2 Corinthians 5:20
Verse
Context
Ambassadors for Christ
19that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
We are ambassadors for Christ - Ὑπερ Χριστου - πρεσβευομεν. We execute the function of ambassadors in Christ's stead. He came from the Father to mankind on this important embassy. He has left the world, and appointed us in his place. Ambassador is a person sent from one sovereign power to another; and is supposed to represent the person of the sovereign by whom he is deputed. Christ while on earth represented the person of the Sovereign of the world; his apostles and their successors represent the person of Christ. Christ declared the will of the Father to mankind; apostles, etc., declare the will of Christ to the world. We are ambassadors for Christ. As though God did beseech you by us - What we say to you we say on the authority of God; our entreaties are his entreaties; our warm love to you, a faint reflection of his infinite love; we pray you to return to God, it is his will that you should do so; we promise you remission of sins, we are authorized to do so by God himself. In Christ's stead we pray you to lay aside your enmity and be reconciled to God; i.e. accept pardon, peace, holiness, and heaven; which are all procured for you by his blood, and offered to you on his own authority. "What unparalleled condescension and divinely tender mercies are displayed in this verse! Did the judge ever beseech a condemned criminal to accept of pardon? Does the creditor ever beseech a ruined debtor to receive an acquittance in full? Yet our almighty Lord, and our eternal Judge, not only vouchsafes to offer these blessings, but invites us, entreats us, and with the most tender importunity solicits us not to reject them." The Rev. J. Wesley's notes in loc. This sentiment is farther expressed in the following beautiful poetic version of this place, by the Rev. Charles Wesley: - "God, the offended God most high, Ambassadors to rebels sends; His messengers his place supply, And Jesus begs us to be friends. Us, in the stead of Christ, they pray, Us, in the stead of Christ, entreat, To cast our arms, our sins, away, And find forgiveness at his feet. Our God, in Christ, thine embassy And proffer'd mercy we embrace; And, gladly reconciled to thee, Thy condescending mercy praise. Poor debtors, by our Lord's request A full acquittance we receive; And criminals, with pardon blest, We, at our Judge's instance, live."
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
for Christ . . . in Christ's stead--The Greek of both is the same: translate in both cases "on Christ's behalf." beseech . . . pray--rather, "entreat [plead with you] . . . beseech." Such "beseeching" is uncommon in the case of "ambassadors," who generally stand on their dignity (compare Co2 10:2; Th1 2:6-7). be ye reconciled to God--English Version here inserts "ye," which is not in the original, and which gives the wrong impression, as if it were emphatic thus: God is reconciled to you, be ye reconciled to God. The Greek expresses rather, God was the RECONCILER in Christ . . . let this reconciliation then have its designed effect. Be reconciled to God, that is, let God reconcile you to Himself (Co2 5:18-19).
