新的職份
哥林多後書五章18節至六章2節
18一切都是出於神；他藉著基督使我們與他和好，又將勸人與他和好的職分賜給我們。
19這就是神在基督裡，叫世人與自己和好，不將他們的過犯歸到他們身上，並且將這和好的道理託付了我們。
20所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像神藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與神和好。
21神使那無罪（無罪：原文是不知罪）的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裡面成為神的義。
1我們與神同工的，也勸你們不可徒受他的恩典。
2因為他說：在悅納的時候，我應允了你；在拯救的日子，我搭救了你。看哪！現在正是悅納的時候；現在正是拯救的日子。
信息分享
基督吩咐祂的門徒說：「你們要作我的見證。」我們與神和好之後，並非就到達終點，而是要繼續引領別人與神和好。
保羅怎樣形容我們的身份呢？他說是「基督的使者」。使者的身份是甚麼呢？使者就是國家的代表。他在別國發言的時候，他只能說國家要他說的話，而且，他更要有好的儀表和禮貌，行為舉止也要合乎他的身份。他如果舉止失當，便會使自己的國家蒙羞。他被派去另一個國家，是為了完成一個使命，所以他務必盡力達成。
我們的身份是甚麼呢？保羅說我們是基督的使者。基督派我們作祂的代表，去向世人傳遞一個信息，這就是我們要去完成的使命。我們必須謹言慎行，否則便會使基督的名蒙羞。所以，我們要記著，我們擁有一個重要的身份，也肩負一個具策略性的任務。
我們要傳遞甚麼信息呢？第21節已經清楚說明：「神使那無罪的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裡面成為神的義。」換言之，神的兒子基督已經將攔阻人去到神面前的罪清除；現在，人只要踏上基督為我們預備的道路，就能夠直達神的跟前。
世人何時需要聽見這福音？世人何時需要相信耶穌？答案就在第六章2節：「看哪！現在正是悅納的時候，現在正是拯救的日子。」
對於我們這些基督的使者來說，我們承擔著甚麼責任呢？
「神與我們和好，為的是要我們勸別人與神和好。」
OUR NEW MINISTRY
2 Corinthians 5:18 to 6:2
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.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For He says:
“ In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Message
Someone has written: "The simple meaning of these verses can be summed up in six words: God reconciled us to reconcile others." That is the work God has given us to do. We have the message the world needs. This is every Christian's ministry. It belongs to all of us - everyone.
Christ gave the same command, the same charter, to His disciples: "You shall be my witnesses." Our reconciliation to God should also lead others to be reconciled to God.
What did Paul say we are? "Christ's ambassadors." What is an ambassador? He is one who represents his government in a country other than his own. He must always give a good representation. He can only say what his government wants him to say. He must do it politely and with dignity. His behaviour must be above reproach. Any wrongdoing will reflect on his government. He has a mission and he must see that the mission is fulfilled.
What is our position? We are Christ's ambassadors. We have a message to deliver. We have a mission to accomplish. We have a Master to represent. We have a ministry to perform. Our lives too must be above reproach or else we will bring shame to the name of Christ. We have an important position. We have a strategic task.
Can we think again of the message we have to deliver? Here it is spelled out clearly in verse 21: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." The roadblock to God and to heaven has been removed. Sin has been dealt with in the person of Christ, God's Son.
When do men need to hear this message? When do they need to believe? The answer is in the words of chapter 6 verse 2: "I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation."
What responsibility does that lay on us as Christ's ambassadors?
GOD RECONCILED US - TO RECONCILE OTHERS.