Today I would like to encourage everyone to go back and read 2 Corinthians 5 again. In this chapter we find exactly what God, through Jesus, has done for us and in us! We also find what we, as born again believers, are to be doing here, in this life! Let's look first at verse 17:
17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
If you ever hear another believer say, "I'm just an old sinner, saved by grace", I suggest that you take them to this chapter so that they can develop faith in what the God of the Bible says about them instead! IF they have received Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, then they are NO LONGER "old sinners", but new saints! They are new creations! Look at verse 21:
21 For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. KJV
The Amplified Bible says it like this:
21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
The Spirit of God has taken up residence in them and MADE them the righteousness of God - IN HIM! AMEN! Now let's look at verses 18-20 to see what we are supposed to be doing!
18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. 19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.
WE are to represent HIM on the earth so that others can be drawn to Him through what they see in US! AMEN! You and I ARE Ambassadors for Christ, representing Heaven while we are here on earth! We have ALL of Heaven's resources to call on when needed and we are guaranteed that HE will work WITH us, confirming the Word that we speak with signs, wonders and miracles (Mark 16:20)! So, let's get to it! Here is Hillsong with an old song called "This Kingdom":
Shalom in Him!
