18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 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. (2 Corinthians 5:18–20, NKJV)
Although it is often said that every Christian is an ambassador of Christ, the Scriptures teach that it was the apostles alone who were charged with and qualified to be ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador is an official emissary of a ruler, given the task of conveying official messages and representing the authority of said ruler. The apostles of Christ were chosen by Christ to be His witnesses to the world (Acts 1:8). They are unique in this official capacity (Acts 10:38-42). The apostles were given “the word of reconciliation” (the gospel, v. 19) to fulfill their “ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18) by proclaiming the gospel of Christ to the world. Now, God pleads with the world through them (their writings) to be reconciled to God (v. 20). Christ’s ambassadors, the apostles, have revealed the Savior’s message of reconciliation and by it, the means of being reconciled to God. Save yourself (be reconciled to God) by repenting and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:37-41).
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