The Apostle Paul testifies why he keeps
running as he rounds third and heads for the plate.
He is in the game for the right reasons.
He runs according to God’s pattern for the
right reasons.
He runs to win for the following reasons found
in II Corinthians 5.
HE IS CONVINCED OF ETERNAL LIFE, Vv.
15-19
“15 And
he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but
for him who died for them and
was raised again.16 So from now on we regard no one from
a worldly point
of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, the
new creation has
come: The
old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins
against them. And
he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
Touching the bases
matters for eternity!
Are you running
according to God’s pattern?
Are you running with
conviction?
HE IS COMPELLED BY
THE LOVE OF GOD, V. 14
“14 For
Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and
therefore all died.”
Apostle
Paul was compelled by love!
“COMPELLED” does not equal being
“emotionally moved by my desire”
“COMPELLED” equals being “freed
from control of sin and controlled, imprisoned by God’s love.”
The same word Paul used for compelled
is the same word used when Christ was arrested and led away from the garden.
Jesus was compelled to suffer and die on the cross because of the will and
purpose of God.
What
compels you?
Are you compelled by the love of
Christ?
HE IS COMMITTED AS AN AMBASSADOR, Vv.
18-20
18 All
this is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins
against them. And
he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We
are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as
though God were making his appeal through us. We
implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
What is an ambassador?
An ambassador represents a nation or a
kingdom in another land for the purpose of creating good relations between
them.
Paul was committed and compelled to
represent the Gospel of eternal life to an unbelieving world. He was committed
because he was convinced and compelled by God’s love for lost people.
You are representing God and His
gospel every day. Are you committed to do it well?
Will anyone be drawn to faith in
Christ by the way you represent Him today?