If you are struggling with this concept, I am sympathetic, but allow me to comfort you with the gospel truth. You are not alone. If you are a believer, you are in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30), and Christ is in you (Romans 8:10). You have everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. God has already given you Jesus; He will not withhold anything helpful or necessary from you (Psalm 84:11; Romans 8:32). Look to Jesus in faith, and He will enable you by His grace to move forward in your ministry of reconciliation with your spouse.
Question. 6. What is the title that God has given to us in 2 Corinthians 5:20?
Because we are reconciled to God through Jesus' death and resurrection, and we have a ministry of reconciliation, we are ambassadors for Christ! We represent God, showing His love and forgiveness to others.
And as ambassadors for Christ, we must encourage others (especially our spouse) to be reconciled to God. We evidence that we are God's ambassadors when we call others to be reconciled to God in Christ. And one way we can do this is to share the gospel with our spouse and forgive them as we have been forgiven.
As you remind yourself and your spouse of Christ’s finished work on the cross, and the new and true identity you both have in Christ, then there is real hope that you will both turn away from the deeds of the flesh and instead walk according to the Spirit, living in purity and love with each other.
As ambassadors for Christ, we come to our spouse and speak the words of 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Oh, friend, this great exchange (Christ’s righteousness for our sin) took place at the cross, and it is what makes our reconciliation with God and others possible.
Not only did Jesus take your sins on Himself, but He literally became sin for you so that you might become the righteousness of God in Him. Because Jesus took your sin and gave you His righteousness, you are considered righteous in God’s eyes. And if your spouse has placed their faith in Christ, this is true for them too. This is good news for your heart and your spouse!
It is in Christ and His righteousness that you and your believing spouse will find your true identity:
You are loved by God, a new creation in Christ, ambassadors of Christ, and completely holy and righteous in God’s eyes.
You are not sinners trying to do better, but saints who sometimes stumble and sin.
You are not seeking God’s approval; you are already pleasing and accepted by God because you are in Christ.
You are holy because Jesus took your sin and clothed you with His righteousness.
Question 7. Please list some ways in which you have been or can be an ambassador for Christ to your spouse.
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Embrace your true identity in Christ, and it will change the way you live and interact with your spouse and everyone else in your life.