The Great Exchange

At the cross an all-encompassing literally took place in the spiritual realm. Our condition was assigned to Christ and, by the grace of God, his condition was assigned to us.  Jesus took upon himself the penalty for sin (death and separation from God) that was pronounced in the Garden of Eden and the curse of the Law that condemned sinners.   Jesus not only took on the penalty of our sin but also gave to us eternal life and a secure relationship with God.

Jesus not only paid a debt we could not pay but lavished us with blessings that belonged to him. It was as if the prince himself left his palace and position, put on the rags of a prisoner, stepped into our cell, and as he did so he handed his royal garments and his keys to the palace to us. Of course, he leaves it to us to decide whether we will walk in royal robes and live in the palace or continue to wear the rags of a beggar while the keys of the kingdom rest unused in our pockets.

Here is a question.  “If the prince had indeed entered into your cell, exchanged clothes with you and handed you his keys to the palace…what thoughts or things might keep you from ever moving into the palace and enjoying the blessings assigned to a prince?  Many of us hesitate to receive all that Jesus has purchased for us with his blood. We continue to live as paupers when we have been invited to live as a prince.

By faith in what Jesus did for us we literally have moved from a position of…

• Sin to Righteousness.   . (2 Cor. 5:21)

• Alienation to Adoption.   … (Eph. 1:5)

• Slavery to Sonship. (Gal. 4:6-7)

• Death to Life.(Eph. 2:1, 5)

• Rejection to Acceptance.  . (Rom. 15:7)

• Poverty to Riches(2 Cor. 8:9)

• Darkness to Light  (Eph. 5:8)

• Alienation from God to Citizenship in Heaven(Eph. 2:12, 19)

• Cowardice to Courageousness. (2 Tim.1:7)

• Old to New(2 Cor. 5:17)

• Cursed to Blessed.  . (Gal. 3:13-14)

• Bondage to Freedom.  .  (Luke 4:18)

• Condemnation to Justification.  (Rom. 8:1)

• Weakness to Strength.  .  (Phil. 4:13)

• Ruled to Ruling.(Eph. 2:1, 6)

Because of this ,we are able to approach the throne of grace with absolute confidence knowing that God’s help and mercy will be available to us (Heb. 4:16).  As we approach the Father to set us free from those things that hinder our life in Christ we can fully expect his help.  Because of Jesus we are no longer cursed, alienated sinners opposed to God. Instead we stand before him as his children with all the blessings of heaven available.  Feel free to ask for those blessings and expect them.  When you receive the blessings of Christ and operate in them, then Jesus receives everything he paid for and rejoices in you.   Remember who you are and be blessed roday.