Let me draw your mind back to the days before the introduction of the money system as a means of exchange for goods and services. There was a system in operation then which was known as the trade by barter system. I was not old enough to be around when this barter system was the means for buying, selling and conducting business transactions in the world. But we learnt from the study of economics that it a type of trade where goods or services are exchanged for a certain amount of other goods or services with no money involved in the transaction.
Over 2,000 years ago a divine deal or transaction took place, there was no money, neither were there good nor services involved in this transaction, but still a divine exchange and a divine swop took place.
In the book: Ultimate Intention, the author DeVern Fromke said: "The Christian life is not a changed life, but an exchanged life."
It is extremely important that we understand what Jesus did for us at the cross. This is where we were legally delivered from all the consequences of Adam's rebellion. This is where the great exchange took place. The cross was and is the divine deal, divine transaction, divine swop, divine exchange.
The reality is, by the rebellion of Adam all mankind was found guilty of sin and doomed for condemnation, there was no way out, all mankind had to pay the price and bear the punishment for his guilt. It was a very hopeless and dark situation for all humanity, but God in His infinite wisdom and everlasting love offered His only begotten Son-Jesus Christ in exchange to pay the price, not by money or goods or services, but by His blood for all mankind forever.
"[In fact] under the Law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins."- Hebrews 10:22 Amp.
Jesus divinely traded Himself in for all mankind- including YOU and I. He took the place of all mankind- YOURS and MINE in sin, death, condemnation, damnation, punishment, suffering, grief, pain, mourning, sickness, affliction, sorrow, shame, dishonour. What a Great Exchange! All at the cross. Thank You Jesus.
Isaiah 53 chronicles it beautifully for us:
4-Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;...5-But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.... 6-And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 10-Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin,
At the cross Jesus paid the price for all the sins, iniquities and transgressions of mankind that we may not have to pay the price again and may walk away as free men and women from the punishment and condemnation we rightly deserve for our sins. We were found guilty and deserving punishment by the sins of Adam, but we were set free and let go by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, when He exchanged Himself to bear our punishment.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."- Romans 6:23
At the cross, Jesus Christ bought mankind over to God, not with money, goods or services, but by His precious blood. He rescued mankind from the clutches of evil and the evil one, from sin and death; from all the condemnation, accusation and affliction of the evil one. What a Great Exchange! Thank You Jesus.
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."- Colossians 1:13&14
Thank God that through the Passion of Jesus Christ which culminated with His precious sacrifice on the cross all mankind now have access to justification, salvation, new-life, righteousness, freedom, peace, joy, a relationship with God and the kingdom of God. He made a way back for all mankind to God by the shedding of His blood.
"For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."- 1 Corinthians 6:20
In the moment that we truly put all our trust in Jesus and commit ourselves fully to Him, receiving Him and confessing Him as our Lord and Saviour for all time, we are in Christ. And in Christ we then have a new life- free of guilt, condemnation, accusation, hopeless, sin and sorrow; a new life made available to us by that great sacrifice and exchange on the cross.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."- 2 Corinthians 5:17,22
When we are in Christ, all the promises of God and all the benefits of calvary become available and accessible to us. We can receive them. Then we can declare:
- Jesus took my sin, I receive His righteousness. (Isaiah. 53:5)
- Jesus took my condemnation, I receive His redemption. (Ephesians 1:7)
- Jesus took my punishment, I receive His forgiveness. (1John 1:9; 1Peter 3:18)
- Jesus took my death, I receive His eternal life. (Romans 6:23)
- Jesus took my old life, I receive His new divine life. (Galatians 2:20; John 10:10)
- Jesus took my diseases and pains, by His wounds I receive healing. (Isaiah 53:4&5)
- Jesus took my sorrow and sadness, I receive His joy. (Isaiah. 61:3; John 15:11)
- Jesus took the curse, I receive His blessing. (Galatians 3:13,14)
- Jesus took my poverty, I receive His riches and abundance. (2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 3:13&14)
- Jesus took my rejection, I receive His acceptance. (Ephesians 1:3-6)
What more can I say- rejoice in the victory, dominion and triumph that Christ won on the cross, eternal victory for all who will put their faith in God through Christ Jesus. The cross is therefore a place of reflection on the victory of Christ over sin, death and evil; a place of eternal celebration, jubilation, rejoicing and thanksgiving to God for the accomplished dominion over all things, creatures and beings- in heaven above, on the earth and beneath the earth.
If you do not believe and have not accepted Jesus Christ yet as your Lord and saviour, I want to implore you not to harden your heart to the truth, believe in Him, put your trust and hope in the victory accomplished for all mankind- INCLUDING YOU, on the cross. Do not let this opportunity pass you by.
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."- John 3:14-17
All Bible passages are taken from the New King James Version, except where stated otherwise.
Greetings to you Chautauqua, I am so blessed that you have printed this material to minister life and The Truth of the gospel of Christ to a prisioner. I am much more impressed by your effort in mailing inspirational materials to institutions.
My prayer is that the LORD will continue to use you to shine the light of His Gospel & Kingdom to the lost, poor and those that are perishing that they may encounter the salvation of our LORD.
"You are the light of the world"- Matthew 5:14.
Well done.
Posted by: Akinola Akinyede | Thursday, August 31, 2006 at 06:38 PM
Thank you for posting this inspirational , God has GREAT THINGS FOR YOU IN YOUR FUTURE!!! CLAIM WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS!!!
I made copies if this and mailed it to a prisoner , I do believe I am starting ministry without even realizing I do it. I mail inspirationals , and christian skits, anything I can get my hands on to mail to institutions.Keep in the Faith Brother!!! God loves you , and uses you in ways you never knew!!!!
Posted by: Chautauqua | Saturday, August 26, 2006 at 04:55 PM
Beautiful post and even more beautifl invitation.
Posted by: Joe | Saturday, April 15, 2006 at 02:47 PM
Excellent Akinola - What a blessing to know the power of divine exchange in Christ in our lives today.
Posted by: Gavin White | Friday, April 14, 2006 at 05:53 PM