Anatomy of the Gospel - Back to the Basics Sample

The Great Exchange

We now know that the gospel is that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected as and for us so we can be seated in heavenly places with him. Now, we will delve into the essence of the gospel and expand on the new identity it bestows on the believer. First is the Great Exchange.

"[21] For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God through our union with him." 2 Cor. 5:21TLB

The gospel is God redeeming man back to himself. For this, the perfect sacrifice had to be made. The sacrifice that could take away not just the actions of sin but the nature of sin (the state of being that causes sinful actions), once and for all. "[14] And by his one perfect sacrifice he made us perfectly holy and complete for all time!" Hebrews 10:14 TPT‬‬

God did this through Jesus Christ, who is God in the human form (Hebrews 1:3), who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:12), is one with the Father, and is as righteous as the Father (John 10:30). In other words, the righteous Father (God) became the first righteous man (Jesus Christ) so that man might become one with God in righteousness through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, God took away the nature of sin and gave the new man his righteous nature. This is the great irreversible exchange.

What does this mean for the believer?

1. By believing and confessing your belief, you became a new man (nature not gender). "[10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:10 NIV
2. The new man is the man that has Jesus dwelling inside of him. The new man is saved, righteous, and no longer has the nature of sin.
3. You don't have to feel righteous to be righteous. You are not righteous because of your actions, you are righteous because of the one that dwells inside of you.
4. The gift of salvation is a call to a God/Jesus/Spirit-led life. Righteousness is not achievable, it is only receivable.
5. While salvation is spontaneous, the manifestation of the fruits of the spirit is a process that depends on how well you let yourself be led by the Spirit.
6. Yes, you will make mistakes but these mistakes do not define you. Jesus inside of you defines you.
7. Your mistakes do not change the state of your righteousness because the great exchange covers all sins; past, present, and future (Colossians 1:14).
8. Jesus (the nature of righteousness) in you will bring about an inner transformation that will cause you to act righteous. "[13] for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:13 NIV‬‬