John Gill Bible Commentary
For he hath made him to be sin for us,.... Christ was made of a woman, took flesh of a sinful woman; though the flesh he took of her was not sinful, being sanctified by the Spirit of God, the former of Christ's human nature: however, he appeared "in the likeness of sinful flesh"; being attended with infirmities, the effects of sin, though sinless; and he was traduced by men as a sinner, and treated as such. Moreover, he was made a sacrifice for sin, in order to make expiation and atonement for it; so the Hebrew word signifies both sin and a sin offering; see Psa 40:6 and so Rom 8:3. But besides all this, he was made sin itself by imputation; the sins of all his people were transferred unto him, laid upon him, and placed to his account; he sustained their persons, and bore their sins; and having them upon him, and being chargeable with, and answerable for them, he was treated by the justice of God as if he had been not only a sinner, but a mass of sin; for to be made sin, is a stronger expression than to be made a sinner: but now that this may appear to be only by imputation, and that none may conclude from hence that he was really and actually a sinner, or in himself so, it is said he was "made sin"; he did not become sin, or a sinner, through any sinful act of his own, but through his Father's act of imputation, to which he agreed; for it was "he" that made him sin: it is not said that men made him sin; not but that they traduced him as a sinner, pretended they knew he was one, and arraigned him at Pilate's bar as such; nor is he said to make himself so, though he readily engaged to be the surety of his people, and voluntarily took upon him their sins, and gave himself an offering for them; but he, his Father, is said to make him sin; it was he that "laid", or "made to meet" on him, the iniquity of us all; it was he that made his soul an offering for sin, and delivered him up into the hands of justice, and to death, and that "for us", in "our" room and stead, to bear the punishment of sin, and make satisfaction and atonement for it; of which he was capable, and for which he was greatly qualified: for he knew no sin; which cannot be understood or pure absolute ignorance of sin; for this cannot agree with him, neither as God, nor as Mediator; he full well knew the nature of sin, as it is a transgression of God's law; he knows the origin of sin, the corrupt heart of man, and the desperate wickedness of that; he knows the demerit, and the sad consequences of it; he knows, and he takes notice of too, the sins of his own people; and he knows the sins of all wicked men, and will bring them all into judgment, convince of them, and condemn for them: but he knew no sin so as to approve of it, and like it; he hates, abhors, and detests it; he never was conscious of any sin to himself; he never knew anything of this kind by, and in himself; nor did he ever commit any, nor was any ever found in him, by men or devils, though diligently sought for. This is mentioned, partly that we may better understand in what sense he was made sin, or a sinner, which could be only by the imputation of the sins of others, since he had no sin of his own; and partly to show that he was a very fit person to bear and take away the sins of men, to become a sacrifice for them, seeing he was the Lamb of God, without spot and blemish, typified in this, as in other respects, by the sacrifices of the legal dispensation; also to make it appear that he died, and was cut off in a judicial way, not for himself, his own sins, but for the transgressions of his people; and to express the strictness of divine justice in not sparing the Son of God himself, though holy and harmless, when he had the sins of others upon him, and had made himself responsible for them. The end of his being made sin, though he himself had none, was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him; not the essential righteousness of God, which can neither be imparted nor imputed; nor any righteousness of God wrought in us; for it is a righteousness "in him", in Christ, and not in ourselves, and therefore must mean the righteousness of Christ; so called, because it is wrought by Christ, who is God over all, the true God, and eternal life; and because it is approved of by God the Father, accepted of by him, for, and on the behalf of his elect, as a justifying one; it is what he bestows on them, and imputes unto them for their justification; it is a righteousness, and it is the only one which justifies in the sight of God. Now to be made the righteousness of God, is to be made righteous in the sight of God, by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ. Just as Christ is made sin, or a sinner, by the imputation of the sins of others to him; so they are made righteousness, or righteous persons, through the imputation of his righteousness to them; and in no other way can the one be made sin, or the other righteousness. And this is said to be "in him", in Christ; which shows, that though Christ's righteousness is unto all, and upon all them that believe, it is imputed to them, and put upon them; it is not anything wrought in them; it is not inherent in them. "Surely in the Lord have I righteousness and strength", says the church, Isa 45:24 and also, that the way in which we come by this righteousness is by being in Christ; none have it reckoned to them, but who are in him, we are first "of" God "in" Christ, and then he is made unto us righteousness. Secret being in Christ, or union to him from everlasting, is the ground and foundation of our justification, by his righteousness, as open being in Christ at conversion is the evidence of it. Next: 2 Corinthians Chapter 6
Tyndale Open Study Notes
5:20 The great privilege of believers is to be Christ’s ambassadors (cp. Eph 6:20). • God is making his appeal through us: Paul doesn’t say that he speaks for God; rather, God speaks his word through us. • Christ’s redeeming work for sinners opens the way for them to “Come back to God!” and be reconciled with him (see Rom 5:1-11; Eph 2:11-22; Col 1:15-23). Christian witness has this appeal at its heart. Paul was also appealing to the rebellious Corinthians to come over to his side (see 2 Cor 6:1).
