I really enjoy the concise definition of what it means to be a Christian in 2 Corinthians 5 and 6. Here's a sampling:
5:14 Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. ... 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,so that we could be made right with God through Christ.6:2 ... Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation. 3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
Whew! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for His wonderful plan of redemption, His continual work to make us look like Christ, and the blessing we have to share in the joy of seeing people come to know Him!
This reminds me of the Royal Ambassador pledge that I memorized as a boy (which is based on this passage):
As a Royal Ambassador I will do my best:
- to become a well informed, responsible follower of Christ;
- to have a Christlike concern for all people;
- to learn how the message of Christ is carried around the world;
- to work with others in sharing Christ;
- and to keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for creating a new life in me: the old is gone and the new has come. Lord, I pray that you will make me clean and healthy in mind and body. Lord, help me pursue holiness, cleanliness, and purity every moment of every day. Lord, please help me learn how I can better share the message of Christ. Jesus, I want to be your ambassador. Holy Spirit, please empower me and guide me today. I pray this in the name of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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