved Gaius, whom he loves in truth. Although we do not know if this is the Gaius mentioned in Romans 16:23 or the one in Acts 20:4, we do learn about him in these few verses. First, we gather that he was a much beloved believer, a man whose whole life commended him to his fellow Christians.

II.              John’s Appreciation for Gaius’ Walk in the Truth and Generosity (3John 2-8).

A.    He desires for Gaius to prosper physically as he has spiritually (vs. 2).

                                                1.      The apostle’s greatest desire was for his friend Gaius’ health.  He knew that his soul was already prospering in the Lord despite his poor health; therefore, he wanted him to be well and healthy also. Clearly sickness is not always a matter of punishment for sin, nor an indication of one’s spiritual condition.

                                                2.      Would we want our physical condition to correspond to our spiritual? Is it not sadly true that we take better care of our bodies than of our souls?

                                                3.      That is why F. B. Meyer wryly remarked: “It would not be desirable to express the wish of verse 2 to all our friends, because if their bodies were to correspond to the condition of their souls, they would suddenly fall into ill-health.” (Source Unknown)

                                                4.      Verse 2 flatly contradicts what is taught by many so-called “faith-healers.” They contend that all sickness is a result of sin in the life, and that if a person isn’t healed, it’s because of a lack of faith. This certainly wasn’t true in Gaius’ case. His spiritual condition was good, but his physical condition was not so good. This shows that one’s spiritual state cannot be argued from the bodily one. –W. MacDonald

B.     He rejoices in Gaius’ steadfast walk in the truth (vs. 3-4).

                                                1.      The apostle rejoiced greatly when certain brethren came and testified of the truth that was in Gaius, and how he walked in the truth (v. 3). It is good to have the truth in us, but it is better to manifest the truth in our lives. We should not only hold the truth but allow the truth to hold us. People would rather see a sermon than hear one. Nothing counts more for God in an age of fact than a holy life.

                                                2.      So important was this to John that he could say, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (v. 4). Perhaps most of us think of soul-winning as the greatest joy of the Christian life, and it is wonderful indeed to see men and women translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love. But who can measure the heartache to see those who professed to be saved, returning to their former life; like a sow returning to her wallowing in the mire and a dog to its vomit. On the other hand, what a thrill it is to see one’s spiritual children going on for the Lord, from grace to grace and faith to faith. Again, this emphasizes the importance of follow-up work in all our evangelistic endeavors.

C.    He appreciates Gaius’ reception and care of the preachers he sent (vs. 5-8).

                                                1.      Gaius took a special delight in throwing open his home to those who had gone out preaching the gospel (v. 5). He extended his gracious hospitality not only to those whom he knew, but to strangers as well. John says that he was faithful in this ministry. It appears from the NT that hospitality is very important in God’s sight. If we entertain the Lord’s people, it is the same as if we entertain the Lord Himself (Matt. 25:40). On the other hand, failure to entertain His servants is looked upon as failure to entertain Him (Matt. 25:45). Through entertaining strangers, “some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb. 13:2). Many can testify that through the practice of hospitality, meals have been turned into sacraments (Luke 24:29–35), children have been converted, and families have been drawn closer to the Lord. (MacDonald)

                                                2.      Rewards are involved. Gaius’ kindness was known to all the church (v. 6). But more than that, his name is forever enshrined in God’s Holy Word as one who had an open home and an open heart. And even more, Gaius will yet be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ, for “he that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matt. 10:41). He will share in the reward of all those faithful preachers he entertained. This is a good point to remember for those who cannot preach: you can receive a preacher’s reward by showing hospitality to preachers in the name of the Lord. God will pay back all good deeds! His kindness will crown the kindness of men.

                                                3.      Now John reminds Gaius that he will do well to send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God. To “bring forward on their journey” means not just a friendly farewell, but adequate supplies. This surely sets a high standard for us as we share our material things with those who preach and teach the Gospel of our Lord.

