Salvation Assured THE GREATEST TRADE EVER
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21.
I have a ball point pen that I would like to trade with someone for a Cadillac Seville. Let me tell you about the ball point pen. It's not a bad one at all. Someone gave it to me. It's very nice. It's carved out of some sort of wood. It's quite expensive. There must be someone who likes to trade who would be interested in my offer.
When I was a boy back in Philadelphia, we used to trade bubble-gum cards and marbles. Three little ones for one big one. Later, in college, I remember one night in the boy's dormitory we had a necktie swap. It was one of the most fun things we ever did, getting rid of all the neckties we never wore and getting some better ones. My roommate started out with nothing and ended up with six beauties! Most of us have been involved in trading something. But if someone were to take me up on my deal with the ball point pen, I guarantee that he would qualify for one of two things. Either he would be stupid or he would really like me a lot. One of the two.
Today I would like to talk to you about the greatest trade ever. 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin [referring to Jesus, of course]; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Let's paraphrase it just a little. For God hath made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we, who knew no righteousness, might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
What would you do if Jesus Himself would today, in person, walk up to you as though you were the only one in the world? How would you feel if He would look into your face with His friendly eyes and open His arms as He did so long ago, saying, "My friend, I've come to trade you all of My righteousness for all of your sins." Would you be interested? I have had people tell me that if He would do that, and if they could know that their eternal destiny was settled right there, it would be almost too good to be true. But it is true--the greatest trade ever made leads to certainty in the Christian life and the assurance of our eternal destiny.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21.
I have a ball point pen that I would like to trade with someone for a Cadillac Seville. Let me tell you about the ball point pen. It's not a bad one at all. Someone gave it to me. It's very nice. It's carved out of some sort of wood. It's quite expensive. There must be someone who likes to trade who would be interested in my offer.
When I was a boy back in Philadelphia, we used to trade bubble-gum cards and marbles. Three little ones for one big one. Later, in college, I remember one night in the boy's dormitory we had a necktie swap. It was one of the most fun things we ever did, getting rid of all the neckties we never wore and getting some better ones. My roommate started out with nothing and ended up with six beauties! Most of us have been involved in trading something. But if someone were to take me up on my deal with the ball point pen, I guarantee that he would qualify for one of two things. Either he would be stupid or he would really like me a lot. One of the two.
Today I would like to talk to you about the greatest trade ever. 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin [referring to Jesus, of course]; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Let's paraphrase it just a little. For God hath made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we, who knew no righteousness, might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
What would you do if Jesus Himself would today, in person, walk up to you as though you were the only one in the world? How would you feel if He would look into your face with His friendly eyes and open His arms as He did so long ago, saying, "My friend, I've come to trade you all of My righteousness for all of your sins." Would you be interested? I have had people tell me that if He would do that, and if they could know that their eternal destiny was settled right there, it would be almost too good to be true. But it is true--the greatest trade ever made leads to certainty in the Christian life and the assurance of our eternal destiny.
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