How does 2 Corinthians 5:20 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Connecting the Two Passages 2 Corinthians 5:20 — “Therefore 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.” Matthew 28:19-20 — “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Ambassadors and Disciple-Makers: Two Sides of One Mission • Both passages affirm that every believer is sent. • “Ambassadors” highlights our representative role; “disciple-makers” highlights our reproducing role. • Together they frame a single calling: represent Christ accurately and reproduce His life in others. Shared Authority: Sent by Christ Himself • 2 Corinthians 5:20 — God makes His appeal “through us.” • Matthew 28:18 (immediately before the Great Commission) — “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” • The same divine authority backs both the ambassador’s plea and the disciple-maker’s work. Shared Assignment: Proclaim and Teach • Ambassadors “implore… be reconciled” (2 Corinthians 5:20) — urgent gospel proclamation. • Disciple-makers “teach them to obey” (Matthew 28:20) — ongoing instruction. • Acts 1:8, Romans 10:14-15, and Colossians 1:28 echo this twin task of proclamation and teaching. Shared Audience: All Nations, Every Person • Matthew 28:19 — “all nations.” • 2 Corinthians 5:20 — context (5:14-15) shows Christ “died for all,” so our appeal targets everyone. • No one is outside our ambassadorial jurisdiction or disciple-making mandate. Shared Message: Reconciliation through the Gospel • 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 defines the ambassador’s message: God reconciles the world to Himself in Christ. • Matthew 28:19-20 prescribes baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” grounding discipleship in the same reconciling gospel. • Galatians 3:26-27 and Ephesians 2:13-18 reinforce that baptism and reconciliation flow from the same redemptive work. Shared Power: God at Work in Us • 2 Corinthians 5:20 — “as though God were making His appeal through us.” • Matthew 28:20 — “I am with you always.” • The indwelling presence of Christ (John 20:21-22; 2 Corinthians 6:16) empowers both roles, ensuring we never labor alone. Living the Connection Today • See every conversation as ambassadorial: represent Jesus and call for reconciliation. • View discipleship relationships as embassy work: nurture believers to reflect kingdom culture. • Hold the authority of Christ with humility, the urgency of the gospel with compassion, and the promise of His presence with confidence. |
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