                                                4.      A special reason is given why Gaius should be helpful to these itinerant evangelists: Because they went forth for His name’s sake taking nothing from the Gentiles (v. 7). These men looked to the Lord alone for the supply of their needs. They would not accept support from the unconverted. To do so would imply that their Master was too poor to provide for them. It might also give the unsaved a false ground of self-righteousness on which to rest. What a rebuke this is to the money-raising methods of Christendom today! And how it should remind us of the special obligation we have toward those genuine servants of the Lord who go out in faith in the living God and who make their needs known only to the Lord. (Weirsbe)

                                                5.      The fact that faithful Christian preachers sought no help from the unsaved meant that Christians were under a special obligation to assist them. By extending the needed help (showing hospitality to such men), Christians such as Gaius could be “fellowhelpers to the truth.”  The thought is of partnership with what the truth accomplishes in people’s hearts and lives. It was a noble objective for Gaius to follow. We therefore ought to receive such servants of Christ, that we may partner with fellow Christians for the advancement of truth (v. 8). To receive them means to do everything possible to help them, for when we do, we help the truth in its onward march.

Yes, the Lord has faithfully worked through His churches and generous believers for two millennia, and He will continue to do so until He comes for us. Some of the grandest blessings my wife and I have experienced exercising our Christian faith have been while assisting those who preach the Gospel of our Lord. Formally, this has been our privilege through our various home churches over the years, and as the Lord laid specific ministries on our hearts. I can honestly say we have been honored to give to meet these servants of Christ needs as they sacrificially advanced the Gospel to the unsaved. Our family shares wonderful memories of housing missionaries and evangelists in our home; my how we all were deeply enriched by the fellowship and time together. Beloved, if I am ever charged with the crime of advancing the Gospel of our Lord by assisting His faithful servants…I want to be found guilty beyond any reasonable doubt! What about you? Are you advancing the truth? If not, then why not?

The Mission

ACTS 1:8; GEN. 1:27-28; JOHN 15:16

SUBJECT:  THE MISSION & PURPOSE OF A CHURCH

THEME: the purpose of this study is to captivate us with a vision for worldwide evangelism and church planting.  Secondly, I want to challenge you to become involved with the missions ministry of your NT church to boost Christ’s worldwide outreach.  Thirdly, I hope to focus your life’s goals on God’s central purpose & design for every Christian and NT Church—missions: church reproduction. There is no other endeavor in this world more important than this!   

INTRODUCTION:

Each church is to seek to fulfill the Great Commission and has every right to do so—to preach, evangelize, disciple, baptize, ordain, and send forth missionaries.  Notice the priority these early churches placed on the mission.

Consider the Church at Antioch.

Acts 13:1-4, Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. [4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Consider the Church at Thessalonica.  

1 Thes. 1:7-8, So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. [8] For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

Consider the Church at Philippi.

Philip. 2:15-16, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

 A MISSION is the work of the church in and to the world. It is related especially to world evangelism, as this is the definite emphasis of the N.T. Until the early 1900s, missions referred almost exclusively to the proclamation of the gospel and to church planting. A modern trend has been to broaden and change the concept of Christian missions. Now the term often is used to describe every form of social/political activity, even that which has nothing to do with gospel work. This usage of missions is unbiblical in that Christ's Great Commission did not include such activities. The Apostles gave themselves wholly to evangelism and church planting.—Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible

The GREAT COMMISSION is a title commonly applied to the command given by Jesus Christ to His disciples to preach the Gospel in all the world (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:44-48; Jn. 20:21; Ac. 1:8). It involves two major tasks: evangelism and discipleship. The Gospel is to be proclaimed to every person; those who believe on Christ are to be baptized and trained. The Great Commission is to be fulfilled by the churches and is to result in the multiplication of churches as we see in the N.T. pattern (see the book of Acts).—Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible

LESSON:

THE MEANING OF MISSIONS AND CHURCH PLANTING

Acts 1:8, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

   

Having completed the preparations for His departure, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives with His followers gathered around Him. He had instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were given power from on high, after which they were to witness about Him to the uttermost parts of the earth.

