Ambassadors of Reconciliation (Part 4)

If you are troubled to know under which one of the Lord’s commissions you are to labor, remember these words of Paul, “The gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me (Paul) as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter. “Galatians 2: 7. Again Paul’s words in II Timothy 2: 2. “And the things that thou has heard of me (Paul) among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Again in Ephesians 3: 1 and 2, “I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles” … “The dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward”. Again, “the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man… taught it by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:12.

“That I (Paul) should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles – I strived to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.” Romans 15: 16 and 20.

Note what Paul says concerning himself, in 1 Corinthians 3: 10; (According to the grace of God which is given unto me (Paul), as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation. “When the risen Christ gave the so—called great commission in Matthew 28: 19 & 20, to Peter and his associates, he never hinted at the gospel of uncircumcision, the dispensation of the grace of God for Gentiles, or the ministry of reconciliation which some years later he committed, by revelation, to Paul who then declared, “I am the apostle of the Gentiles; I magnify mine office.” Romans 11:13.

The pity is that the Lord’s ambassadors today minimize Paul’s office instead of magnify it.

Well, fellow-Christians, our commission and message today is the word of reconciliation. That reconciliation message was not the commission of Matthew 28: 19 & 20, because Israel had not yet been cast away and God’s word instructs us in Romans 11:15, “the casting away of them (Israel) be the reconciling of the world.” After Christ has been raised from the dead, Peter declared that he was raised from the dead to be a prince and a savior to give repentance unto Israel. Acts 5:30 and 31. Christ raised from the dead to give repentance is quite different from the reconciling of the world because Israel was cast away.

Now here is sufficient divine authority for our ministry for the Lord, “hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”, II Corinthians 5: 19, (hath given us the ministry of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:18.

In the context note our identification with Christ – II Corinthians 5:15 – and also note why we labor as ambassadors of reconciliation; (the love of Christ constraineth us); ( knowing the fear of the Lord., we persuade men.). II Corinthians 5:14 and II Corinthians 5: 11. Let us not be guilty of the spiritual crime of perverting the glorious divine message of grace. In the message of reconciliation sinners are not to beg God to be reconciled to them and save them. Carefully note II Corinthians 5:20; (now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God.”

God beseeches the sinner. We pray the sinner. This is not the sinner seeking God and salvation. This is God beseeching the sinner to accept the perfect work of redemption accomplished by Christ. When he was made sin on the cross, God was reconciled. The reconciliation becomes mutual the moment the sinner believes God and receives Christ. We have a blessed ministry, a great responsibility and a glorious privilege as ambassadors of reconciliation.

Now we come to our last article which is about SALVATION AND THE FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. This article was also written by Pastor J.C.O’Hair.

Read the entire article here…

Read the first part of the article here…