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2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Ambassadors For Christ

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2 Corinthians 5:18-20• 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.

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Introduction

• Many falsely claim Christians today are “ambassadors for Christ”:

“Since 1974, the Ambassadors for Christ have traveled throughout the tri-state area spreading God's word through their southern gospel music. Their mission: To win the lost to Jesus; restore the backslider to fellowship with Him, and to inspire and encourage the believer in Christ. They will sing for any church or organization, or event that would like to have them. From the very beginning, they have never charged a fee for singing, but they do appreciate donations whenever possible, and God has been faithful to meet their needs these many years. They are very grateful to Him for sustaining their ministry.”

– http://www.ambassadorsforchrist.com/

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• Welcome to AFCI-USAAFCI-USA is a diverse group of preachers and teachers uniquely bound together in ministry with one vision, purpose and mission.

Our Vision: To glorify God by life and ministry, seeking to know Him and make Him known to the nations of the world.

Our Purpose: We are a fellowship of gifted preachers and teachers, called of God, existing to work together with a focus on "Revival in the Church... Evangelism through the Church... and Training for the Church... among all people group

– http://afci-usa.com/

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• Ambassadors for Christ Worldwide Missions, Inc is a 501(c)(3) which supports and believes in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The aim of AFCWM, Inc is to Demonstrate God's Love in practical ways and Strengthen the believers.– http://afcwm.org/

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Ambassadors for Christ Academy8579 West Ford Springs Rd

PO BOX 924Bentonville, AR 72712PHONE 479-273-5635

FAX 479-273-0684 http://ambassadorsforchristacademy.org/

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Become a Billy Graham Ambassador“March 1, 2008 - For nearly 60 years, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has proclaimed the Gospel by every effective means available and has trained others to do the same. Now a new ministry of BGEA—Billy Graham Ambassadors—is available to put practical resources from BGEA into the hands of individuals and churches in order to strengthen evangelism and prayer for evangelism.

Put simply, BGEA wants to see an ambassador for evangelism and prayer in every community in America. The ministry is designed to equip any believer, not just pastors or evangelists. Those who sign up to be Billy Graham Ambassadors receive twice-monthly newsletters by e-mail. Each newsletter contains practical help in four areas: Evangelism and You, Evangelism and Your Church, Evangelism and Our World, and Evangelism and Prayer. Ambassadors also gain access to online articles, videos, printable training pieces and resources for teaching groups….”

• http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=934

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Other false claims…• Ambassadors for Christ Church

– http://ambassadorsforchristchurch.us/

• Ambassadors for Christ Fellowship Center, Inc.– http://afcfc.net/

• Ambassadors for Christ, Philippine Evangelism, Inc.– http://www.ambassadorsforchristphilippines.org/

• Ambassadors for Christ International Ministries– http://www.afcim.net/

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Are Christians Today Ambassadors?• I Say No!• BUT……

– 1 Peter 4:11– Romans 10:8-17– Matthew 28:19-20

• What does the Bible teach?– “The Bible Tells Us So!”

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2 Corinthians 5:18-20• 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.

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Ephesians 6:20

• Paul Claims ambassadorship!– “For which I am an ambassador in

bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

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“Ambassador” Defined“An official envoy; especially: a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.”

Source: Webster’s on-line dictionary

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Hodge on “Ambassadors”

"An ambassador is at once a messenger and a representative. He does not speak in his own name. He does not act on his own authority. What he communicates is not his own opinions or demands, but simply what he has been told or commissioned to say. His message derives no part of its importance or trustworthiness from him. At the same time he is more than a mere messenger. He represents his sovereign. He speaks with authority, as accredited to him in the name of his master."

Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, p. 146)

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Words of the Apostles Are Inspired

• 1 Corinthians 2:9-13• 1 Corinthians 14:37• Ephesians 3:3-5• Galatians 1:11-12• 2 Peter 1:21

Therefore, the words of the Apostles are equal in authority to the words of Christ – Matt. 16:19

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Matthew 16:19• “And I will give unto thee the keys of the

kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The Apostles of Christ

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Clinton Hamilton on Matthew 16:19• “Since God has so emphatically declared that the

scriptures are His product, the result of His out-breathing, what does that say about the authority of scripture? Jesus asserted that scripture cannot be broken (Jn. 10:34, 35). The word broken means to loose or to take out of effect. The point is, that whatever God bound cannot be loosed. The same word is used by John the Baptist when he stated that he was not worthy to loose the latchet of Christ's shoes. What God has tied, no man can loose. What the apostles by the authority of Christ bound on earth had already been bound in heaven and what they loosed on earth had already been loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19; 18:18; Mk. 1:7).