2 Corinthians 5:20
Ambassadors for Christ
19that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Seeking God
By Hans R. Waldvogel6.5K15:09Seeking GodJER 2:8JER 29:13MAT 6:33MAT 7:72CO 5:20PHP 3:82TI 4:8In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of seeking God with one's whole heart. He uses the example of a woman searching for a lost piece of money to illustrate the determination and persistence required in seeking God. The preacher also highlights the uniqueness of the apostle Paul, who confidently declares that a crown of righteousness awaits him because he has lived a righteous life. The sermon concludes with a call to seek God constantly and attentively, entering into one's own heart and soul to find Him.
The Love of Christ Constrains
By Alan Redpath5.0K1:00:02Love Of ChristMAT 6:332CO 5:152CO 5:20PHP 3:1PHP 4:1In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of being on a plane that faced difficulties during takeoff. Despite the challenges, the plane managed to take off and ascend to a safe altitude. The speaker then draws a parallel between this experience and the Christian life, emphasizing the power of the law of the spirit of life in Christ that sets believers free from the law of sin and death. The sermon highlights the concepts of substitution and identification, explaining how Jesus' death on the cross serves as a substitution for our sins and how believers are identified with Christ in his victory over sin and death.
7 Corrective Lenses for Spiritual Eyesight
By William MacDonald4.2K42:24SpiritualISA 49:82CO 5:92CO 5:202CO 6:1In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of having spiritual vision. He uses the analogy of getting corrective lenses for our physical eyes to illustrate how we need correction in our spiritual vision as well. The speaker suggests that the Spirit of God provides us with seven correctional lenses for our spiritual glasses. These lenses help us to see life clearly and focus on what is truly important. The sermon also emphasizes the need to live in a way that pleases God, as we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
The Street Meetings of God (Compilation)
By Compilations3.1K15:53CompilationISA 53:5MAT 3:3MAT 7:14LUK 9:23ROM 6:231CO 1:182CO 5:20In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the narrow path that leads to life and the importance of accepting Jesus as the savior. He highlights that salvation comes through the blood of Christ and encourages listeners to call upon the name of the Lord for a life-changing experience. The preacher also shares his personal journey of being deceived by the belief that good deeds alone can lead to heaven, emphasizing the need for faith in Christ. He urges people to reach out to those who are lost and dying without God, emphasizing the urgency of spreading the gospel. The sermon concludes with a plea for listeners to accept Jesus and for believers to awaken and rise up in their faith.
The Whole Armour of God - Part 4
By Leonard Ravenhill2.4K1:14:26Armour Of GodMAT 6:33ACT 7:222CO 5:20EPH 6:10PHP 4:13In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the different responses people have to the moving of the Holy Spirit. Some are receptive and responsive, while others are indifferent and uninterested. The preacher emphasizes the importance of making the right choice to follow Jesus and walk on the narrow path of righteousness. He also highlights the need for believers to live in heavenly places and explore the possibilities of God's grace. The sermon concludes with a prayer for the younger generation to grow in wisdom and not be hindered by spiritual stagnation.
You Have to Love Jesus to Follow Him
By Carter Conlon2.3K56:45Loving JesusPSA 119:97MAT 6:26JHN 20:27JHN 21:16ACT 1:82CO 5:20HEB 10:23In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal experience of preaching in a small church and witnessing sparrows pecking at the driveway. Through this observation, the preacher reflects on God's provision for even the smallest creatures and encourages the congregation to trust in God's provision for their own lives. The sermon emphasizes the importance of serving others and being led by the Spirit of God, even in difficult or uncomfortable situations. The preacher also highlights the significance of believing in God's commission and holding fast to faith, assuring the listeners that God will bring their journey to a successful conclusion.
