Ambassadors for Christ - 15

Coming out of the final two verses of second Corinthians chapter 5 we come to two very significant and rich texts. The section, Paul is continuing to explain and defend his ministry, which was constantly under attack by critics who attacked him because of who Paul was and what he represented as an apostle of Jesus Christ, I read a statement this week that I thought was very profound in a simple way.

Truth sounds like hate speech to those who hate truth. Truth sounds like hate speech to those who hate truth. Sometimes those who hate truth are actually religious and many people in Paul's day hated the truth that he proclaimed himself they were constantly criticizing him, and he found himself defending his ministry to the Corinthians, and two others, but beyond the apostle Paul. These two verses today speak I'm convinced about every believer service for Christ.

What we are to do and what we are to say it's not ours to decide how we choose to serve Christ, but it is ours to find out how Christ desires that we serve him and then be faithful to that assigned task. We must ensure to employ the means and the methods which God uses to change hearts.

The animosity of sinful hearts can only be changed by God, not by us, not by our personality articulates our cleverness, our promotions, but only by the power of Almighty God.

And if we desire God to change hearts that we need to find out what he says about how he does that and find the place that he assigns to us in the great work. In today's text will help us in our understanding of this task. So today two verses into main parts. Number one calls commission. Verse 20 and number two. Paul's message was 21. Paul's commission verse 20 now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. The text begins in my translation with the words now then other translations have therefore or other similar words that link it back to what is gone before, and the link is not hard to find is very close at hand. In verse 19 we find Paul concludes that statement by saying that God has committed to us the word of reconciliation. God has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now that in the light of that, we are ambassadors for Christ three questions about Paul's commission number one. What is an ambassador number two. What is a Christian ambassador number two who is a Christian ambassador number one what is ambassador. Paul's lead to use that particular term to describe what he was an ambassador for Christ and we need to have some understanding of what that term means what is an ambassador in ambassador is the leg get of a monarch. But again, there's another term that may be even is less familiar than the term ambassador so we could say that a leg get or in an ambassador is a commission representative who represents his sovereign to another kingdom.

That's one of the ambassador is a commission representative of a sovereign sovereign king or a sovereign government. If it's not a monarchy. It may be a republic but one who has been commissioned to represent his sovereign king or his sovereign government to another kingdom, and, as such, having been commissioned by his monarch to do this he speaks with authority on behalf of his sovereign monarch or sovereign governmental unit.

Therefore, those who just disrespect the ambassador disrespect the sovereign that he represents a lot of very solemn implications when you really think deeply about what it means to be an ambassador. Paul said, I am in Abbasid now then we are ambassadors for Christ, and this is what he means is that I have just described and defined for you in ambassador, but of course it takes out a little bit narrower understanding when we talk about a Christian ambassador because Paul was not a secular ambassador.

He wasn't representing the Caesar of role more the monarch of some other kingdom, but he tells us exactly what kind of ambassador he was when he says now then we are ambassadors for Christ. That's the monarch that I represent. That's the kingdom that I am speaking on behalf of ambassadors for Christ. Therefore, we would understand that Paul sees himself as representing Christ to a foreign kingdom. What is the foreign kingdom. It is this world. He is speaking on behalf of the kingdom of heaven. To this fallen world that is the kingdom now under the domain of Satan. He is speaking on behalf of the kingdom of light into the kingdom of darkness that we call the world. He is speaking into a kingdom that has become very squalid in comparison to the kingdom that he represents. But that's what he speaking to. But interestingly, in his case he is not speaking to the king of that kingdom. He speaking to the subject's of that kingdom.

Here is a little bit of change because a secular ambassador generally speaks to the highest government official that he's able to gain access to.

But Paul in speaking to a foreign kingdom is speaking to the subjects of the kingdom, not to the king is certainly nuts seeking to Satan, the God of this world, but he speaking to those that belong to Satan's kingdom and why is he doing that well because he recognizes that those subjects rightfully belong to his monarch, they forfeited the privilege of being subjects of that glorious kingdom of light. The kingdom of Christ, the kingdom that will last forever. They forfeited that by their willful sin against the monarch of that kingdom, but that monarch has sent ambassadors into that kingdom to speak to the subjects of the kingdom and to declare to them how they may be brought out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light.

What a message.

So who does Paul represent he represents Christ talking about what is a Christian ambassador.

