Ambassadors for Christ. It may sound like an unattainable title, but the role of every Christian is to be an Ambassador for Christ. That is because God is making His appeal to other people through His servants. When we speak the gospel- the good news that God saves people only through His Son Jesus Christ (by faith alone) and gives them new life for now and eternity- we are speaking God’s message to those who don’t know Him.

Declaring the gospel may alienate us from the direction of the world, but Paul clarifies in this passage the opposition he faces in declaring the gospel is part of his credential for declaring it! He is viewed as an imposter, yet is true. He is slandered by people, and yet he is right before God. The apostle faced beatings, imprisonments, and riots, all for the name of Jesus. Paul is pleading with the Corinthians to accept salvation in Christ.

The reason he pleads so urgently is because on that final day, when Jesus judges all people’s hearts, it will not matter who accumulated the most worldly praise. All that will matter is whether or not a person has humbled himself before Christ and said, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”