Christ Magnified - Part 5
By Leonard Ravenhill1.7K08:57MAT 28:191CO 10:312CO 5:20PHP 2:5COL 3:23This sermon emphasizes the importance of being willing to step out in faith and serve God, highlighting the potential for individuals to make a significant impact in the world by using their talents and abilities for His glory. It challenges listeners to consider missions work in challenging and unreached areas, urging them to be willing to go where the need is greatest and to be vessels through which Christ's love and light can shine. The message encourages a deep commitment to serving God wholeheartedly, just as Paul did, using every aspect of one's being to magnify Christ and make Him known.
Patience of God
By J. Glyn Owen1.6K47:32PatienceRepentanceGod's PatienceEXO 34:6PSA 86:15LAM 3:22EZK 18:32MAT 11:28ROM 2:42CO 5:201TI 1:16JAS 5:72PE 3:9J. Glyn Owen emphasizes the profound patience of God, illustrating how it is a reflection of His goodness and kindness towards humanity. He explains that God's patience serves as a temporary truce, allowing individuals the opportunity to repent rather than face immediate judgment. Owen highlights that this divine patience is often misunderstood, leading some to take it for granted, while others may see it as an invitation to continue in sin. Ultimately, he calls for a recognition of God's patience as a means to lead us toward repentance and a deeper relationship with Him. The sermon concludes with a plea for individuals to respond to God's kindness before the time of grace comes to an end.
10 Vital Evidences of Salvation
By Keith Daniel1.6K1:27:16PSA 142:4PRO 11:30PRO 15:28PRO 16:23DAN 12:3ROM 1:162CO 5:20COL 1:27PHM 1:6HEB 9:27This sermon emphasizes the importance of not being ashamed of the gospel of Christ, highlighting the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. It discusses the unleashing of the Holy Ghost's power when Christians passionately share the gospel, urging believers to be soul winners. The sermon shares personal testimonies of leading souls to Christ and the urgency of reaching the lost before it's too late. It also stresses the need for boldness, courage, and a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel, as well as the fear of standing before God empty-handed. The sermon concludes with the importance of being equipped by God to effectively reach the lost and the promise that those who turn many to righteousness will shine brightly.
Streets (Compilation)
By Compilations1.5K09:47CompilationEXO 20:7JHN 14:6ROM 1:18ROM 2:52CO 5:20HEB 2:31JN 5:12In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of repentance and turning away from sin. He explains that sin is a transgression of God's law and that God will judge each individual based on the Ten Commandments. The preacher highlights various sins such as lying, stealing, adultery, and taking God's name in vain, stating that they are crimes against God. He emphasizes that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins. The preacher urges listeners to repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation.
Pastor's Conference #5 - the Pulpit: It's Power & Pitfalls
By Alistair Begg1.4K52:45PulpitMAT 6:331CO 1:181CO 2:21CO 2:42CO 5:20In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not just hearing the word of God, but also putting it into action. He warns against deceiving ourselves by claiming to believe in the word but not living it out. The speaker also highlights the danger of losing our way in pastoral ministry and encourages pastors to constantly align themselves with the purpose-driven statements of the Scriptures. The sermon concludes with a prayer that acknowledges the paradoxical nature of the Christian faith and asks for God's guidance and clarity.
The Evangel
By James A. Stewart1.3K29:11Good NewsISA 1:18MAT 6:33MRK 16:162CO 5:202TH 1:8In this sermon, the preacher shares the story of John Newton, who experienced a life-threatening storm at sea. In the midst of the danger, Newton realized his guilt as a sinner before a holy God and cried out for mercy. The preacher then transitions to discussing the role of an evangelist and the importance of their ministry. He emphasizes the need for evangelists to proclaim both the warning and wooing aspects of the gospel, reminding sinners of the judgment of God and the need for salvation through Jesus Christ.
