Ambassadors of Christ.

Believers, when we think of the above, we often think in terms of conveying the message of the cross to the world. But there is much more to it.

Did you know that the lifestyle/resources available to ambassadors in their host countries do not depend on the resources available in the host country? This is because their provisions come from their home country. For instance, an ambassador who is from a rich country will still live an affluent lifestyle in a host country that is poor. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul described believers as "Christ's ambassadors." As the righteousness of God in Christ, our resources and provisions (including good health, peace, wisdom, mental rest and financial comfort) come from the Kingdom of God and not from this world.

As citizens of the Lord's heavenly Kingdom and ambassadors of Christ here on earth, we also have diplomatic immunity when it comes to the Law of Moses. We are not under Law but under Grace. But God’s grace is not a license to sin. It is the key to overcoming sin and addiction. Those who think they are "okay" because of their efforts at keeping the Law have no idea how much God hates sin.

God hates sin and cannot see or stand sin. In fact, the bible says the wages of sin is death. God hates sin because of what it does to us much like how a parent hates it when a child she loves so much has terminal cancer. Sin brings death in all areas of life (marriage, finances, health etc then physical death)

Because He loved us so much even in our sin (the cancer) and knew that no one can be made righteous by keeping the Law (Romans 3:20) so we were all doomed for destruction, He gave His Son, our Lord Jesus, the Great Physician, to die for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In Christ, we have the abundance of grace and His righteousness as a gift from our Lord God and by these gifts we reign in life (including reign over sins, addictions, sickness, oppression, etc) through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). In Christ, we reign over the power, pleasure and penalty of sin. We are no longer under law but under grace. In Christ, the law is fulfilled in us, but not by us. We do not continue in sin because we have moved house from Sin to Righteousness. We are no longer condemned. Like the woman caught in adultery, it is our Lord’s gift of no condemnation that makes us go and sin no more, much like how you don’t find diplomats from affluent countries going berserk with their immunity and using it as a license to break the law in their host country. How much more us believers with God as our Father and Heaven as our home country!

It would be difficult for you to hear about a robbery incident or a hit-and-run accident, bank fraud or murder facilitated in Nigeria by American diplomats, even though they are immune from criminal prosecution and most civil suits in the country. They still respect the laws and regulations of the host country, even though they are not under these laws. Their affluent home country provides all that they need and much more so that they lack for nothing, how much more us believers with Heaven as our home country and our Abba, Father our Provider!!!

When we depend on our Saviour Jesus for our righteousness and not our own works, the law gets fulfilled in us but not by us. We live the “heaven on earth” life and do not feel the desire to continue in sin, not because we suppress the desire but because the Holy Spirit transforms us from inside out and our Lord provides all of our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ.

But this is not so for the citizens of the host country (people - even Christians - who are under the law; those who think that it is what they do or do not do that makes them righteous and heaven-worthy). Unlike Grace, the law cannot make anyone righteous or provide our needs. Its holiness and perfect standard condemns everyone under it, no matter how well one tries to keep it. It demands righteousness from morally bankrupt man in whose flesh dwells no good, so people who are under it continue to fail in trying to keep it. Hence Romans 6:14-

"For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under Grace."

Try to obey the law to get God's blessing and eternal life and sin will rule over you. But many in the church have this verse backwards.

Trying to keep the law cannot justify anyone in God's sight says Romans 3:20. Preaching that keeping the Ten Commandments is how to be righteous kills people (the letter kills,) cuts people off from Christ (Galatians 5:4) and makes sin have dominion according to Romans 6:14. 1 Corinthians 15:56 says "...the strength of sin is the Law." Preaching that people should keep the Ten Commandments as a means of attaining righteousness before God strengthens the grip of sin in their lives.

This is not to say that diplomats with immunity don’t sometimes break the law in their host country, much like believers today still make mistakes and stumble. But according to Psalms 37, even though the righteous (in Christ) fall, he shall not be utterly cast down because the Lord is the one holding his hand.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,

And He delights in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;

For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

Remember that Jesus said to the rich young ruler "there is none good but God" so "a good man" in verse 23 above is not someone who is good by his own effort but the one who is made righteous by the obedience of one Man - Jesus Christ (Romans 5:19.) Believers, when your trust and righteousness is found in Christ, you will never fall beyond the point of no return. The bible says so. The Lord will uphold you and lead you on the path of righteousness. And because "The path of the righteous is like the morning sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day," acts of sin and all earthly ills fade away and God's glory shines brighter with each passing day in the lives of true believers.

Also, the host country (the law) has no power to prosecute the diplomat (the believer) or invoke the curses of Deuteronomy 28 on the believer because Christ has delivered us from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13). An offending diplomat typically faces his sanctions at home. This can be likened to correction from our Heavenly Father. Because He chastises the ones that He loves, He corrects us when we make mistakes – but never with death, sickness, disease, poverty, lack or any of the curses and death that Christ has redeemed us from. In fact, the bible says that His correction is for our profit, for us to live, for us to be partakers of His holiness and for us to live a righteous life, Hebrews 12:9-11-

9 “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

The punishment that Christ took for us was unto death. Our heavenly Father's correction in our lives is unto life.

What a wonderful Abba Father we have in Christ! Believers, stop trying to get right with God with your works and start believing that you are made righteous in Christ as a gift (even this is by grace so ask Him to help you today). Take your place in His Embassy here on earth by receiving the abundance of His grace and of the gift of righteousness and watch yourself live in triumph over sin and death through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17).

Believe Right and you will Live Right.