Southern Baptists are ambassadors for Christ and have been given a clear message and mission He wants communicated to His world, said Jeff Iorg.
Iorg, president and CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, delivered the closing message on “Compelled to Live as Ambassadors for Christ” during the evening session of the Alabama Baptist State Convention Nov. 11 at Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville.
Iorg explained what it means to be an ambassador. He observed that ambassadors are generally appointed, not elected and have a unique standing and status in that they represent a singular leader who has authority.
Reading from 2 Corinthians 5:20, Iorg said the Bible “very simply states we are ambassadors for Christ. There could not be a more lofty, more honorable or more significant title given to us than being ambassadors for Jesus Christ,” the SBC leader said.
Iorg observed that the next “big idea” in the text is the message of reconciliation which is found in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.
“Reconciliation is the great message that God has entrusted to us and asked us to deliver over and over to people who need to hear that more than any other message from our lips,” he said.
Iorg cautioned about allowing other messages, such as political, cultural or denominational concerns, distract Southern Baptists from the main message of reconciliation.
He stressed the things he mentioned are not necessarily bad. “These things matter, but the discipline of leadership in our generation is giving these things a glance while keeping our gaze fixed on the message of reconciliation for the world we live in.”
The message of reconciliation is one that is “going to assure not only a quality of life now but eternal life forever,” he continued.
Iorg cited three phrases in verses 11, 14 and 20 that describe a sense of urgency in sharing the message of reconciliation. He offered four suggestions for proceeding with urgency in the days ahead.
“Urgency is best demonstrated by investing time with people who need to hear the gospel and making sure it is a priority in your pastoral ministry and Christian lifestyle,” he said.
Iorg, who served as president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and later when it moved to Ontario, California, and became Gateway Seminary, was a chaplain for 10 years with the San Francisco Giants. When people would ask how he found the time, he would respond, “I didn’t find time. I made the time a priority because I care more about putting lost people on my work schedule.” He added that he did the same thing as a pastor, intentionally scheduling evangelistic opportunities.
He noted that urgency also is demonstrated by initiating gospel conversations. He said it was easier as a pastor because when a preacher visits, it is generally expected that he will talk about God and the gospel.
Urgency also is about inviting people to become Christians, Iorg said. “One of the developments that I’ve observed in my years of pastoral leadership among Southern Baptists has been the demise of the public invitation. I do not understand this.”
Over his years of ministry as he asked people if they wanted to accept Christ. “Some said yes, some said no and some said not yet, but I keep asking.”
Finally, Iorg said that urgency requires involving yourself in the task emotionally. “When I talk to people about Jesus, I want them to see something in me that says I am emotionally invested in this because it changed my life. … and it can change yours.”
Iorg concluded his message by reminding Alabama Baptists they have a message of how “Jesus died for you and was resurrected so your sins could be forgiven and you could have new life. And the time for that is right now.
“Let’s walk out of here tonight more committed than ever to be ambassadors for Christ,” Iorg said.
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