Several terms are used in the New Testament to describe preachers. One of them is that they are Christ’s ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20).. Since the term is taken from the custom of a ruler using chosen individuals to pass on his message and instructions to his subjects, it points to the dignity and authority of the preacher, even although he is always a servant. As with an ambassador of a ruler, the preacher whenever he speaks aims to honour his Master.
The preacher’s message is about reconciliation between God and man. This means that humans are at a distance from God. Yet the ambassador is aware that his Master, out of great love, desires reconciliation with those estranged from him. Moreover, his message of reconciliation is all about Jesus, his perfect life and his work of atonement. He took the place of sinners as their substitute.
As he preaches, he tells sinners about the benefits offered to them by God. They include pardon from, restoration to, and acceptance with God. These blessings are part of the righteousness of Christ that becomes theirs when they trust in him. It is amazing for a preacher to realise that this can be happening as he speaks.
The preacher offers salvation to everyone listening to him. He has no idea if the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of the listeners. It is the Holy Spirit who brings about conviction of sin in a sermon, but it is the preacher’s words that the sinner hears. The Holy Spirit can bring comfort to a concerned individual, but he uses the words of the preacher to do so. What an amazing role a preacher has!
When he offers salvation to sinners, the preacher assures them that all they have to do is accept personally what Jesus did for sinners. As one said, ‘there are no hard terms in the gospel.’ They can come as they are and be reconciled to God.
Yet as he speaks he suspects some are not listening, or are not intent on accepting the offer. He knows they are spiritually blind and deaf. They need to be affected by heaven. How does that happen? Surprisingly, perhaps, it usually occurs when the preacher starts pleading as he does his best to persuade. There are many arguments to use to persuade – the love of God, the sufferings of Jesus, the status of the forgiven, the prospect of heaven, the danger of a lost eternity – but they must come from the heart of a pleader.
I have seen many ambassadors on the television, but I have never seen any of them pleading. This is not surprising, because they are expected to pass on their ruler’s message in a dignified way. Our great King also expects his message to be communicated in an appropriate manner, and one that would be used by him if he personally was speaking. He would implore, entreat, says Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20.
I have seen many ambassadors on the television, but I have never seen any of them pleading. This is not surprising, because they are expected to pass on their ruler’s message in a dignified way. Our great King also expects his message to be communicated in an appropriate manner, and one that would be used by him if he personally was speaking. He would implore, entreat, says Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20.
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