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20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

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20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(A) as though God were making his appeal through us.(B) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(C)

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20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

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20 for which I am an ambassador(A) in chains.(B) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

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23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.

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23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

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He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

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He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant(A)—not of the letter(B) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.(C)

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As God’s partners,[a] we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:1 Or As we work together.

As God’s co-workers(A) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(B)

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We Are God’s Ambassadors

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

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The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(A) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(B)

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16 Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”

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16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”(A)

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“The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

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“For the lips of a priest(A) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger(B) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.(C)

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31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!

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31 Rid(A) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart(B) and a new spirit. Why(C) will you die, people of Israel?(D) 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent(E) and live!(F)

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Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

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Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.(A)

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21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

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21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!(A) As the Father has sent me,(B) I am sending you.”(C)

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Seek the Lord while you can find him.
    Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
    and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
    Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

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Seek(A) the Lord while he may be found;(B)
    call(C) on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake(D) their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.(E)
Let them turn(F) to the Lord, and he will have mercy(G) on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.(H)

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21 “Submit to God, and you will have peace;
    then things will go well for you.

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21 “Submit to God and be at peace(A) with him;(B)
    in this way prosperity will come to you.(C)

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