The Divine Exchange: Understanding Christ's Substitutionary Sacrifice

The solid foundation on which our Christian life is based is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the substitution of His perfect righteousness for a sinner's unrighteousness.

The Foundation of Divine Exchange

God made Christ who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21). Through the mercy and grace of God our unholy nature is replaced with His holy nature and we are reconciled to God (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21-22). This happens when we repent and are born again, with the Holy Spirit living within us (Jn 3:3-8; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19; Col 1:27).

As with other aspects of Christianity we regulate (by our co-operation and determination) the degree that we individually enter into the provision Jesus made for us when He came to earth and gave His life to destroy the power of Satan on our behalf (1 Jn 3:8). We were (and still are) powerless in our own ability to counteract any of Satan's strategies or the devastations caused by sin – Jesus is our only and complete Saviour, reversing whatever was due to us because of sin.

He died in our place that we might receive His eternal life (Heb 2:8-9). Through Jesus believers have been set free from the controlling power of sin and death – it is now our responsibility to make it fact and live accordingly (Rom 6:6, 8:1-2).

This does not mean we will not sin (by yielding to the temptation of the flesh) or experience the termination of life in this world – both are realities as we are fully aware. This truth refers to the divine grace that has the power to deliver from the consequence of sin which is eternal condemnation (Jn 3:16; Rom 6:23; 1 Thes 5:9-10).

How much of my sinful nature have I exchanged for the divine provision?

Through Adam's sin the whole human race continue to be sinners, being contaminated by his character, yet through the sacrifice of Jesus, those who turn to Him for salvation have His righteousness imputed to them (Rom 5:1819; 1 Cor 15:22; Phil 3:9).

Our Response and Responsibility

His provision requires a right response and definite effort on our part – a saying 'No' to the pull of our sinful life. We are to consider that dead – that is, make no response to it – but instead act according to our new life in Christ being responsive and obedient to Him as our new master (Rom 6:11,13,19; Gal 2:19-20; 1 Pet 2:24).

Do not settle for the bare minimum needed to get into heaven by being born again. Do not neglect the resources and privileges that are ours by right because we are children of God who delights to give good gifts to His children (Mt 7:11).

The Specifics of Divine Exchange

Some of the specifics of this amazing, divine exchange (as the Bible describes it) are: Jesus took the punishment for our sin that we might be forgiven (Isa 53:4-6; Act 10:43; Rom 3:21-31; 1 Pet 3:18); He was wounded that we might be healed (Ex 15:26; Ps 103:3; Isa 38:16, 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24); He was made sin with our sinfulness that we might receive His righteousness (Isa 53:10; 2 Cor 5:21); He died the death due to us that we might receive His eternal life (Ezek 18:4; Jn 10:10; Rom 6:23; Heb 2:9).

Jesus endured our rejection that we might be accepted and come into relationship with the Father (Mt 27:46; Eph 1:5-6); He was made a curse that we might enter into the blessing (Gal 3:13-14; Eph 1:3).

Let the truth of the divine exchange of Adam's sinful nature for Christ's divine nature saturate your whole being and result in a glorious transformation of lifestyle (2 Cor 5:15; 2 Pet 1:4). Rather than viewing the Christian life as a changed life, see it as an exchanged life, "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Cor 5:17).

It is to our advantage to avail ourselves of all that Jesus died to provide – the power and position that is in Christ because we have been forgiven of our sin and in right relationship with Him (Mk 16:17-18; Jn 1:12; Act 10:43). It is our responsibility to declare and appropriate what God has done for us. Do I affirm this by thanking God for His provision and "living as a child of the light" (Eph 5:8)?

We should be thinking less of the power of sin and more of the victory of Christ who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Pet 2:9).

Reflection and Application:

Reflect on how much of your sinful nature you have genuinely exchanged for Christ's divine provision in your daily walk.
Consider areas where you might be settling for the bare minimum rather than embracing all that Jesus died to provide.
Examine whether you are actively declaring and appropriating what God has done for you through the divine exchange.
Think about how you can shift your focus from the power of sin to the victory of Christ in your life.