Saturday January 21, 2017
“Saint to sinner, sinner to saint”
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him – 2
Corinthians 5:21
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that
He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made
alive by the Spirit,
- 1 Peter 3:18
God’s Broken Image
Salvation
4) He was made sin for us
5) He died to bring us to God
Today (20th of January, USA time) is the inauguration of the
45th president of the United States or the day after if Aus, NZ, or Tonga
time. In any case, this new president has been very polarizing to his
opposition but a welcome breath of fresh air to his supporters. He is
definitely flawed and his enemies love every opportunity to remind the public
and take shots at every turn.
As we continue to examine how our salvation was provided to us, we come
across this point; He made Him who knew
no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. How
can the second person of the trinity be “made” sin, if He is God? (who doesn’t change).
This all goes back to the incarnation (the coming in the flesh of Jesus). At
the incarnation, Jesus “Took on” (added) an human nature. This is why he is
called the “God-Man.” Truly God and truly man.
In the States, we have been hearing about the “smooth transition
of power”; the handing over of the government from the outgoing
administration to the new. On the cross of Calvary, the “Great Exchange” took place.
God the Father placed all the sin of the world on the Son and He bore it all.
He died. He took the penalty. He became (added to him) sin so that we might
have His righteousness! The “Transfer” has been done! This opened the door of
heaven because Jesus’ death brought us to God.
Challenge: the next
time you see a homeless person or a beggar, ask yourself if you would trade
places with him? Praise God that Jesus did just that.. he trade places with us.
What an unfair trade! But it happened. And we are the beneficiary of this great
exchange.
This Day in Christian History:
Jan 21, 1077 – Germany’s emperor, Henry IV stood bare head and bare feet
in the snow outside of the pope’s palace housing to ask Pope Gregory VII for
forgiveness for rebelling against his authority. After three days, the Pope
finally allowed the emperor into his home and forgave him. (Thank God we don’t have to stand in the snow for forgiveness, for Christ
paid the penalty so that our sins may be washed as white as snow)
Memory Verse: (Sun Jan 15)
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of
His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren – Romans 8:29
He ko kinautolu na‘a ne toka mea‘i, na‘a ne toka tu‘utu‘uni foki ke nau
hokosi ‘a e ‘īmisi ‘o hono ‘Alo; koe‘uhi ke ne ta‘okete ki he tehina tokolahi – Loma 8:29
Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)
Week 3 – Gen 28-40; Psalm
11, 145, 12; Mark 11-15
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