THE GREAT EXCHANGE

THE GREAT EXCHANGE

There are many and a good number of people, who find it difficult to accept the idea that they need forgiveness. They feel they have led a good life, sincere in their beliefs, consistently religious, ethical, haven’t done anything to hurt anybody, good to others, ready to help others in need and are confident that on the basis of these personal merit God would be pleased and accept them. 

St. Paul after his conversion, and whose previous life was almost faultless in zealousness and religiosity testified to a remarkable transformation in his world view.  He considers whatever goodness or righteousness he may have as putting confidence in the flesh and none of them can give him confidence before God.

Here’s what St. Paul wrote in his Letter to the Philippians, (Philippians 3:7-11) “7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

For this great Apostle putting confidence in the flesh is false hope, false belief. The things that he has, his gains, personal achievements, good moral qualities, religiosity, he counts as loss for the sake of Christ. He considers them rubbish that he may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of his own but that which is through faith in Christ. The righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

All things which gave Paul confidence in himself, and he regarded as profit he now considers loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus. From the day he encountered Jesus on that road to Damascus, and onward, he lived an entirely different life, a changed life, a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, Lord and Savior.

Professor Gordon Fee said that to be righteous before God means, “to have a right relationship with a righteous God demonstrated in right living that reflects the character of God”. THIS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED ON OUR OWN, BUT ONLY RECEIVED AS A GIFT from God. We do not deserve it. We cannot earn it. Jesus made it possible by what he did on the cross.

John Calvin the great reformer said, “The Son of God utterly clear of all fault, nevertheless, took upon himself the shame and reproach of our iniquities and in return clothed us with his purity.”

This great exchange that took place on the cross gives us supreme confidence. Confidence that we are totally forgiven, and justified by the righteousness of Christ.

My friend may I invite you to put your confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, confess, and repent of your sins, and receive Him as your personal Savior and Lord. A great exchange will happen to your life.

savings

Forgiveness saves us the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits

-Hannah More

FALLEN TWIST

FALLEN TWIST

1 John 1:8-10New International Version (NIV)

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

The first step towards faith is to admit we are sinners. 

The first step is the most difficult because in our unregenerate nature, pride is a a very powerful force. We feel we are self-sufficient, we think we are doing alright. We believe we are good. We have perhaps done nothing to hurt or harm others, or we don’t bother with anyone as we live our lives. 

We sincerely think we are doing well, and we don’t need anyone to tell us to straighten our lives. We think we are good. We might be inclined to compare ourselves with others and judge ourselves better. This is deceiving ourselves. Scriptures teach that our good isn’t good enough. Any pretense denying our fallen nature which Scripture describes as falling short of God’s glory, is deception.(Romans 3:23)

Ray Stedman, once wrote, “Sin is that fallen twist in man which makes him want to play God on every occasion. We know how this is! We want the world to revolve around us always to be the center of things- that self centeredness is sin.”

Sin is an objective reality. Unless we acknowledge this we will remain in spiritual darkness. Confession of sin is liberating. It opens the light of forgiveness, and fellowship with God who alone can forgive.