Old Made New - New Citizenship

February 9th, 2022

Citizen Ambassadors – Heavenly Expressions of Christ on Earth

By Bob Murray

This past Sunday was the final installment of Pastor Matt’s “Old Made New” series. In this series, he has dealt with “What it means to be a new creation.” In this past Sunday’s message, Matt addressed the Believer’s “new citizenship” (heavenly) and the associated “new role” (Ambassador for Christ) thereby. As such, we learned that, as members of the Body of Christ, we are to be “heavenly expressions” of Christ to those around us.

Obviously, all of this begins when a person believes the Gospel of Grace and by grace through faith is saved. But believers need to understand more of what actually happens at salvation; when the old is made new. The Believer, at salvation is:

Given a position in Christ Jesus — Who is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heavenly Places and He has likewise made us sit together in Heavenly Places, in Christ: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened {made alive} us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:4-6). {Note: This is our true “GPS Location”!}
Given a change of citizenship — from being under the wicked god of this world to being under of the righteous Head of the Body, Jesus Christ (and we are members of that Body), “For our conversation {life/citizenship} is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:” – (Philippians 3:20).
Given the role of ambassador for Christ in this world, ministering the gospel of grace, reconciliation, and peace with God to others. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God.” – (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Given a new “Head” - No longer under the authority of this corrupt world (and its ruler, satan), but rather enjoys a position of liberty in Christ under his “headship” - “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18) - and his authority - “And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).

As “old made new” members of the Body of Christ, and thereby “heavenly citizen ambassadors” to this world, our Ambassador role is clear as God had the Apostle Paul simply state it in (1 Timothy 2:3-4) “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

But just how does this ambassadorship deal work, and what is the role that we, as ambassadors, are to prepare/accomplish? It is simple, two-fold, and includes the following:

Share the Gospel of the Grace of God that all may be saved. And we don’t have to guess at what this Gospel is, for the Apostle Paul made this clear in 1 Corinthians 15:1 & 3-4, stating, “I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand……For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” and
Teach those saved so that they come unto the knowledge of the rightly divided Word of Truth, as the Apostle Paul did when he preached “…..the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” (Ephesians 3:8b-9). The Apostle Paul further said, “And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Obviously, the Gospel of Grace is simple, easily shared/heard, and those hearing may easily come to be saved in simple belief of that Gospel, by grace through faith. The commit/teach aspect of our ambassadorship is more involved and requires more work, for you cannot teach what you do not know. If Believers are to teach the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery such that we are able to commit this to faithful people that can further teach others; we must first be taught (by faithful believers) and further we then individually need to “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. In other words, fulfilling our role as Ambassador requires willingness and preparation/effort if we are to help others to likewise become and understand how to be “old made new”.

In Christ, we’ve been given so much — we should be willing and equipped to share with others!