We might also inquire as to who speaks through Paul. It's very clear again. Verse 20 now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us, as though God were pleading God were speaking God is communicating through us who speaks through Paul. God does God's. And then he makes it clear that he is representing Christ so we can also answer that question Christ done then we understand that in the mind of Paul.

There is no difference as to whether God is speaking to him for Christ is speaking through him because they are one and the same.

Another one of the many many many texts that indicate the deity of Christ.

If anyone doubts that Dr. he's not looking very carefully at what the Bible tells us, and here's another one of those text. It's not the main point of the text, but you can't escape the implications if God is speaking through Paul and just equally at the same time Christ is speaking through Paul then obviously Christ is God is indeed he is. So we are reminded, therefore, that when an ambassador for Christ speaks, God speaks that of course, parallels the secular definition of an ambassador on the back ambassador speaks officially. He is representing his government. His monarch, and as far as the relationship is concerned, it's just as if the other king where there speaking these words, but he is speaking them through his representative will be has commission to speak on his behalf, and the same is true here.

When Paul speaks God is speaking God were pleading through us. What an amazing truth.

What an amazing truth. Not only does God speak to us in the pages of the Bible, but God speaks to us, or at least in Paul's day did, and I'm confident continues to today.

God speaks to human messengers whom he has selected, whom he has commissioned, whom he has raised up to be his representative.

Now they said Paul we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through God's. It is an amazing truth it is a heavy responsibility for anyone who dares to take the place of an ambassador and to purport to speak for God. What a heavy responsibility weighs upon them. To be sure that he is speaking exactly what God has said, not some rough facsimile not some edited version thereof, not his own embellishments.

If an ambassador did that he would be dismissed. He would be sacked immediately and replaced by someone who would carry out his job faithfully and say only what the king commissioned him to say because that is his duty. That is his responsibility. That is the expectation of his monarch and the same holds true for ambassadors of Christ.

One of you sent me this quotation yesterday found it so applicable I'm going to read it at this point comes from licking your ministries quote every time God's word is proclaimed.

The changes all those within its hearing. No one ever remains unaffected by God's word to those who hear it positively.

There is growth in grace to those who rejected or are indifferent to it. It calluses, or rather calluses are added to their souls and calcium to their hearts. The eye becomes dimmer and dimmer the ear heavier and heavier and the mystery of the kingdom. More and more obscure. He who has ears to hear, let him hear how solemn I waiting.

This is not a game. This is not a light matter. God said Paul has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ is the God were pleading through us.

We begged you in God in Christ Ed be reconciled to God. So who does Paul represent Christ who speaks through Paul.

God, how does God speak by this.

I'm thinking in terms of the manner of his speaking, the tone of his speaking in here.

This is quite instructive, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you, we begged you in Christ behalf be reconciled to God.

How does God speak through Paul. How does God speak through his ambassadors how what is the tone the manner of God speaking. He speaks passionately. He speaks pleadingly. He is begging the sinners that stunning that stunning the Almighty sovereign God of the universe. The omnipotent God of the universe at all.

He speaks the word and universe bring into existence that did not exist before.

He says the word and centers are destroyed and receive their just desserts, but this almighty powerful God is so gracious, so loving, so kind, so tenderhearted that he pleads that he implores that he then centers to come to himself.

In other words, of an ambassador is going to correctly represent his sovereign Christian ambassador is going to correctly represent his sovereign. He cannot be mechanical and indifferent in the way that he declares his message. Most of the time when we get off the track. It's because we get a hold of one truth and don't correspond to another.

We don't balance it together with something else. It is taught. So for example we could get hold of the truth that we are to be evangelists.

We are to be witnesses and we therefore conclude that whatever we can do to to record more and more decisions is pleasing to God.

But we don't take into account that not only is there a goal in mind which is God ordained, but there's also a method in mind which is God ordained and there's a message in mind which is God ordained. We must put all of these together for going to properly represent our monarch. Likewise, it's possible to understand that we are an ambassador for Christ. That's the high position higher authorities.

We have a lot of authority in some respects when work when were standing there before another kink we have all the authority of the king that we represent and it's easy for, or is there or to take on the Hardy toll a commanding tone, a and indifferent tone a mechanical tone to take it or leave it tone you can understand why we might conclude that, but we would if we did so we be concluding wrongfully.

We must take on a tender tone pleading tone and imploring tone. We implore you, we plead with you.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you on God's behalf be reconciled to God. That's how God speaks is that the way that we speak to centers. May God help us to. But then we swing the balance back a little bit the other wasting the pendulum back a little bit. The other way. We recognize there's 1/4 thing to consider.

That is what does God command now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. And that is a passive imperative. That's a strange strange thing but we find that more often in the New Testament than you might believe, but here it is a passive imperative, it is imperative as it is a command we are pleading with you but were pleading with you to obey the command of the K NASA come ions which we have have a careful balance to maintain here. We must maintain the dignity and the authority of the one that we are representing, for he is a great King and he has the right to command us and he does command us in the command is the reconciled to God. It is an imperative.

But it is a passive imperative.

This is where it becomes very interesting. The command is not to reconcile yourselves to God, but it is to be reconciled by another to God you don't reconcile yourself to God because you can't. You need to understand that that's part of the message part of the truth that needs to be understood. You are not capable of reconciling yourself to a holy God. But God pleads with you to be reconciled to God.

In fact, the commands you to do so. He and other words commands us to do what we cannot do that. I have heard some people arguing against certain statements in the Bible to say that can't be right. God could never command us to do something that we can't do wrong.

He does it all the time it's all throughout the Bible. It is another example of it he commands us to be reconciled to God, knowing full well that we can do that of ourselves and yet he commands us to do it if I can only take a second to realize that nearly all of commands. God's commands fall into that category. Certainly all the commands of God to unregenerate sinners fall into that can category God says thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind, and strength is anyone ever been able to do that.

Can anyone do that again even unregenerate child of God do that until he is fully sanctified and in heaven know that command is utterly impossible to keep and yet we are commanded to do it. Why would God do that. Why would God give us a command that is impossible for us to do to show us our need to show us our weakness to show us how dependent we are upon him to call us the quick clinging to our own righteousness in our own ability and to renounce all that I do humbly fall at the foot of his throne and say I can't do it. We heard a great message.

Those who attend the tri-state Fellowship when when the John McKnight was here and he brought a message on the truth, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief and that talks about the same concept that on the one hand, we are commanded to believe on the other hand, we can't believe and that man of the Bible who Jesus said do you believe all things are possible to those who believe and he said well I do believe in other words, I have a little bit of belief but I know I don't have believe I had 1/2.

What I do about that cannot generate up can I crank it up. Can I make it happen within me.

Oh no no no no no no I cast myself upon the one who is able to give it to me Lord, I believe, help thou mine on the leaf and as ambassadors we say to you, the reconciled to God. But I tried. I can't. Okay, now you're getting close to the place where you can receive help, because now you're at the place were you ready to depend upon God completely. In other words, to be reconciled to God needs to yield to Christ and embrace what God has done through Christ, what are you doing to be reconciled to God. Surrender. Give up. Recognize your own inability and hold on for all your worth to what God has done for sinners in Christ and cast yourself up on him alone. I remember dear member of this church. Some of you a new one for sure will know exactly who I'm talking about when I give this illustration is not with the Lord. But when God was dealing with him about his sin and his need of Christ. He had tried to pray several times and had no snows sense that he was saved. He knew he wasn't.

Finally got the place where he said, Lord, I know I need to believe I can't believe but if I go to hell I'm going to hell believing the best I can in Jesus Christ.

And when he said that suddenly Pete peace flooded his soul was able to go to sleep and woke up the next morning knowing that he didn't say I can't make myself believe, but if I go to hell I'm going to go to hell believing in Jesus Christ. The best I can. Now you've got it now you've got it. Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. Now you've got it as an ambassador for Christ I'm coming pleading with you, imploring you you in Christ behalf be reconciled to God. You can't do it. Only God can do it yield to it. Surrender to it. Embrace what God has done in Christ.

But I have one more question of the first text verse 20 about Paul's commission.

That is the question who is a Christian ambassador. We talked about what is an ambassador. What is a Christian ambassador but now who is a Christian ambassador.

In other words, who is included in that word we now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us.

We implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. The plural pronoun is used, who is included in that word we know we find Paul speaking this way.

Quite a bit in the Bible as some have thought that at least part of the time Paul is doing that he is employing what we sometimes call the magisterial we or the polite, we so those are two different things, but they both allow the use of the plural pronoun when the singular is meant magisterial. We is the king who says we declare this, we we do this yet. He's the one who's doing it, but for some reason, instead of saying I he says we guess that sounds more majestic hits magisterial and then there are others who employ what is sometimes called the polite week.

It seems to be a desire to avoid over using the personal pronoun.

