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“…He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 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 Cor. 5:12-20)
The word “committed” in verse 19 has multiple meanings, all of which have profound implications for the true follower of Christ.
Remember, of course, that what Paul is talking about in this passage is the most important thing in the world: God reconciling the world to Himself. To “reconcile” means to “change from enmity to friendship.” And the way this occurred is through His Son, “who knew no sin,” becoming sin on our behalf so that we might become righteous. God provided a way, through Christ, to not count our sins against us, so we could be pardoned. This reconciling saves us. It saves us from a life without God and an eternity without God.
PLACED IN US
…is the most literal meaning of the word. “God has placed in us the word of reconciliation.” Now, if you would take that at face value, it would mean that you have something you never had before. Before conversion, you didn’t possess this “word of reconciliation.” Now you do. It has been deposited in you and is permanently there.
This solves the problem of adequacy. Most of us believe that we cannot share the gospel because we do not know what to say, and we are ill-equipped. But Paul is teaching us here that this word is IN US. It is simply there. We have experienced it and can testify of our experience. We have the Spirit in us who, Jesus promised, would give us the words that we needed when the occasion demanded.
ENTRUSTED TO US
…is a further implication of the word translated here as “committed.” It is a conquering general who gives a message to be sent to the opposing troops, saying, “The war is over. You can now be our friends. Someone else has paid the penalty for you.” That messenger is entrusted to get that message to the other side as quickly as possible so they can experience peace. In this case, when we share this message and people believe and come to Christ, they will forever experience peace facing God.
How important is this “word of reconciliation” that has been entrusted to us? There simply is no greater, more important word. Every person around you and their eternal destiny depend upon receiving this word. And you have been placed in their life on purpose, and the message and responsibility have been placed in you. You in their life (your neighbor, friend, colleague, relative, etc.), the message of reconciliation to God through Christ has been experienced by you and then placed in you, and now God wants to extend that message through you to them. It’s why we are still remaining on earth.
SO WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
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