An Absolute Exchange
Don Bell

For by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Rom. 5:19

It was by the sin of Adam that sin and death passed upon us, we not only had his sin imputed to us, but we also inherited his sinful nature. We then are sinners by birth and sinners by practice. “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not” - Ecl. 7:20.

But blessed be the name of the Lord the same way we became sinners we become righteous. We did nothing to become sinners we do nothing to become righteous. There is an absolute exchange made, when our dear Savior went to the cross and died under the judgment and wrath of His Holy Father, he suffered not for himself but for those whom he represented. He was suffering the wrath of God because he was bearing his peoples sin upon his body on that tree. What was the absolute exchange? He became what I am, that I might become what He is He took my sin, that I would have His righteousness, he took my disobedience, I get his obedience, he suffered my death, (my separation from God) that I would receive his life. He was made a curse, that I might be blessed, He was separated from God, that I might be brought nigh to God. Gal. 3:13 1 Pet. 3:18

Just as we also inherited Adams sinful nature, we also become partakers of Christ’s nature, his holy nature is given to us in the new birth, and it makes us love things we once hated and hate things we once loved. Our sinful natures loved sin, hated righteousness, now we love righteousness and hate sin. Once listening to preaching and reading the bible would be the last things we would have done, now it is our delight.

“God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father” Gal. 4:6. Thank God not only was Christ for us at the Cross, and accomplished our complete salvation, but, He is also in us “Christ in you, the hope of glory” Col. 1:27. By his Spirit in us, He continually works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure, and we are kept in the enjoyment of what he did for us by His sacrificial death on the cross. It is not only an absolute exchange; it is also an eternal exchange.