In a world often consumed by sensationalism and end-time prophecies, it’s easy for believers to lose sight of their chief calling: to be ambassadors for Christ. Too often, the clamor of headline hysteria overshadows the fundamental message of grace that believers are given to proclaim.
Scripture reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that we are ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. Our primary mission is to share the good news of God’s grace and reconciliation through the finished work of the cross. This message is not exclusive to pastors, evangelists, or theologians—it is the responsibility of every believer, regardless of status or title.
At the heart of our ambassadorship is the gospel—the message that God, through Christ, reconciled the world to Himself, not counting our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5:19). This is the amazing message that we have been given to share with the lost world around us: that salvation is freely available through faith alone in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While Bible prophecy certainly has its place and importance, it should not overshadow our primary mission. We must not become so fixated on the 7 years of tribulation, that we neglect the urgent task of sharing the gospel today. We won’t be here anyway! The power of salvation lies not in headlines or speculations about future events that don’t even apply to us, but in the gospel message itself (Romans 1:16).
God’s ultimate desire is the salvation of mankind (1 Timothy 2:4), and He calls us to be active participants in His redemptive plan. As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). Our labor in sharing the gospel is not in vain—it has eternal significance and impacts the destiny of souls.
In a world filled with chaos and uncertainties, let us refocus our attention on our chief calling as ambassadors for Christ. Let us boldly proclaim the gospel of grace, knowing that it is through this message that lives are transformed and souls are saved.
Bible reading:
2 Corinthians 5:20
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
II Corinthians 5:19
‘that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.’
Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
I Timothy 2:4
‘who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ‘
1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
The apostle Paul’s question (Galatians 3:2) to the Galatian church is just as relevant today as it was in Paul’s day. Modern day Judaizers (legalist) are perverting Paul’s gospel of grace worldwide. Denominations have always been guilty of adding to the finished work of the cross, deceiving the majority. Remember false teachers don’t come into a church with a whole new gospel but they add enough to make Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection powerless for salvation. Paul warns twice in Galatians 1, that if anyone even an angel preach any other gospel then the gospel he preached they are cursed by God. Strong language, but to the false teacher it means nothing.
Have you ever considered the question that the apostle Paul posed to the Galatian believers? The same question applies to believers today. ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses?
Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.’
What message? That Christ Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again three days later.
‘Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day ‘
I Corinthians 15:1-4
This question, found in Galatians 3:2, is far from being merely rhetorical. It is a sharp response to a grave distortion of the gospel—a perversion that threatened to undermine the foundational truth of the gospel of grace. That now, according to the new revelations given to Paul by the ascended and glorified Lord Himself; salvation is by grace through faith alone in the finished work of the cross apart from the law and works.
The Context
The context behind Paul’s question is crucial to understand. Men from the Jerusalem church, where Peter, James and John were the leaders, had infiltrated the congregations Paul had established. They were insisting (actually commanding) that salvation was not through faith in the death, burial and resurrection alone but required adherence to the Mosaic law and circumcision Acts 15:1,5.
‘And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ‘
Acts 15:1
‘But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”’
Acts 15:5
In effect, they were adding conditions, works to Paul’s gospel, a direct assault on the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. Paul had already made it clear in the previous chapter that if we are saved by the law, then Christ’s death was in vain (Galatians 2:21).
I do not set aside ‘the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”’
Galatians 2:21
Against this backdrop, Paul’s question to the Galatians takes on an urgent tone.
He confronts them with the stark reality: their salvation was not dependent on law-keeping, circumcision, or anything other than faith alone in the gospel.
Paul’s Timeless Warning
Paul’s letter to the Galatians stands as a timeless warning against any attempts to water down or distort the simplicity of the gospel. It emphasizes the unchangeable truth that salvation is a gift of God, received by faith alone.
The apostle Paul’s apostolic authority is established in Galatians 1:1, while Galatians 1:8-9 warns of the severe consequences of deviating from the gospel he preached.
The distinctiveness of Paul’s gospel is further illuminated in Romans 16:25, emphasizing its revelatory nature. It was a secret, hidden in the mind of God until it was revealed to Paul. Similarly, Romans 2:16 underscores the significance of the gospel revealed to Paul, stating that all mankind will be judged by the gospel revealed to him.
In admonishing the Galatians, Paul not only defends the purity of the gospel in Galatians 2:5, from the Judiazers (legalist) sent from the Jerusalem church, but also highlights the liberating truth that salvation is by faith alone in the gospel apart from the law. Paul’s words resonate with clarity and remain relevant for believers today as most of Christendom has added everything they can think of to the flawless, finished work of the cross.
Embracing the Truth
As we reflect on Paul’s impassioned plea and warning to the Galatians, it is vital that we reassert our commitment to the gospel of grace, guarding against any attempts to undermine its sufficiency.
Embrace, with unwavering conviction, the truth that salvation is a gift freely offered to all who believe, by faith alone, in the finished work of the cross.
Bible Study
Here are the Bible verses as they appear in this post.
In Romans 7:6, we discover a truth that shapes our identity as grace-age believers.
“But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”
Romans 7:6
This verse makes clear that we are set free from the law’s burden. The Mosaic law was severe and impossible to keep so they were nailed to His cross (Colossians 2:14).
‘having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ‘
Colossians 2:14
The death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ gave us victory over sin, and the law which gave sin its power unto death.
So, we as believers are no longer slaves of sin, and no longer facing the second death, but instead live in the newness of the Spirit. No longer held as slaves to the law, our service is now a Spirit-led life marked by love and a personal relationship with God.
Freedom from the law ushers us into a life of joy in spite of our circumstances, a dynamic relationship led by the Holy Spirit. Rejoice in your freedom from the law, embrace your new life in Christ, and savor the blessed hope of an eternity with God.
In Christ, you are truly free.
God bless…and always be praying…because God is always listening.
Bible Reading
For your study, here are 7 Bible verses that clearly state that no one is saved by the law or works.
Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
Galatians 2:16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.'”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Philippians 3:9 “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”
Titus 3:5 “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,”
Romans 4:5 “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,”
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul outlines the gospel: Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Salvation comes through faith in this message.
Recognizing our sinfulness, we trust in Christ’s sacrifice for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 10:9). It’s a free gift received by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we believe, we’re sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
As believers, we await Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Titus 2:13). Let’s share this gospel with others, inviting them to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Full Bible Verses:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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.”
Romans 10:9 – “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 1:13 – “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,”
1 Corinthians 12:13 – “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Titus 2:13 – “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”
In Romans 3:22-24, we encounter a profound truth: “Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Understanding Justification
‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’
Romans 5:8
Being justified is a divine act of God, a judicial declaration where He pronounces the believing sinner “just as if they never sinned.” But how does God justify the ungodly? Through His grace! Despite our sin, He justifies those who believe through the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins with the finished work of the cross.
Justified Freely – No Strings (works) Attached
Our justification is not earned or deserved. God doesn’t justify us because we ticked off a checklist of righteous deeds. It’s not about baptism, repentance, church membership, financial contributions, or commandment-keeping. We are justified freely, without a cause! It’s all about God’s grace or nothing at all.
‘I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.’
Galatians 2:21
God justifies, or saves, those who recognize their sinfulness and hopelessness. Salvation is free for all mankind, but it is appropriated only to those who, by faith alone, believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day.”
In essence, our justification is a marvel of God’s grace—a gift freely given to those who trust in, put their faith in, believe the finished work of the cross.
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