DECEMBER 20 THE GREAT EXCHANGE By Brian Baker Vice President, Word of Life Bible Institutes Executive Dean, New York Campus
Today’s Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:15–21
Exchanging gifts is one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season. When I was a child, I loved receiving gifts. The anticipation of what I would find under the tree on Christmas morning made it hard to sleep the night before. When I became a father, exchanging gifts took on a new meaning. I no longer lose sleep over what I might receive, but I now enjoy watching my children open their presents and seeing the smiles on their faces. While gift exchanges are great, they pale in comparison to the greatest exchange of all time. In a series of verses in 2 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul discusses the truth that Jesus died for all (v. 15), that in Christ we are a new creation (v. 17), and that as believers we have the privilege of taking the message of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world (v. 20). What is this message? We see it in verse 21.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
We celebrate Jesus’ first coming to earth at Christmas when He was born to a virgin. The reason we have hope today is that Jesus not only came to earth but willingly suffered and died in our place. He did not stay dead; however, on the third day, He rose again from the dead, showing He was victorious over sin and death. Our hope today is in the risen Savior, Jesus Christ. This act of love made the great exchange possible. Jesus took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. When I trust in Him alone, He gives me His righteousness in exchange for my sin. It is truly the joy of God the Father to give the greatest gift of all time, His Son, Jesus Christ.
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