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Your Identity In Christ
You Are An Ambassador For Christ
The Bible demonstrates that those who are in Christ have a rich spiritual identity. This involves being an ambassador for Christ. Yet, while it is common for people to identify as “Christians,” many may be unfamiliar with what it means for Christians to be ambassadors (representatives) for the kingdom of God. Still, we see this concept plainly taught in the pages of Scripture (2 Corinthians 5:20). Therefore, if you are going to fulfill your true purpose in Jesus Christ, you must embrace your identity as an ambassador for Christ and all this involves.
1) You must live according to the King’s authority. Those who serve as ambassadors are citizens of the kingdom/nation they represent and must act under the authority of that king/ruler (while living in a foreign land, Philippians 1:27-28). Look at 2 Corinthians 5:16-19. Those who are in Christ have come to know Christ for who He truly is rather than worldly misconceptions of Him, are new creations in Christ who live by a different standard than they once did, and have been reconciled to God through Jesus. Therefore, you cannot conduct your life by whatever authority you desire if you are going to an effective ambassador. For example, you cannot claim to be a “Christian” and represent Jesus, then present an image to the world that demonstrates you do not really honor Jesus as King of your life! Whenever people see your life, they should see a life that is seeking to be submissive to Jesus Christ in every aspect – your thoughts, words, decisions, conduct, relationships, habits, etc. (Colossians 3:1-4:1, see 3:17). Only one who is so committed to Christ in his/her personal life will be in the position to then represent the cause of Christ’s kingdom to others.
2) You are a bridge between Christ and the world. When an ambassador is sent to a foreign country, he/she becomes a bridge between the two countries. That is, the ambassador’s job is to build relationships and participate in activities that can be utilized for the best interests of the king/nation he/she represents – since that king is not physically present in the other place. In the same way, Jesus uses Christians wherever they are in this world to be a bridge between Him and them (i.e. build relationships and participate in activities that will be useful to accomplish Jesus’s mission and interests, Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; 1 Peter 3:1-2). Therefore, you must consider every relationship and circumstance you have as an opportunity to be that bridge (i.e. in your home, workplace, school, neighborhood, grocery store, sporting events you attend, etc.). In this way, you become the world’s Bible that helps them learn about Jesus and draws them to Him. Realize how Jesus uses His people every day as they go about the course of their lives (Luke 10:25-37; John 4:28-30, 39-42). Viewing yourself as a bridge in this way, should cause you to think about if you fail to make these connections or represent Him in a way that repels people from Him (Matthew 23:2-7; Romans 2:17-24).
3) You must represent the King’s interests. As an ambassador works to build relationships and utilize opportunities in a foreign land, he/she must never forget this bridge is to be used to represent the interests of the king he/she has been sent by. Such are not to be used for personal gain and interests that are contrary to the will of the king. In the same way, those who are ambassadors for Christ must never forget that they represent Jesus’s interests on this earth to the people who are in their lives. Don’t mistake your time on this earth as being a time for your own selfish pursuits or give your allegiance to the king of this world (Satan, Romans 12:2)! In fact, your focus must be so centered on representing Jesus’s interests in your life, you must even be willing to suffer for the sake of the King’s interests (Ephesians 6:20). As you live in this foreign land, then, and utilize various opportunities to be relevant in the lives of others on this earth, you only do so for the purpose of winning/strengthening their allegiances to the King (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) – and never join them in doing things that are contrary to the interests of King Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)! Therefore, you must learn to see every situation from the perspective of how the King’s interests can be best represented through you!
4) You must share the message of the King. A key part of an ambassador representing the interests of his/her king in another land is to share the appropriate messages the king would send. In this way, the ambassador does not speak on his/her own authority, but according to the authority of the king. As an ambassador for King Jesus, your good example is not all that Jesus expects of you in representing His interests in the world. Instead, the gospel’s message of reconciliation has been entrusted to His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2). But, you are not free to speak just any message you desire (Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19). Instead, you must only speak the true message of the gospel that will accomplish the King’s goal of reconciliation to Him among those who have been His enemies and are separated from Him!
Being in Christ (a Christian) means that you are an ambassador for Christ. But, as we have seen, this is not an empty title or merely a way of describing yourself. Instead, this means that you have submitted your life to Jesus as your King and have the role of being a bridge between Him and those who are in the world. Now, you must live your life seeking to represent His interests and speaking His message every opportunity you get!