A Prophet to the Nations (Jeremiah 1)
By John Dees1.3K1:09:46ISA 55:10JER 1:5MAT 10:28MAT 28:19JHN 3:161CO 3:61CO 3:112CO 5:202TI 2:15This sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God, starting with acknowledging our sinfulness and need for a Savior. It highlights the process of breaking down false foundations, confronting sin, and pointing people to Jesus Christ as the only solution. The message encourages believers to be bold in sharing the Gospel, to not be afraid of opposition, and to focus on building up and planting seeds of faith in others, guiding them to maturity in Christ.
The First Gospel Message
By Brian Brodersen1.3K27:57Gospel MessageGEN 3:15MAT 6:33JHN 1:1ROM 5:122CO 5:20HEB 4:12REV 12:9In this sermon, the speaker discusses various topics related to the existence and nature of God. They explore the idea that it is reasonable to believe in God and delve into the concept of God becoming a man. The speaker also emphasizes that humans have been created in the image of God. They then focus on the fall of humanity and the explanation of what went wrong in the world according to the Bible. The sermon concludes with a message about the gospel being preached to the first two people and the importance of accepting Jesus as the payment for our sins.
Apostles Creed - I Believe
By Todd Atkinson1.3K39:05Apostles CreedACT 2:422CO 5:20In this sermon, the speaker discusses the early church and how they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. He also mentions a man named Joshua who is preparing for a trip to China to teach guitar and perform at a music school. The speaker emphasizes that God continues to send messengers, such as pastors and preachers, to speak directly and indirectly to people. He encourages the congregation to support Joshua while he is away and mentions other missionaries who have been commissioned to different countries.
Interviewen (Dutch)
By Corrie Ten Boom1.2K19:54DutchPSA 119:105ISA 11:9MAT 6:33JHN 14:6ROM 3:232CO 5:20REV 21:5In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about the love and support he received from his father, which helped him endure a difficult time in prison. He emphasizes that everyone can come to the Lord, as Jesus has made salvation available to all. The speaker also discusses the importance of living a life that reflects the love and peace of God, and being ambassadors for Christ. He encourages listeners to have faith in God, as He is the one who empowers and works through them. The sermon concludes with the reminder that Jesus is coming again and will make all things new.
How Do You Measure Up?
By Rolfe Barnard1.2K44:52Christian LivingMAT 6:33LUK 19:31JHN 6:35ROM 12:12CO 5:201PE 2:9REV 1:6In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a Jew who approached him and expressed a desire to have what the preacher had. The preacher emphasizes the importance of living a life that attracts others to Jesus. He highlights that God has entrusted his people with the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the world. The preacher challenges the audience to evaluate their own lives and actions to see if they are truly representing Christ.
Npg Radio 1980 #4 - Radio Interview
By Norman Grubb9771:07:12Radio InterviewEXO 32:30MAT 5:3MRK 4:39JHN 4:14ROM 8:92CO 5:20JAS 1:12In this sermon, Norman Grubb discusses the concept of living a life free from condemnation and failure through our union with Christ. He emphasizes that as Christians, we often try to put on a false self and pretend that we are capable of living a victorious life on our own. However, Grubb explains that true victory comes from recognizing that it is Christ within us who enables us to live a life of no condemnation. He encourages listeners to read his article on how to handle temptation and failure, which explains how to live a victorious life through our union with Christ.
Embassadors for the King
By Darrell Champlin97530:41MAT 6:33JHN 3:16ROM 8:231CO 15:532CO 4:182CO 5:20In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of seeing and understanding certain key aspects in order to be effective ambassadors for Jesus Christ. These aspects include heavenly time, the earthly tent we live in, the heavenly tribunal to come, and the love of Jesus Christ. The preacher encourages the audience to focus on the eternal rather than the temporal, as the things that are seen are temporary while the things that are not seen are eternal. The sermon also includes powerful anecdotes of missionaries facing persecution and hardship in their mission fields, highlighting the sacrifice and dedication required to be a true ambassador for Christ.
