Week 18: April 28 - May 4, 2003

Key Passage: 2 Cor 5: 17, 20-21

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The fall of man at the Garden of Eden was a great tragedy. Man was lost in sin and became subject to dying. He stood condemned and rejected by his Maker. He was stripped of his crown of glory and honor, and Satan, his conqueror, became his master and the god of his world (2 Cor 4:4). Man’s condition was deplorable. He seemed irredeemable until when God’s plan for man’s redemption was fully revealed.

When the right time came, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem man from Satan and sin, and reconcile him to God. Jesus paid the full price for man’s sin by dying on the cross of Calvary. The Scripture says, "He (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…" (v21). He took our place of sin and gave us his place of righteousness.

We were all condemnable because of sin (Rom 3:23). But we have now been reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:18). Our old life is gone, and we have now become new creatures in Christ (v17). We now have a new life, a new nature and a new destiny. Our hearts are now set on the realities of heaven and not of earth (Col 3:1-2). Though we are still in the world, we are no more of the world. We are no more controlled by the satanic powers that dominate this present world (Eph 2:2). We have taken Christ’s place of victory when he took our place.

Christ’s sacrificial work on Calvary was substitutional, and it was complete. He died that we might live. He took our place of sin that we might become his righteousness. He took our place of defeat that we might have his victory. He took our shame that we might share in his glory. He became a curse that we might have the blessings (Gal 3:13-14). He became poor that we might through his poverty become rich (2 Cor 8:9). He was bruised that we might be healed (1Pet 2:24). All these victories are tied to that work on Calvary.

Is Christ dead today? No. He died, but rose again. He is alive in glory; and he is alive in our hearts. We can now experience all that Jesus is for us through faith (1Jn 4:17; Gal 2:20).

Pray, Thank you Lord for the price you paid for my redemption. I arise today in faith to walk in the victory you purchased for me in Jesus name.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi