The Great Swap

We struggle with guilt as long as we think we must earn God’s love by being good enough. The Gospel of Grace proclaims that we’ll never be good enough to gain leverage with God. It’s a hopeless proposition. Our only hope is that Jesus loves us, forgives us, and accepts us based on His righteousness instead of ours.

Paul described an incredible swap in a letter to the Corinthians:

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Do you see it? He takes our sin and clothes us in Christ’s righteousness. This beautiful, life-changing news is the subject of the great hymns and songs of faith. The source of open-mouthed amazement is that God would go to such lengths to forgive and accept people like you and me. Our qualification isn’t because we’ve met God’s standard, but because Jesus has. We aren’t secure because of our good works but because of His righteousness.

When we grasp the incredible swap of our sins for Christ’s righteousness, we can relax and become highly motivated to please the One who rescued us. We want to honor Him in every possible way! We want God to use us.

I’ve also struggled with the worry that I'm not smart enough to be beneficial to God. In my years in school, I sat in Bible classes and chapels, hearing some of the greatest preachers in the nation. Often, I was in awe of them and thought, “Man, I’d give anything to be that sharp!”

And just as often, I heard another voice whispering, “You could never be like that. He’s way out of your league.”

I was filled with self-doubt and anxiety. I was sure I’d never be the man God wanted me to be. I asked some of those preachers to pray for me. I hoped a super-saint’s prayers would do the trick. I’m sure it helped, but the super-saint status wasn’t instantly accessed. I wasted much time (mine and theirs) in this futile pursuit. Then I realized we’re all just ordinary people in a relationship of grace with an extraordinary God!

The most significant thing about us isn’t that we’re beautiful or plain, bright or dull, tall or short, rich or poor, articulate or mumbling. The most important fact is that we’ve been born into God's family, and He has a magnificent plan for each of us.

His purposes are far above anything we can imagine, and He has chosen us to be His partners in the most incredible adventure the world has ever known. When we compare ourselves with others, we can always find somebody who has more talents or experiences than we do. God isn’t looking for the finest talents. He’s looking for available, faithful, and responsive people.

Paul said this:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

God has a fantastic plan and purpose for each of our lives. He wants to use us, in all our ordinary humanness, to further His kingdom. Will you accept the incredible gift of salvation He offers and allow Him to transform you? Will you stop striving and start resting in His grace? Will you stop comparing yourself to others and embrace the unique way God made you? If so, tell Him today that you trust Him and want to walk in the destiny He has prepared for you. By faith, accept the righteousness of Christ in place of your sinfulness. Get ready to join Him in the adventure of a lifetime!

Thank you for reading. Please consider sharing this with your friends and family if you find it helpful. Thank you!