Chapter 46. The Ministers of the Gospel Are Ambassadors of Christ, Opened in Six Particulars
Chapter 46 The Ministers of the Gospel Are Ambassadors of Christ, Opened in Six Particulars Firstly, that the Ministers of the Gospel are the Ambassadors of Christ.
They are not Ambassadors for Belial or for Antichrist, as many Ministers have been, who plead the cause of Antichrist as if they were sent as legates from Rome, advocating superstitious vanities.
We are not Ambassadors for Belial, for sin, or for wickedness, as is often heard when some plead against godliness and in favour of wickedness. No, we are Ambassadors for Christ. We are sent as Ambassadors; this role is more significant than that of mere messengers. It is a higher degree than simply being a messenger; an Ambassador is more than a steward. As stated in 1 Corinthians 4,
"Therefore let a man so account of us as the Ministers of Christ, and dispensers of the mysteries of Salvation." I will provide a scriptural reference for this, open it briefly, and then move on from this point.
The term "Ambassador" appears frequently in Scripture. In Ephesians 6:20, it is mentioned similarly to how it is used here: "For which I am an Ambassador," and he was in bonds. He was not treated like an Ambassador. You know that Ambassadors, first and foremost, are individuals sent by princes and states to other princes and states. It is not a matter for private individuals. If any of you send a messenger for business, he is not considered an Ambassador.
However, one who comes from a prince or state to another country is called an Ambassador. Thus, the Minister of the Gospel is not sent to mediate between man and man but between God and man in matters
that concern the great God of Heaven and Earth. Though appointed by men, their calling ultimately depends on God and Christ.
Here is the distinction: when princes and states send their Ambassadors, they are sent to other princes and states. But God sends his Ambassadors to poor, wretched, sinful men. In doing so, he honours mankind by sending a messenger from himself to be an Ambassador. When a prince sends a messenger to a person, one does not say that the prince has sent an Ambassador to someone in prison, whom he might execute at his will. Such a person would be more of an executioner than an Ambassador. Thus, we all might have expected that an executioner would be sent, but God, in his grace, sends an Ambassador for his elect.
Furthermore, Ambassadors are not sent for trivial matters. When an Ambassador is dispatched, it is for a public, state affair of great significance. Similarly, when you hear that God sends his
Ambassadors to the world, you must realise that it is for a great and weighty matter, a state affair concerning Heaven itself. It concerns
God more closely than anything else in this world, and it involves God's very nature and his Son, making it the matter closest to God's heart. Therefore, we are called Ambassadors.
Thirdly, they are called Ambassadors because they must ensure they do not act beyond their commission. It is as much as their life is worth to exceed their commission in any matter. In this way, the Ministers of the Gospel must strictly adhere to the commission they receive from Jesus Christ.
Fourthly, when he goes to any place, he represents the person of the King himself from whom he came, and any wrong done to him is considered as done to the King's person, regardless of how humble the Ambassador may be. Likewise, all the Ministers of the Gospel
come to you in the name of the King of Heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ, and there is a certain representation of the person of Christ in them. This will become even clearer when we come to the next point.
Fifthly, an Ambassador must give an account of his embassage; he must, as necessary, report back to the country from whence he came about the business he has conducted. Similarly, the Ministers of the Gospel, acting as Ambassadors, are constantly to send reports to Heaven about the progress of their embassage. When they declare any message to the people, they must communicate with Heaven, informing God whether the message is received or rejected. It is a very grave matter for any people when a Minister of God has just cause to send a complaint to Heaven, saying, "O Lord, thou hast sent me with a blessed embassage of peace and reconciliation to this people, but they reject it. They prefer their lusts over all the glory found in Jesus Christ; Heaven and eternal happiness are trivial matters to them." When a Minister makes such a complaint, do you not think it will be a serious matter for those who reject it? All faithful Ministers do this. If he is a faithful Minister, he is deeply concerned about his embassage; he observes whether it is accepted, and accordingly, he informs Heaven not only weekly but daily about how his embassage is received. Ultimately, on the last day, he must give a full account before the Lord and Jesus Christ.
Sixthly, and lastly, it is against the law of all nations to mistreat an Ambassador, even if he comes with a threatening message; he must still be treated civilly. In the same way, it is against all laws of religion to mistreat a Minister of the Gospel, even if he delivers a warning. How much more should he be received when he comes with an embassage of peace? It goes against all sense, reason, and religion, and those who mistreat an Ambassador sent from Jesus
Christ are profane and reprobate to every good work.