A.  THE MISSION IS A CONTINUATION OF CHRIST’S EARTHLY WORK

John 20:21-23 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: [23] Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

   1.  The Lord Jesus Was a Missionary From Heaven and the Best Gospel Preacher Their Ever Was.

   2.  The Lord Died For the Sins of the World Not Merely a Few Elect.

   3.  The Lord Fulfilled His Mission of Presenting God and Providing Our Atonement.

   4.  The Lord Jesus Himself Started His First Church to Carry On His Work.  

   5.  The Lord Commissioned, Authorized, and Empowered His Church to Take Over His Work in the World.

The Church is only doing the Lord’s work when it is literally carrying out the elements of the great commission. Our work is spiritual, and not political in nature; it is also eternal and not temporal in nature. Sacred and not secular in nature! We are to continue Christ’s work undistracted by the cares of this world.

Matthew 13:22, He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:19, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

2 Tim. 2:3-4, Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

We must refuse to become distracted by the Affairs of this life, if we are going to please Christ!

   

B.  THE MISSION IS A LITERAL COMMITMENT TO THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

     1.  We Must Be Committed to Preach/Teach the Gospel To Every Person.

     2.  We Must Be Committed to Baptize Every Convert

     3.  We Must Be Committed to Indoctrinate Every Saint and Church Members.

     4.  We Must Be Willing to Plant Churches That Will Do the Same.

     5.  We Must Be Willing to Answer God’s Call to Mission Work When It Comes.

C.  THE MISSION IS A MINISTRY OF RECONCILING SINNERS TO A HOLY GOD

2 Cor. 5:17-21, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [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; [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. [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. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

     1.  We Are New Creations and We Have Been Reconciled to God.   (Relationship & Fellowship) vs 17-18

To be in Christ is to be a new creation (see Gal. 6:15). This new creation is brought about by the Holy Spirit, the Agent of regeneration (Titus 3:5) and the Giver of divine birth (John 3:3, 6-8). God’s new creative work, begun in each one who believes in Christ, will one day be consummated on a universal scale (Rev. 21:4-5). The old life of slavery to self and sin has gone (2 Cor. 5:16; cf. Rom. 6:6-14; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9). The new life of devotion to Christ means that one has new attitudes and actions (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 6:4; Eph. 4:23-5:2).

Christ’s death on the cross makes possible human reconciliation to God (Rom. 5:10-11). Reconciliation involves removing rebellious and sinful man’s enmity toward God (Rom. 5:10). This is one of the many marvelous accomplishments of the Godhead on behalf of a person the moment he believes in Christ for salvation from sin. Because Christ bore mankind’s sin on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), He made peace possible (Eph. 2:11-19). No longer need people be the objects of God’s wrath (Rom. 5:9). By trusting themselves to the reconciling work of Christ alone, people pass from God’s wrath to God’s blessing (Acts 16:30-31; Rom. 8:1) and from spiritual death to spiritual life (John 5:24; Eph. 2:1, 5). Then men’s sins are no longer counted, that is, imputed or reckoned, against them, for Christ has taken them on Himself (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18).

      2.  We Have Received From the Lord the Ministry of Reconciliation. (Evangelism & Missions Work)   Vs 18

Few verses more precisely summarize Paul’s ministry and message (see Acts 26:16-18). As Christ had preached peace to all men (Eph. 2:17) on the basis of what He would accomplish (Eph. 2:16), Paul continued that proclamation in His stead. The immediate representative of God’s message of reconciliation was Paul, whose ministry is shared by all who are “in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17, 19).

3.  We Have Received the Word of  Reconciliation.  (The Gospel of Jesus Christ) vs 19

This is the treasure of the gospel which Paul proclaimed (2 Cor. 4:7), the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19) delivered in the ministry (see 4:1) of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18).

4.  We All Are Ambassadors for Christ.

All believers should serve Christ as His ambassadors. Paul’s appeal was not a perfunctory pronouncement but an impassioned plea (“we persuade men” [v. 11]) addressed to the world on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (cf. 1 Tim. 2:3-4).  We are the ambassadors whom Christ has sent forth to negotiate with people in regard to their reconciliation to God.

        a)   We Are Ambassadors.  (Scope & Purpose)

An Ambassador means to act as an ambassador, or sometimes merely to deliver a message for another, without being empowered to do anything more than to explain or enforce it.

        b) As Ambassadors We Represent Our Sovereign—Jehovah God of the Kingdom of Heaven (Dignity, Honor & Power); We Stand in Christ’s Stead!

