Christians: Are you a “secret service” one?
You’ve probably never heard such a term. That’s because it is a term I’ve made up. So, what is its meaning? I’ve used it for many years to refer to professed believers who rarely if ever talk to people about the things of God. Many have never presented our gospel message to even one person. They may talk to people about all kinds of other things, but not this. They may mention something about where they attend a church, but that’s about all they’ll say. However, they spend no time at all on the subject of salvation which is the most important thing they could ever discuss with anyone. They may talk about family, friends, acquaintances, hobbies, sports, and all kinds of other such things but they never speak of these things that have eternal value. Please note some of Christ’s last words to His apostles when He appeared to them in His resurrection body.
John 20:19-22
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Then notice what He tells them to do.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, EVEN SO SEND I YOU.
He even equipped them with the Holy Spirit to do this.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: [Emphasis added]
Didn’t our Lord then commission His apostles to tell the world about Him? Weren’t these some of His last commands to them before His ascension.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 GO ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. [Emphasis added]
Don’t we even have our own commission and message today, even though most churchgoers don’t even know what it is? But here are the apostle Paul’s words about this—
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us THE MINISTRY of reconciliation;
Do churchgoers today think of themselves as ones being in “the ministry”? Don’t most of them believe that’s someone else’s job? Don’t most people think that’s something for those who are in “full time Christian service”? But aren’t we all supposed to be full time Christians in service to our Lord? Aren’t we all supposed to be representing Jesus Christ in all that we say and do? How many people do you know who could even give a clear and correct explanation of this next verse we’ll note?
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath COMMITTED UNTO US the word of reconciliation.
Hasn’t every believer now been commissioned with this message of reconciliation? Isn’t that what verse nineteen is telling us? Then in this next verse we have even more on this. We are said to be personal “ambassadors” of Christ with a command of God we’re to be relaying to people.
20 Now then WE are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by US: we pray you in Christ’s stead, BE ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
And please notice that our objective is NOT for them to be forgiven of their sins but that they should gain the righteousness of God. I’ve found that most people really have no idea what Christ accomplished when He was on that cross and through His resurrection from the grave. Please read verse 21 again because it is this that is OUR gospel, our good news today. Have you been faithful to present this message to people you know? I’ve written articles about this message for this website so people won’t confuse or mingle our gospel with Peter’s.
Gospel: Which one is ours today?
Gospel: Did Peter and Paul preach the same gospel?
Gospel: Which gospel did the 12 apostles preach after the ascension?
Our apostle Paul made the point that in his time, many believers were ashamed to talk about this. Notice how he speaks of himself about this.
Romans 1:16
16 For I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [Emphasis added]
Also, didn’t our Lord talk about this?
Mark 8:38
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. [Emphasis added]
This is what our Lord said to believing Israelites but it’s not exactly what is said to us.
2 Timothy 2:12-13
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. [Emphasis added]
Please note that last little phrase—he cannot deny himself. Isn’t every believer in our time said to be a member of His body, the Body of Christ?
Ephesians 5:29-30
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For WE are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [Emphasis added]
What a position of responsibility this is! And aren’t we to be faithful to speak out about Him?
Ephesians 6:18-20
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak BOLDLY, as I ought to speak. [Emphasis added]
The apostle Paul tells us about the things he suffered because of his boldness to speak of Christ and His message. He doesn’t like to talk about it because of how his words might be taken as ones of boasting. But notice what he says he had to endure in his representation of Christ—
2 Corinthians 11:21-28
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers [DIAKONOS = servants] of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [Emphasis added]
There should be no doubt that there was probably much more he could have said about the suffering he had experienced in his representation of Christ. Is there any reason for us to wonder why the apostle would say what he did about the certainty of faithful believers suffering because of their relationship with Christ? Here’s his “bottom line” statement about this—
2 Timothy 3:12
12 Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. [Emphasis added]
Isn’t it because of their knowledge of this that there are so many professed believers who could be rightly labeled as “secret service” Christians. So many live in fear of having to deal with such if they were bold in their representation of Christ. But shouldn’t we all be mindful that we’ve been promised great reward for faithfulness in standing for Christ? Aren’t we all told that the day will come when we’ll be judged in these things?
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [Emphasis added]
Here are links to articles with more details about this—
Awards: Are there awards we can qualify to receive in Heaven?
Rewards: For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?
Shouldn’t this motivate us all to speak out boldly to present Christ to others? Speaking his gospel this way eventually cost Paul his head. What might such cost us? Today we’re still able to speak our message freely and openly in most places of America without fear of major consequences, but that may not and probably won’t always be the case. It certainly isn’t in many other parts of the world. Note what the apostle Peter says about all this—
1 Peter 3:13-15
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if [EA = if and you will] ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify [HAGIAZO = set apart (as God’s people)] the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer [APOLOGIA = a verbal defense] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness [PRAUTES = a non-disputing, humble attitude] and fear [PHOBOS = fearful or respectful attitude]: [Emphasis added]
As we choose to function this way we always need to be mindful that we will all be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ for how we conduct ourselves in every situation. Our personal representation of Christ must always be kept in mind. We ARE Christ’s personal representatives in this world. That’s why we’re all called ambassadors. I have a whole article on this website about this role and responsibility we all have—
Ambassadorship: How well are you representing Him?
Conclusion—
If there’s anything you’ve ever taken seriously, it is this—your ongoing responsibility to represent Jesus Christ in all you say and do. Certainly actions speak louder than words, but we all need to speak up and declare this wonderful message we’ve been given. You have a lot to lose if you don’t and a whole lot to gain if you do. Again, I refer you to one of several of my articles about this—