I and so they say. We plan to eat our dinner tonight at 6 o'clock and you say you and who will just myself, what we would say is I plan to eat my dinner tonight at 6 o'clock but some people will put it in the plural, and say we plan to do that. You probably know people who customarily do that. Now the question is, is that what Paul is doing here when he says now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as he really made now than I am an ambassador for Christ speaking only for himself but a careful examination of the text makes it clear that can't be so because if that's what Paul meant that he would say now than we are and ambassador for Christ if he meant.

I am an ambassador for Christ would know he uses the plural throughout now then we are ambassador Lawrence plural for Christ, as though God were pleading through us, not through me. We implore you on God's behalf be reconciled to God. It's clear that there is something more than Paul or someone more than Paul himself was included in that word we this plural pronoun refers to a plurality of persons as it normally does. So it's not the magisterial nor polite use of the word we but that still doesn't answer the question.

Who is Paul referring to is Paul referring to himself and his ministry team as we think he does. On some occasions when he uses the word we is Paul referring to himself and all faithful preachers of the gospel. All the other apostles, and all other faithful preachers of the gospel that could be what he's talking about or is Paul talking about himself and all other Christian. In other words, the question is does this apply to all of us over that, though that's impossible to answer strictly from the words of this text.

Because there is much of his texted clearly is referring to public preaching work of an ambassador.

The work of an apostle, the work of a public minister. Yet I could come back to ask the question. Hopefully answer the question this way, how many are commissioned to represent Christ just to fewer or all of God's people commissioned to represent Christ in some way. Maybe another way of putting it is who's included in the great commission. When Jesus said, go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations, was the meaning only apostles, some say so, but I think clearly that's not doesn't do justice to the text is referring only to what we would call ordained ministers again.

I don't think that does justice to the text, and most people I think rightfully conclude that what Jesus said that he's referring to all believers.

All Christians all been saved by the grace of God, all who bear the name of Jesus Christ. I'm commissioning all of you to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every you've all been commissioned to do it and therefore I think it's very reasonable to conclude that when Paul says now that we are ambassadors for Christ is including the same number. All of us who have been commissioned by Christ to represent him in the world. Here's a very helpful way to look at our commission.

We are ambassadors for Christ and therefore if I am correct about this I can say to you that Paul's commission is my commission. Paul's commission is your commission.

We don't all have exactly the same assignment but all of us are ambassadors.

All of us are representatives.

All of us are called upon to faithfully and accurately represent our sovereign before a lost and dying world and to speak the word of truth into the darkness of this world, but now we move on to Paul's message. Verse 21 we know what it is we are to do.

We are to act as ambassadors and do the work of ambassadors so secondly, what are we to declare here it is. Verse 21 for me. He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him tremendous textile try to cover it by picking out six keywords. Some of the words are in the text. Some of them are words that represent phrases and truth within the text, but six keywords that I think will help unlock the meaning of this text word number one reconciliation.

That word is used twice in verse 18. Twice in verse 19. Once in verse 20 that is clearly in view. In verse 21, though it's not found in that verse see how often is used verse 18 all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing, there's another word were going to come to the moment, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. There's the fifth time in three verses four verse 21 he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Verse 21 is the message that explains on what basis we can be reconciled to God. What God has done in order to reconcile us to himself. We can't recollect soil ourselves to him. But this is what he has done to reconcile centers to himself reconciliation be reconciled to God, which I'm convinced is not in this you probably wouldn't thought of, but is not Paul addressing the Corinthians directly, but it is Paul telling what the commission is that is given to all ambassadors. We implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. Well, presumably he's writing this to the church at Corinth. They already had been. These people writing to what he saying is as an ambassador for Christ. This is what I proclaim and you as an ambassador for Christ.

This is what look like. This represents the message here. It is not ship the reconciled to God.

That's the message we take to the citizens of this dark and fallen in squalid world and what is reconciliation reconciliation is the restoration of a broken relationship talked about that previously on another Sunday to restoration a broken relationship. If the marriage has been shattered and then by working at it.

The two parties are brought back together again. Oh wonderful day. When that happens it doesn't happen as often as we wish. When that happens we say reconciliation has occurred, the broken relationship has been mended. It has been stored, restored, and that's what Paul is talking about here. There's a broken relationship between sinful male and a holy God and that relationship needs to be restored and by the grace of God, and maybe restored it can't be restored. They reconciled to God.

Reconciliation is a key component to verse 21 and on our part, that means the end the hostilities that we have fostered against God. It means do what we can to remove the barriers that come between us and God the truth.