Truth Magazine I:12, pp. 1, 22-23, September 1957

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Clinton Hamilton on Matthew 16:19• “Since God has so emphatically declared that the

scriptures are His product, the result of His out-breathing, what does that say about the authority of scripture? Jesus asserted that scripture cannot be broken (Jn. 10:34, 35). The word broken means to loose or to take out of effect. The point is, that whatever God bound cannot be loosed. The same word is used by John the Baptist when he stated that he was not worthy to loose the latchet of Christ's shoes. What God has tied, no man can loose. What the apostles by the authority of Christ bound on earth had already been bound in heaven and what they loosed on earth had already been loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19; 18:18; Mk. 1:7).

Truth Magazine I:12, pp. 1, 22-23, September 1957

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Revelation of Truth by The Holy Spirit Promised to the Apostles!

• “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”– John 14:26

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Revelation of Truth by The Holy Spirit Promised to the Apostles!

• “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning”– John 15:26

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John 17:8• “For I have given unto them the words

which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.”

The Apostles of Christ

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1 Peter 1:12• “Unto whom it was revealed, that not

unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”

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Only the Apostles were Ambassadors • Special messengers of Christ

– Chosen by Christ - Acts 1:2, Jn. 6:70• Preached the Gospel by empowerment of the Holy Ghost

“sent down from heaven” - Acts 2:4; 1 Pet. 1:12• Healed the sick, cast out devils - Matt. 10:8• Were guided into “all truth” - Jn. 16:13• Clothed with “power from on high” –

– Lk. 24:49• Witnesses of Christ - Lk. 24:46-49• “Ministers of the New Testament”

– 2 Cor. 3:6

There are no Ambassadors today!

There are no men today like the Apostles!

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Christ Speaks Thru His Apostles

• “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” (Jn. 17:8)

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Why We Need Christ’s Words:

• Sanctified by it – Jn.17:17• Christ is the ONLY way to the Father – Jn.

14:6• His Words give spiritual life – Jn. 5:24• His Word gives understanding – Ps. 119:104• His Words are a light and guide – Ps.

119:105• They bring about true unity –

– Eph. 4:1-4; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil 1:27

• Save the soul – Jas.1:21

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Why We Need Christ’s Words:

• Quick and powerful – Heb. 4:12• The seed of the Kingdom – Lk. 8:11• “Sword of the Spirit” – Eph. 6:17• “Power…unto salvation” – Rom.1:16• Will judge us – Jn. 12:48• Furnishes unto all good works – 2 Tim.

3:15, 16• Perfects our love in Him – 1 Jn. 2:5• Cleanses – Jn. 15:3

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“Heareth my word”“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).

• Hear – Jn. 5:24

• Believe - Jn. 5:24

• Repent - “except ye repent, ye shall

all likewise perish”

(Lk. 13:3, 5)

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“Heareth my word”“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).

• Hear – Jn. 5:24

• Believe - Jn. 5:24

• Repent – Lk. 13:3 & 5

• Confess -

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me

before men, him will I confess also before

my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32)

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“Heareth my word”“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).

• Hear – Jn. 5:24

• Believe - Jn. 5:24

• Repent – Lk. 13:3 & 5

• Confess – Matt. 10:32

• Be baptized -

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:15 & 16).

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“Ashamed of Me and My word”

“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mk 8:38).

Words Of Christ

• Hear – Jn. 5:24

• Believe - Jn. 5:24

• Repent – Lk. 13:3 & 5

• Confess – Matt. 10:32

• Baptized - Mk. 16:15 & 16

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).

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Conclusion• Only the Apostles were the Ambassadors of Christ!• They were empowered by the Holy Spirit!• They were give special powers that men today are

not given!• They were hand-picked by the Master Himself!

– “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen” (Acts 1:1-2 KJV)

• They were given the Words of the Father – Jn. 17:8May we hear Christ and His words and serve Him!