Model for Praying - Part 2
By J. Glyn Owen88851:41PrayingGEN 32:28EXO 20:7MAT 4:13JHN 3:172CO 5:172CO 5:20PHP 2:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the good news lies in the fact that Jesus is not just a teacher, but also empowers his disciples to practice what he teaches. The speaker highlights the significance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, explaining that Jesus' purpose was to save sinners while bringing honor and glory to God the Father. The sermon also touches on the importance of obeying God's commandments and not worshiping idols. Overall, the message emphasizes the need for salvation to bring glory to God and the importance of living in obedience to His teachings.
The Heart That Cares for the Souls of Men
By E.A. Johnston85625:31SoulsLUK 9:23ACT 17:30ROM 10:91CO 1:182CO 5:20GAL 6:7EPH 2:8In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preaching the full counsel of God and pointing sinners to the cross. He urges believers to warn others about the wrath to come and the necessity of repentance for true salvation. The preacher shares a story about a Baptist pastor who preached a famous sermon called "Payday Someday" to illustrate the urgency of sharing the gospel. He calls believers to actively witness for Christ and to have a heart that cares for the souls of men. The sermon emphasizes the need for believers to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to live crucified lives for the glory of the Father.
Preaching in Decay and in Revival
By Ian Murray75754:32RevivalPreachingACT 2:17ROM 10:141CO 2:42CO 5:20EPH 4:11PHP 2:271TH 2:42TI 4:2HEB 4:12JAS 5:16Ian Murray discusses the decline and revival of preaching, beginning with Matthew Henry's reflections in 1712 on the sorrow caused by the loss of faithful ministers and the state of the nation. He highlights the persecution faced by dissenting ministers and the subsequent decline in the power of preaching, particularly after the Act of Uniformity in 1662. Despite this decay, the evangelical revival in the 1730s, led by figures like George Whitefield and John Wesley, marked a significant return to fervent and impactful preaching, characterized by personal conviction and the power of the Holy Spirit. Murray emphasizes that true preaching is not merely teaching but involves heartfelt persuasion and a deep connection to Christ, which was evident in the lives of revival preachers. He concludes by urging contemporary ministers to seek a fresh outpouring of the Spirit to revitalize their preaching.
Inside and Out
By Jack Hyles60030:07PSA 28:7PSA 119:105PRO 11:30MAT 28:19JHN 14:3ROM 12:112CO 5:20In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of trusting in God and serving Him. He shares his own experience of initially struggling with preaching and studying the Bible, but eventually finding inspiration and guidance from God. The preacher uses the example of David, who trusted in God's strength and protection even when he was running from his own son and facing difficult circumstances. The sermon emphasizes the reality of God's presence and salvation, stating that it is not just a crutch or a hoax, but something genuine and life-changing.
God's Purpose for Man
By Zac Poonen53924:46GEN 1:26GEN 1:28JHN 15:5ROM 8:142CO 5:20GAL 5:16EPH 1:4COL 3:101TH 5:23JAS 4:7This sermon delves into God's original purpose for creating man, emphasizing the unique creation of humans with a spirit that distinguishes them from animals. It explores the consequences of sin on man's spirit, the restoration through Christ, and the call for believers to reflect God's image and rule over their earthly desires. The message highlights the importance of fellowship with God, the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers, and the need to align with God's purpose to fulfill His original design for humanity.