Once again, won't only God can remove them, but it means do what we can respond to the message of God that this broken relationship might be restored.

Reconciliation. A second word that describes the message.

Verse 21 is the word initiative who took the initiative in this reconciliation. God did for he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, he did it. God took the initiative, God acted to remove the barriers we erected them. The barriers are sound barriers. We have sand against the create tour. We sinned against our rightful monarch, our rightful sovereign ruler. We send against them are offenses against him are greater than week probably understand we have piled Sandoval sin upon said it has become a great barrier between us and God. But God is taken the initiative to remove the barriers the offended party took the necessary steps to repair and remove the offense amazing.

Normally you would expect it to be the other way around. You've wronged me come to me and asked me to forgive you and I will. That's the normal way. That's actually what Jesus teaches in the gospel of Luke. If your brother has trespassed against you if he comes and repents 70×7 times you recently read, forgive him every time. If he comes and asks for forgiveness. You forgive him. That's the way it is. The offender comes and appeals to the one that they have offended, but in this case because of our blindness because of our spiritual death. Because of our spiritual dullness.

We don't even understand what our true relationship is with Almighty God, we don't understand our danger, and so God in loving kindness the initiative to remove the barriers and lovingkindness.

Jesus came sinful souls to reclaim God took the initiative. This indicates God's love. God's goodwill. This is why John writes for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life, and so were number two is initiative God took the initiative were number three as Savior that refers to that pronoun him, for he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. And this is a clear reference to Jesus Christ, referred to in verse 20 now then we are ambassadors for Christ is the God were pleading through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God, for he God made him Jesus Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin. God determined to make his own son, Jesus Christ the Savior.

Only God can reconcile the center to himself in a righteous God must reconcile righteously, and therefore, God the son became the reconciler, God the son became the Savior, God the son became the Messiah, God the son became the mediator between God and man, God the son became the one who would take away our sins righteous God can only reconcile centers righteously.

He can't just excuse the sin he can't just forget the Senate has to be dealt with. This is what Paul is talking about in Romans three he says in verse 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom speaking of Christ Jesus, God set forth as a propitiation. There is another big word, not in our text for today, but as a propitiation by his blood through faith to demonstrate. Listen to this to demonstrate his righteousness.

God is a righteous God, and in the cross of Christ is to demonstrate his righteousness as well as his mercy and his grace so demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance.

God had passed over the sins that were previously committed to demonstrate at the present time. Verse 26. His righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. On the one hand, his righteousness, his justice cannot be ignored. It must be satisfied.

It cannot be passed over. It cannot be neglected holy God's justice must be satisfied will. How can a center satisfy the justice of Almighty God, apart from spending eternity in hell. He can't God designed away so that he could be at the same time just and justifier of him who believes in Jesus is where the last 10 we sign said the perfect righteousness of God is witness in the Savior's blood. God could not pass the sinner by his sin demands that he must die within the cross of Christ. We see how God can save us righteously. The sin is on the Savior relate to is in his blood. Since debt is paid Stern justice can demand no more than mercy can dispense restore that's it. Savior reconciliation initiative Savior number four sinlessness the sin offering had to be a perfect offering.

That's why he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us.

Perfect sacrifices required. Who can qualify for that. This was all portrayed in the Old Testament sacrifices. But of course it was only a a an imperfect portrayal but nevertheless appointed to this perfect truth, but the animals were to be brought to sacrifice to atone for sins upon the altars of the Old Testament were to be animals in which there could be found.

No blemish, no spot.

That's why the offense of the book of Malachi was so serious against the people of God. They were blaming bringing blind animals Latinate Lane animals and offering them to God. Not only was that an insult because it costs them very little. They were getting by the thought cheaper in that way than then presenting their expensive animals, but it completely destroyed the portrait which God was giving them of what is necessary to secure salvation. It has to be the sin was sent Lamb of God, and that's why John the Baptist seen Jesus walking across the plains near the river Jordan pointed him out and said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world the perfect Lamb the sender slammed the spotless lamp and that's what Paul is testifying to hear he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, Christ personally and intimately was unacquainted with sin.

Of course, is the God man.

He understood it, but he'd never practiced it.

He'd never experienced it. It had never it had never been done by him no sin whatsoever. It had not soiled his soul. That's what made him qualified to be a substitute in the place of sinners, Jesus Christ, sand that he cannot save.