An ambassador is a minister of the highest rank, employed by one prince or state at the court of another, to manage the concerns of his own prince or state, and representing the dignity and power of his sovereign.—Webster.

Of course we are to seek the honor of the sovereign who has sent us forth, and to seek to do only His will. We do not go to promote our own welfare; or to seek honor or dignity; but we go to transact the business which the Son of God would engage in if He were again personally on the earth. It follows that our office is one of great dignity, and great responsibility, and that respect should be showed the Ambassador = Preacher/ Missionary as the ambassadors of the King of kings.

        c) Ambassadors Are Negotiators of Peace to Avoid War—God’s Wrath, Eternity in Hell, Enmity With God.

He is sent to do what the sovereign would himself do if he were present. They are sent to make known the will of the sovereign, and to negotiate matters of commerce, of war, or of peace, and in general everything affecting the interests of the sovereign among the people to whom they are sent.

        d) Ambassadors Have Only One Peace Treaty for the World—The Gospel of Peace (Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:15; Rom.. 5:1)      

Ministers are ambassadors for Christ, as we are sent to do what He would do were He personally present. We are to make known, and to explain, and enforce the terms on which God is willing to be reconciled to people. We are not to negotiate on any new terms, nor to change those which God has proposed, nor to follow our own plans or devices, but we are simply to urge, explain, state, and enforce the terms on which God is willing to be reconciled.

Acts 20:21, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  

D.  THE MISSION IS SHARING CHRIST WITH THE WORLD   

Luke 24:43-49, And he took it, and did eat before them. [44] And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. [45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, [46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] And ye are witnesses of these things. [49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

  

E.  THE MISSION IS ULTIMATELY CHURCH PLANTING

This we will prove in our next point and next message.  As we see the Gospel going out to the world the ultimate objective is to establish Bible-believing churches.

CONCLUSION: 

The true significance of a church in the world is to share the gospel and establish other N.T. Churches who will also seek to reproduce themselves. The World will never here of Christ and the saving Grace of God unless we preach the Gospel on a global scale. With this knowledge we can maintain the work of the Lord with confidence that we are executing His will for our church.

So, are you captivated by a vision for worldwide evangelism and church planting? Are you involved with the mission ministry of your NT church to boost Christ’s worldwide outreach? Are your life’s goals trained on God’s central purpose & design for every Christian and NT Church—missions: church reproduction? Beloved, there is no other endeavor on the planet more important than this!                                                 

From Sacrifice To Supply!

Our sacrifices for Christ’s sake make us eligible for God’s supply. Not everyone can claim Philippians 4:19 as a promise from God. Read carefully, what Paul actually wrote and what God truly promised.

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20, Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Phil. 4:18-20)

We all make sacrifices at times to advance the Lord’s work in some way or another. This is a spiritually healthy exercise for us, the recipients, the Lord’s church, the missionaries, and the overall cause of Christ. Note, that our sacrifices are a “sweet smell,” “acceptable,” and “wellpleasing” to our Lord. It helps us to give more freely of ourselves when we ascribe value to the fact that God is absolutely enthused with our sacrifices. We communicate real love to Him by sharing ourselves with Him.

In fact, He calls upon us to sustain the lifestyle of a “living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1-2). Sometimes a sacrifice is defined by ignoring our own desires, wants, and necessities to address a pressing and substantial need in God’s work. Nevertheless, still give yourself to Him and for Him generously. In doing so, we are acknowledging in practical ways that we are already His (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

His promise to such givers is that He will supply every single need we have. When our giving according to God’s leadership leaves us with a deficit, God graciously obligates Himself to supply and alleviate that deficit. As a result, we experience God’s supernatural provisions for those essentials. This is not a special way to get rich or something extra from God! He supplies our need, and not our greed! However, the promise is assurance that as we give to participate in His plans, He will resource us according to the necessities we sustain.