Austin Bible Church
An ambassador is an official envoy or diplomatic agent of the highest rank sent to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of their government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.
All believers in the Church Age are members of the body of Christ who are representatives of our Lord while on this earth. We are His personal ambassadors or representatives because at salvation, God the Holy Spirit placed each of us into union with our Lord Jesus Christ. This is called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We represent ourselves before God as believer priests and we represent God before mankind. 2 Cor. 5:20; Eph. 6:19-20.
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NASB)
“and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19-20, NASB)
As ambassadors, each believer constantly represents our Lord in this world. There is no time off. Each believer functions differently based on their spiritual growth, their spiritual gifts, and the time in which they live. Each of us in an independent ambassador in that we rely on nothing but the epignosis Bible doctrine in our soul and the grace of God. We do not rely on others. Your functions as ambassador are fulfilled as you mature in the spiritual life. Rom. 12:9-11.
" Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;" (Romans 12:9-11, NASB)
An ambassador does not appoint himself. Every believer is appointed His ambassador by the Lord and is provided the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to function as a true ambassador for Jesus Christ. An ambassador does not support themselves. God provides all our needs with His grace resources. Phil. 4:19.
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NASB)
An ambassador does not belong to the country where they are sent. The believer is not of the world, but of heaven. An ambassador has instructions in written form. The Word of God is for believers which is the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16.
“For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16, NASB)
The ambassador does not live in the foreign country for their own personal interests. We live here on earth solely to serve in the interest of our Lord. Therefore, we as representatives of Jesus Christ must subordinate all personal interest to the function of ambassador. This includes the consistent intake and application of Bible doctrine and spiritual growth. Our function of an ambassador becomes more visible to the world as we grow spiritually and our spiritual gifts become more functional.
An ambassador does not treat any insult as personal. When you are insulted or treated unfairly, the grace of God provides significant capabilities to handle such problems. These are opportunities to apply the epignosis doctrine in your soul to the situation. This is how we grow spiritually and this is how we better represent Jesus Christ here on earth. God takes care of His name and Word. We are not here to defend, but to spread the Word of God. The Holy Spirit takes care of the results.
When an ambassador is recalled, it is because of degenerating relations between the countries or a war is about to be declared. When the Church is recalled, hostility begins in the Tribulation. The Church will be removed from the earth at the Rapture, thus initiating the Tribulation.
The function of the believer as an ambassador is dependent on the production of divine good in the Christian way of life. The ambassador’s service can be a function of their spiritual gift or obedience to the Word. Since maximum production involves spiritual maturity, it is obvious that the attainment of spiritual maturity results in maximum effectiveness as an ambassador for Jesus Christ.
Since the filling of the Spirit is a requirement for production of divine good, it is also an absolute necessity in the function of ambassador. Anything thought or said or performed apart from the filling of the Spirit is human good and therefore unusable in the functions of an ambassador. Every believer is in full time service. This is a mandate for the Church Age believer. It is not optional.
The privilege of being an ambassador is the highest calling for Christ. God’s plan uses His ambassadors in all aspects of human endeavor. Your purpose is to be the most effective representative for Jesus Christ using only His grace provisions. Every believer as ambassadors are the personal representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every believer is in full-time service in the plan of God. You always represent Christ. We serve Christ and are rewarded in heaven.