The Great Exchange

The Gospel Story 
The Great Exchange 
2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Central Question:  Is there anything that needs to be added to the completed work of Christ for our salvation?

Understanding The Work Of Christ On Our Behalf

1. Our Problem

Righteous in the Bible basically means perfect Obedience.  A righteous person is one who always does what is right.

“as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”(Romans 3:10–12, ESV)

“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”” (Galatians 3:10, ESV)

2. Christ’s Perfection

“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22, ESV)

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

“And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”” (John 8:29, ESV)

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8, ESV)

3. Our sin Transferred to Christ

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24, ESV)

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—” (Galatians 3:13, ESV)

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6, ESV)

4. Christ’s righteousness Credited to us

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19, ESV)

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,” (Colossians 1:21–22, ESV)

“and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—" (Philippians 3:9, ESV)

My Response To The Work Of Christ

“yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16, ESV)

Faith In Christ Involves:

• Renunciation – Renouncing any trust in our own performance as the basis of our acceptance before God
• Reliance – Relying entirely on the perfect life and death of Christ as the sole basis for our acceptance before God

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

(Galatians 2:20, ESV)

“Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.” Jerry Bridges

Six A-mazing Benefits Of Relying On Christ’s Righteousness

• Approval by God – His favor
• Access to his holy presence –His fellowship
• Adoption into his family – His community 
• Admittance into heaven – His eternal life
• Appropriation of our daily provisions – His earthly sustenance 
• Ability to live the life God designed me for – His strength

Warning: Two Subtle Snares:

1. Self-Righteousness

“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (Galatians 2:21, ESV)

2. Persistent Guilt

“though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:13–15, ESV)

Two Compelling Callings:

1. Live for Him by His enabling grace (14-15)
2. Faithfully Represent Him to the people around us (16-20) 

Making It Personal:

• Are you personally renouncing self-reliance and relying totally on the perfect life and death of Jesus Christ as the sole basis for your acceptance before God?
• Spend some time this week meditating on the Six Amazing Benefits that are ours in Christ Jesus. Praise God for His provision.  Ask God to show you anywhere you are not living out of your new identity/new life in Christ Jesus.
• Where might you be struggling with self-righteousness?
• Where might you be struggling with persistent guilt?
• How are you answering the two compelling callings that come with our new life in Christ Jesus?
• Who can you share these truths with? 

Ready to take your Next Step?

• Text Next to 803-637-8484
• Go to FBCFM.COM and click “Next Steps”