新的职份
哥林多后书五章18节至六章2节
18一切都是出于神；他借着基督使我们与他和好，又将劝人与他和好的职分赐给我们。
19这就是神在基督里，叫世人与自己和好，不将他们的过犯归到他们身上，并且将这和好的道理托付了我们。
20所以，我们作基督的使者，就好像神藉我们劝你们一般。我们替基督求你们与神和好。
21神使那无罪（无罪：原文是不知罪）的，替我们成为罪，好叫我们在他里面成为神的义。
1我们与神同工的，也劝你们不可徒受他的恩典。
2因为他说：在悦纳的时候，我应允了你；在拯救的日子，我搭救了你。看哪！现在正是悦纳的时候；现在正是拯救的日子。
信息分享
基督吩咐祂的门徒说：「你们要作我的见证。」我们与神和好之后，并非就到达终点，而是要继续引领别人与神和好。
保罗怎样形容我们的身份呢？他说是「基督的使者」。使者的身份是甚么呢？使者就是国家的代表。他在别国发言的时候，他只能说国家要他说的话，而且，他更要有好的仪表和礼貌，行为举止也要合乎他的身份。他如果举止失当，便会使自己的国家蒙羞。他被派去另一个国家，是为了完成一个使命，所以他务必尽力达成。
我们的身份是甚么呢？保罗说我们是基督的使者。基督派我们作祂的代表，去向世人传递一个信息，这就是我们要去完成的使命。我们必须谨言慎行，否则便会使基督的名蒙羞。所以，我们要记着，我们拥有一个重要的身份，也肩负一个具策略性的任务。
我们要传递甚么信息呢？第21节已经清楚说明：「神使那无罪的，替我们成为罪，好叫我们在他里面成为神的义。」换言之，神的儿子基督已经将拦阻人去到神面前的罪清除；现在，人只要踏上基督为我们预备的道路，就能够直达神的跟前。
世人何时需要听见这福音？世人何时需要相信耶稣？答案就在第六章2节：「看哪！现在正是悦纳的时候，现在正是拯救的日子。」
对于我们这些基督的使者来说，我们承担着甚么责任呢？
「神与我们和好，为的是要我们劝别人与神和好。」
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.