If Jesus Christ sinned, then he cannot save it must be the perfect sinless sacrifice which brings us toward number five which is substitution, he made him to be sin who knew no sin to be sin for us, there is a substitution going on here to be sin for us to be sin on our behalf. He took the sinner's place in judgment what this is telling us is that Jesus was treated as sinful, though he was not so that we could be treated as righteous.

Though we are not. That's the gospel that's the gospel in this amazing plan of God. God eternal God took upon him human flesh became a man lived upon the earth, did what no other man never did that as he looked perfectly without sin, then he died upon the cross, as if he were a center bearing judgment that is due under sinners. He was treated as sinful, though he was not so that we could be treated as righteous. Though we are not.

That brings me finally to the word imputation that we might become the righteousness of God in him. In what way do we become righteous. Well, in a legal sense, we are made righteous, legally or if you want a more technical term forensically. It has to do with our relationship to the law is the law that we have offended is God's love that we have sinned against. It is the breaking of God's law that is made of sinners, so we become the righteousness of God in the legal sense, we are judicially Christ was judicially made sinful that we might judicially be made righteous. He wasn't a center he never was a center on the cross. He was the center when he was bearing judgment for all our sins, he still was in the center. He was the perfect sinless Lamb of God, but he was being treated legally as if he were a center and bearing the judgment that is due under sinners, so that we who are sinners and deserve to bear the judgment of eternal separation from God might be legally treated as if we are righteous. That's the gospel God to use this word imputed counted, reckoned, applied God to imputed the believer sin to Christ. God imputed Christ righteousness to the believer, and that's the double imputation God imputed God reckoned God counted two things here that are necessary for salvation. God took all the sales of the believing sinner and he put them on Christ. The County he counted all those to Christ and treats Christ as if he were guilty of them and therefore must bear the judgment.

For them, and God takes wonder of wonders God takes Christ's perfect righteousness and he counts imputes that to my account to all believers accounts and treats us as if we are as righteous as Jesus Christ himself, standing commentator EP goal put it this way.

Christ, the holy was treated by God as if he were a center believers though sinful or treated by God is righteous.

That's it. That's the message that's what ambassadors declare one or say be reconciled to God. This is the basis of that we need to help people understand how it is that sinners can be reconciled to God. Here it is there any us for God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him some quick lessons. First, about gospel ministry and secondly about the gospel message.

They overlap to a little degree.

What about gospel ministry gospel ministry is all about faithfully representing our sovereign gospel ministry is to faithfully deliver a commissioned message is not ours to try to make it more acceptable in some way were successful in some way we are successful only to the good degree that we are faithful to our commission and we are failures to the degree that we fail to faithfully represent God. If a minister because of his ingenuity and industry builds a church of 5000 people. The world says he is an amazing success. But if he has not been faithful to his commission. God says you are an abject failure. You didn't represent me in the message that I gave you. You thought you could. You thought you could substitute your own unfaithful servant unfaithful ministry is successful.

To the degree that we are faithful to our God ordained commission. What about the gospel message will several things when it comes to proclaiming the gospel. We cannot minimize the sin issue. That's the heart of the alienation.

That's the whole problem were alienated from God.

We need to be reconciled to God. What alienated us from God our sin, our sale, our sale we get minimize the sin issue proclaim the gospel. Nor can we or should we minimize the majesty of God.

We represent a majestic God. He is the sovereign ruler. He is the omnipotent creator all must bow before his throne, we must represent human right.

Nor can we minimize truth about Jesus Christ.

It it is critical that we proclaim the Jesus Christ is sinless, it is critical that we proclaim that Jesus is incarnate God to proclaim anything less is to not proclaim the gospel to proclaim anything less is to proclaim a false gospel.

Nor can we make the gospel user-friendly.

By that we mean make it somehow acceptable to the on repentant sinner. Here's the center, who in his fallen, sinful state is hostile toward God doesn't like God doesn't like the Bible doesn't like Christians doesn't like the church so people come along and say over will give you a user-friendly Churchill like this one because it appeals to your carnality and worldliness, but leaves you unrepentant we can make the gospel user-friendly sinners must surrender to their offended sovereign sinners, we plead for you to do it.

We beg you to do it, but this is what you must note, you must surrender to your offended sovereign when it comes to the gospel message, you must declare the amazing love and kindness of God to sinners and implore them to be reconciled to God, knowing that some will believe in some will reject those reject who reject have only themselves to blame. Which category are you sure we pray Holy Spirit of God, and empower the words that have been spoken that they become indeed the word of the living God to our souls. We pray that