12/31/2020
The Trade
So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death. We aren’t saved from sin’s grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can’t and don’t keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours—except that ours are sinful—and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
─ Romans 15:4 ESV
The Trade
As a child did you ever make a trade? Perhaps you traded marbles, cards or toys with a classmate, giving them something of yours for something of theirs. (Hopefully you traded for something of equal or more value.)
Jesus came to make a trade with you. He grew up to give Himself as a sacrifice for your sins through His death, burial and resurrection. He stood in your place; He took your punishment so that you could go free. You have hope because through His gift of salvation, God declared you not guilty, freed you from sin and gave you His power to do His will. He traded His life – eternally – for yours!
Our verse today, confirms Jesus offered you the best trade ever. Once the exchange is made, you are forever a joint heir with Jesus. God achieved what the law could not, because human nature had been limited by the weakness of human nature. But God sent His son as one of us. And Jesus became a sin-offering to free you from condemnation.
His life for yours means as soon as you accept Jesus as your Savior, you can no longer be held accountable spiritually for your past. Every single one of us came into this world imprisoned by sin, condemned to die. Without the benefits of eternal salvation, God’s greatest creation would be lost. But the birth of a child, God’s only Son, was the start of God’s plan and offered trade to each one of us.
Today’s One Thing
Have you made the trade? If not, will you do so today? And if you have, purposefully take time to thank Jesus for giving His very best life for yours.
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