The State of the Church and Our Lives
By Richard Langworthy49449:51ChurchACT 19:131CO 4:12CO 5:142CO 5:20EPH 5:15In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not wasting time on worldly distractions such as TV and cell phones. He encourages the audience to redeem their time and prioritize spiritual matters. The preacher quotes Spurgeon, who compares the beating of the heart to a muffled drum leading to the grave, highlighting the finite nature of our time on earth. The sermon concludes with a focus on living for Christ and allowing His love to compel us to live for Him rather than ourselves.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
We are ambassadors for Christ - Ὑπερ Χριστου - πρεσβευομεν. We execute the function of ambassadors in Christ's stead. He came from the Father to mankind on this important embassy. He has left the world, and appointed us in his place. Ambassador is a person sent from one sovereign power to another; and is supposed to represent the person of the sovereign by whom he is deputed. Christ while on earth represented the person of the Sovereign of the world; his apostles and their successors represent the person of Christ. Christ declared the will of the Father to mankind; apostles, etc., declare the will of Christ to the world. We are ambassadors for Christ. As though God did beseech you by us - What we say to you we say on the authority of God; our entreaties are his entreaties; our warm love to you, a faint reflection of his infinite love; we pray you to return to God, it is his will that you should do so; we promise you remission of sins, we are authorized to do so by God himself. In Christ's stead we pray you to lay aside your enmity and be reconciled to God; i.e. accept pardon, peace, holiness, and heaven; which are all procured for you by his blood, and offered to you on his own authority. "What unparalleled condescension and divinely tender mercies are displayed in this verse! Did the judge ever beseech a condemned criminal to accept of pardon? Does the creditor ever beseech a ruined debtor to receive an acquittance in full? Yet our almighty Lord, and our eternal Judge, not only vouchsafes to offer these blessings, but invites us, entreats us, and with the most tender importunity solicits us not to reject them." The Rev. J. Wesley's notes in loc. This sentiment is farther expressed in the following beautiful poetic version of this place, by the Rev. Charles Wesley: - "God, the offended God most high, Ambassadors to rebels sends; His messengers his place supply, And Jesus begs us to be friends. Us, in the stead of Christ, they pray, Us, in the stead of Christ, entreat, To cast our arms, our sins, away, And find forgiveness at his feet. Our God, in Christ, thine embassy And proffer'd mercy we embrace; And, gladly reconciled to thee, Thy condescending mercy praise. Poor debtors, by our Lord's request A full acquittance we receive; And criminals, with pardon blest, We, at our Judge's instance, live."
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
for Christ . . . in Christ's stead--The Greek of both is the same: translate in both cases "on Christ's behalf." beseech . . . pray--rather, "entreat [plead with you] . . . beseech." Such "beseeching" is uncommon in the case of "ambassadors," who generally stand on their dignity (compare Co2 10:2; Th1 2:6-7). be ye reconciled to God--English Version here inserts "ye," which is not in the original, and which gives the wrong impression, as if it were emphatic thus: God is reconciled to you, be ye reconciled to God. The Greek expresses rather, God was the RECONCILER in Christ . . . let this reconciliation then have its designed effect. Be reconciled to God, that is, let God reconcile you to Himself (Co2 5:18-19).
John Gill Bible Commentary
For he hath made him to be sin for us,.... Christ was made of a woman, took flesh of a sinful woman; though the flesh he took of her was not sinful, being sanctified by the Spirit of God, the former of Christ's human nature: however, he appeared "in the likeness of sinful flesh"; being attended with infirmities, the effects of sin, though sinless; and he was traduced by men as a sinner, and treated as such. Moreover, he was made a sacrifice for sin, in order to make expiation and atonement for it; so the Hebrew word signifies both sin and a sin offering; see Psa 40:6 and so Rom 8:3. But besides all this, he was made sin itself by imputation; the sins of all his people were transferred unto him, laid upon him, and placed to his account; he sustained their persons, and bore their sins; and having them upon him, and being chargeable with, and answerable for them, he was treated by the justice of God as if he had been not only a sinner, but a mass of sin; for to be made sin, is a stronger expression than to be made a sinner: but now that this may appear to be only by imputation, and that none may conclude from hence that he was really and actually a sinner, or in himself so, it is said he was "made sin"; he