Key verse

2 Corinthians 5:20 – So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ, when we plead, “Come Back to God!” (NLT)

Key Proposition

Just as a diplomat represents their home country in foreign territory, Christians are called to represent heaven on earth, God uses believers as His mouthpieces to urgently plead with the world to be reconciled to Him through Jesus.

If you are a follower of Jesus, you are an ambassador for him. The bible says it very clearly. We are Christ’s ambassadors, representatives sent out on a mission to build relationships. There are different kinds of ambassadors political, economic, cultural, business, and goodwill ambassadors. 

As Christ ambassadors we need to reflect His nature to the world by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, thoughts and actions. According to scripture, this is a lifelong process of actively putting on the virtues of Jesus, as spiritual armor and as a new self. This means actively replacing old sinful habits with God given traits.

Virtue is not just for women it is the true measure of your closeness to the person of Christ. Virtue is the evidence of a life aligned with the heart of God and it reflects in your character, your decisions and how you live every day.

Aligning your life with God’s heart involves actively cultivating biblical virtues that shift your focus from worldly desires to His purposes. By pursuing traits like listed below, we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our character and expand our capacity to reflect God’s love to the world

12 Virtues - in the bible refer to the Fruits of the Holy Spirit:

1. Love – Unconditional, sacrificial love for God and others – 1 Corinthians 13

2. Joy - A deep, abiding gladness that relies on faith not circumstances - Philippians 4:4

3. Peace – Inner tranquility and harmony with God and others Colossians 3:15

4. Patience – the ability to endure delays, trouble, or suffering without anger -Eph. 4:2

5. Kindness – A tender, compassionate disposition toward others – Colossians 3:15

6. Goodness – Moral excellence, integrity, and doing what is right – Romans 12:9

7. Generosity – A willingness to share what you have and help others without expecting repayment – Prov.22:9

8. Gentleness – Strength under control a mild and humble approach to others – Titus 3:2

9. Faithfulness – Loyalty trustworthiness, and steadfast commitment – Gal. 6:9

10. Humility – moderation and decency in behavior and appearance – 1 Tim 2:9

11. Self Control – Mastery over one’s desires, passions and impulses – 1 Cori. 9:25

12. Purity – Purity of mind, body and action, in accordance with Gods design for relationships - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4

The most famous passage about building a virtuous character is found in 2 Peter 1:5-7, it outlines a progression of spiritual growth where believers are urged to add to their faith, with virtues acting as the foundational building block for a deeply fruitful and godly life. Let this mind be in you – Paul commands Christians to adopt the same attitude and perspective that Jesus had. It details how Jesus, being in the form of God emptied himself, He willingly laid aside His divine glory and took on the humble nature of a servant, and was obedient even to death on a cross.

The prayer of the Apostle Paul was that Christ might be formed in believers. Change and growth start with God who works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure Phil. 2:13. The Spirit of Christ must work in us mightily Col. 1:29. Any failure to grow rests with man and not with God. Growth will require the response of our own hearts in submission, obedience and faith. It may involve the input of helpers of leaders who ministers to us.

A deep relationship with God leads to the understanding of virtues. Before we can even consider representing Christ, it is essential that we have a relationship with Him who chose us for His own purposes. Ultimate relationships are designed to be connected to God, vertical connection with Him is the foundation for all horizontal relationships with others, and our ultimate priority should be to love God with everything. Just as a branch draws nutrients from the tree, we must continually draw our spiritual strength and direction from Jesus. God is always available, but he invites us to take the first step. Coming close to Him requires a sincere desire to let go of distractions, sin and divided loyalties

How to Build Ultimate relationship with God

1. Communicate Consistently (Prayer) Prayer is a two way conversation. It is not just listing requests, but also listening for His direction.  

2. Immerse Yourself in the Word – (Scripture) The Bible is God’s voice in written form. Reading and meditating on it allows you to learn God’s character and adopt His mindset.

3. Walk in Obedience – Intimacy and obedience are intertwined. By keeping His commands, you prove your love and build trust.

4. Practice the Ministry of Reconciliation – A true ambassador represents their King. You represent God by displaying love forgiveness and sharing the gospel with those in your community and beyond.

Conclusion

The ultimate goal of an ambassador is to maintain peace. Paul urges believers to beg and plead with others to end their spiritual rebellion and accept God’s offer of peace through Jesus