33 EXCHANGES THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS

MY SIN NATURE FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

SCRIPTURE:

II Corinthians 5:21—"He (God) made Him (Jesus) Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him.” NKJV

TEACHING:

In the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, Adam disobeyed the directive from God: “…Do not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” When Adam sinned, he lost his unique position with God: he was banned from the Garden; he lost his fellowship with God; he lost his nature of righteousness; his nature became SIN NATURE.

Adam, by his position—father of the human race—passed his sin nature to every human being—to every generation. The one exception was Jesus, who was not born from man’s seed, but was born of a virgin by the Holy Spirit. This is the reason that Jesus was born of a virgin, so that He would never have a sin nature until He hung on the cross.

SIN FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS:

God made him (Jesus) to be sin, that we might be the righteousness of God in Christ. II Corinthians 5:21

We are no longer sinners—not even “sinners saved by grace”. We are new creatures—alive unto God—dead to sin—dead to the instrument of sin.

We are the righteousness of God. That is our new identity in Christ.

THE BENEFITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:

“The prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

“For by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 NKJV

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way…” Hebrews 10:19 NKJV

We can now approach the presence of God without fear or condemnation. Jesus made the way for us.

NO FEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD:

Because of the work of righteousness in the believer’s life, he does not feel condemnation when approaching God.. The believer can come “boldly to His throne”. Hebrews 4:16; 10:19

REIGNING IN LIFE:

Romans 5:17:-- “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life, through the One, Jesus Christ.”

RIGHTEOUSNESS, A GIFT:

Righteousness is the first “charismata” (gift of grace) listed in the Scriptures.

Charismata=gift of grace—Strong’s # 5485=grace; gift. ---(Greek language)--Strong’s # 5486=spiritual gifts; spiritual endowments)2

It is the gift of God. You cannot earn righteousness. Man’s attempts to be righteous is “as filthy rags in the sight of God.” Isaiah 64:6

COST OF BENEFIT:

Jesus went to the cross as a righteous man, not having any sin. While hanging on the cross, there came the moment when God changed the nature of Jesus to SIN NATURE. Jesus was identifying with us in every category of need that mankind could ever have. Sin nature is that specific instrument in man/woman that causes man/woman to commit sins. Sin singular causes us to commit sins plural.

When Jesus became SIN, God the Father turned His back on Jesus. Jesus had stated that His very life was His union with the Father. He also stated, “When I speak to Him, He answers Me.”

Suddenly, for the very first time in the Earthly life of Jesus, there was silence in Heaven. His cry was, “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” There was no response from Heaven. From this moment forward in the sacrificial plan, Jesus was totally alone. Sin had separated Him from the Father.

PRAYER:

Thank you Jesus for taking my sin nature, so that I could be a new creation, receiving the gift of righteousness. I acknowledge Your gift of righteousness to me, knowing that, through Your exchange, I am no longer a slave to sin. Thank You, Jesus, for paying the ultimate price for me by becoming sin. Help me, Holy Spirit, to be conscious of righteousness, instead of sin. In the mighty Name of Jesus—Amen.

RESPONSE:

1. knowing this…Romans 6:6

2. counting it done (personalize)…Romans 6:11

3. confession: “I am no longer a slave to sin. I am no longer a slave to lust. I am no longer a slave to fear. I am no longer a slave to jealousy. I am no longer a slave to hurts and rejection. I am no longer a slave to discouragement. I am no longer a slave to depression.”