did not become sin, or a sinner, through any sinful act of his own, but through his Father's act of imputation, to which he agreed; for it was "he" that made him sin: it is not said that men made him sin; not but that they traduced him as a sinner, pretended they knew he was one, and arraigned him at Pilate's bar as such; nor is he said to make himself so, though he readily engaged to be the surety of his people, and voluntarily took upon him their sins, and gave himself an offering for them; but he, his Father, is said to make him sin; it was he that "laid", or "made to meet" on him, the iniquity of us all; it was he that made his soul an offering for sin, and delivered him up into the hands of justice, and to death, and that "for us", in "our" room and stead, to bear the punishment of sin, and make satisfaction and atonement for it; of which he was capable, and for which he was greatly qualified: for he knew no sin; which cannot be understood or pure absolute ignorance of sin; for this cannot agree with him, neither as God, nor as Mediator; he full well knew the nature of sin, as it is a transgression of God's law; he knows the origin of sin, the corrupt heart of man, and the desperate wickedness of that; he knows the demerit, and the sad consequences of it; he knows, and he takes notice of too, the sins of his own people; and he knows the sins of all wicked men, and will bring them all into judgment, convince of them, and condemn for them: but he knew no sin so as to approve of it, and like it; he hates, abhors, and detests it; he never was conscious of any sin to himself; he never knew anything of this kind by, and in himself; nor did he ever commit any, nor was any ever found in him, by men or devils, though diligently sought for. This is mentioned, partly that we may better understand in what sense he was made sin, or a sinner, which could be only by the imputation of the sins of others, since he had no sin of his own; and partly to show that he was a very fit person to bear and take away the sins of men, to become a sacrifice for them, seeing he was the Lamb of God, without spot and blemish, typified in this, as in other respects, by the sacrifices of the legal dispensation; also to make it appear that he died, and was cut off in a judicial way, not for himself, his own sins, but for the transgressions of his people; and to express the strictness of divine justice in not sparing the Son of God himself, though holy and harmless, when he had the sins of others upon him, and had made himself responsible for them. The end of his being made sin, though he himself had none, was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him; not the essential righteousness of God, which can neither be imparted nor imputed; nor any righteousness of God wrought in us; for it is a righteousness "in him", in Christ, and not in ourselves, and therefore must mean the righteousness of Christ; so called, because it is wrought by Christ, who is God over all, the true God, and eternal life; and because it is approved of by God the Father, accepted of by him, for, and on the behalf of his elect, as a justifying one; it is what he bestows on them, and imputes unto them for their justification; it is a righteousness, and it is the only one which justifies in the sight of God. Now to be made the righteousness of God, is to be made righteous in the sight of God, by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ. Just as Christ is made sin, or a sinner, by the imputation of the sins of others to him; so they are made righteousness, or righteous persons, through the imputation of his righteousness to them; and in no other way can the one be made sin, or the other righteousness. And this is said to be "in him", in Christ; which shows, that though Christ's righteousness is unto all, and upon all them that believe, it is imputed to them, and put upon them; it is not anything wrought in them; it is not inherent in them. "Surely in the Lord have I righteousness and strength", says the church, Isa 45:24 and also, that the way in which we come by this righteousness is by being in Christ; none have it reckoned to them, but who are in him, we are first "of" God "in" Christ, and then he is made unto us righteousness. Secret being in Christ, or union to him from everlasting, is the ground and foundation of our justification, by his righteousness, as open being in Christ at conversion is the evidence of it. Next: 2 Corinthians Chapter 6
Tyndale Open Study Notes
5:20 The great privilege of believers is to be Christ’s ambassadors (cp. Eph 6:20). • God is making his appeal through us: Paul doesn’t say that he speaks for God; rather, God speaks his word through us. • Christ’s redeeming work for sinners opens the way for them to “Come back to God!” and be reconciled with him (see Rom 5:1-11; Eph 2:11-22; Col 1:15-23). Christian witness has this appeal at its heart. Paul was also appealing to the rebellious Corinthians to come over to his side (see 2 Cor 6:1).