God is the author and dispenser of reconciliation, men are the recipients. Men cannot reconcile themselves to God by lamentation over past sins, by performing arduous service, or by practicing certain prescribed ceremonies. They receive reconciliation simply by repenting of their sins and accepting the gift of divine mercy.

 Literally, “for Christ,” that is, on behalf of Christ. The Christian ambassador is in no sense a substitute for Christ, but simply the one through whom reconciliation is effected. He is in no sense a priestly mediator, for there is only “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). Reconciliation has already been provided in Christ. The minister is simply the agent by whom “the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19) is proclaimed to others. He is not the creator or dispenser of it. He leads men and women into the presence of God, where they experience reconciliation for themselves. His task is to convince men that God has provided reconciliation in Christ. Each believer thus has access to, and deals directly with, God (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:13, 16-18; 3:12; Heb. 4:14-16).

 It is the ambassador for Christ who speaks “the word of reconciliation” (v. 19). God speaks to men through His ambassadors, even as He reconciled the world to Himself through Christ. For a discussion of God’s interest in sinners see Isa. 1:18; Jer. 44:4; Eze. 33:11; Hosea 11:8.

 Gr. presbeuō, literally, “to be older,” and thus “to be an elder,” “to be ambassador.” This characterizes the ambassador as one distinguished by dignity and experience, and therefore vested with authority. Christ’s ambassadors become such by virtue of prior attachment to Him and to His cause (see on Acts 14:23). They are distinguished for their fidelity (1 Cor. 4:1, 2; 1 Tim. 1:12), their zeal, their personal understanding of and experience with the great truths of the gospel, and their diligence in study, in prayer, in soul winning, and in building up the church. There is no greater dignity or honor than that of being an ambassador for Christ and the kingdom of heaven.