God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
You have probably heard the term “exchange rate,” which identifies the value of one country’s currency compared to that of another country. Today I’d like to offer a word of encouragement to you as we peer into the great depths of the eternal exchange rate . . . that is, the value of our eternal country’s currency compared to the earthly country of our present existence.
The deepest, most comprehensive view of our eternal exchange is best understood by looking at what took place on the cross at Calvary, where Jesus laid down His life for the lost. That exchange is set forth in our verse for today, 2 Corinthians 5:21, which tells us that Jesus exchanged His righteousness for our sin. Jesus Christ, the sinless Savior, stood in the place of the profoundly guilty — that’s you and me — and paid the penalty for our sin in full, redeeming us from our bondage to sin, Satan, and death by His perfect righteousness.
Jesus was tempted in every way, yet He remained sinless (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15). It would take a lifetime to grasp this unimaginable, eternal exchange rate graciously given to us by Jesus, and even then our finite, human understanding will fall short of comprehending this glorious truth. Jesus Christ willingly took off the rich, luxurious, sweet-smelling robes of perfect righteousness that are His by nature and by virtue of living a perfect life here on earth, and exchanged them for the vile, filthy, foul-smelling rags of sin that you and I wear by nature and by virtue of sinning countless times every single day we walk this earth. The key to living the life God has called us to live is to keep this incredible truth before us, always remembering that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
But that’s not all! Hear are three more incredible eternal exchange rates that should rock your world and fuel your desire to live for our Savior.
Jesus exchanged His blessings for our curses
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:14-15)
Jesus exchanged His perfect health for our diseases
He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
Jesus exchanged His glorious riches for our poverty
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
To think that the sinless Son of God would provide this kind of eternal exchange rate for fallen and broken sinners like you and me boggles the mind. Yet this is exactly what the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit planned from before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). When we keep in view what Jesus did for us on that cross, I am convinced that we will begin to embrace what it means to live the abundant life Jesus promised to those who believe.
So . . . have you cashed in on this eternal exchange rate from your Redeemer? Have you placed your trust in what Jesus Christ did on your behalf? If not, why not do so today?
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 