Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 258

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Living In Christ – 20

Ephesians 6:19-24
(19)  And pray for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
(20)  for which I am an ambassador in bonds; so that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
(21)  But, so that you also may know my affairs and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things,
(22)  whom I have sent to you for the same purpose, that you might know our affairs and that he might comfort your hearts.
(23)  Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(24)  Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

AN AMBASSADOR IN CHAINS

Paul is in prison and yet his only thought is for the advancement of the gospel. Paul does not say:  “Please pray that I may be discrete, I am in big trouble and if anyone finds out I am a Christian then I am in for it.” Paul is no secret believer but rather is a bold testimony. The priority is not his own life and comfort but the knowledge of the gospel – even to prisoners, guards and officials of Rome. (It is generally agreed that Ephesians was written during the Roman captivity of Paul probably between 58 AD and 64 AD)

Studies on persecution show that the main aim of persecution is to silence the Church. But Paul will not be silenced by persecution!  Paul says, “Pray that I may be given utterance”. Pray that Paul may be louder still! This is Christian courage at its best. 

It is wise to be discrete about the names of believers and the existence of underground churches – but not about the gospel itself.  There is no long list of greetings at the end of Ephesians, and only Tychicus, the actual bearer of the message is mentioned. This is doubly unusual because of his long stay at Ephesus and his dear friend Timothy’s location in that city. He must have known hundreds of people there but none are greeted - possibly out of concerns for security. His greeting is a simple “Peace to the brothers..and grace be with all”. 

So Paul is silent about the local church but bold about the eternal Christ. Christ cannot be hurt by our proclaiming Him - only exalted!

Paul knew things were coming to an end for his ministry. He was not going to go out quietly. Rather he was going to go boldly, proclaiming, and testifying to the gospel.

Paul calls himself  “an ambassador in chains”.  This shows the contempt the world has for God. Ambassadors of worldly governments generally cannot be imprisoned and must be released and returned to their home country. Paul, an ambassador for Christ, is given less respect than an ambassador from the smallest principality would receive.

However over the centuries, Paul has received greater honor than many kings. Great men still study Paul’s writings but few read whatever Nero may have written. Paul’s words are in the Bible while the words of the dignitaries of Rome are on their tombstones.

What does an ambassador do? The ambassador communicates the will of the government and enters into offers and negotiations on behalf of the realm. Paul’s message, from God, to all the world was - “be reconciled to God”. 
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
(20)  Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
(21)  For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

As an ambassador Paul pleaded with fallen humanity “be reconciled to God” and his message was to be proclaimed even to Caesar and to the powers and principalities behind the political forces of the first century.

Today there is still a need for the gospel to be boldly proclaimed to the powerful, to those deeply entrenched in the world system, that even they may be reconciled to God. We need highly educated Christians who can take the gospel to politicians, investment bankers, the United Nations, the military and the influential institutes of higher learning.

Such people will not accept “canned” approaches but need to be influenced one by one, with intelligent persuasion and thoughtful reasoning. It is indeed necessary that people in these high-level ministries pray that “utterance may be given them” and that they be both bold and wise in presenting the gospel and telling the influential to be reconciled to God.

God’s will in areas as different as global economics, the use of force, the treatment of the poor, the enactment of just laws, the taking of bribes, and the use of information needs to be spelled out – not just as a “Christian” position or a Church position but as the will of the King of Kings and the Creator of All Things.  The rulers of this age need to be told, by God’s ambassadors, that they will have to give an account to the King of Kings for all their decisions. 

The rulers of this age need to be told that they have erred many times and need mercy and thus need to be reconciled to God in both their heart and mind and in the standards of their deeds. 

Let us pray that God will raise up some more ambassadors for Christ.

Blessings,

John Edmiston johned@aibi.ph

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