The Great Grace Exchange

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 (NIV)
 
Happy Resurrection Morning! We celebrate the day when the stone was rolled away because of what has been accurately described as “The Great Grace Exchange”. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead validated that what Jesus had done on the cross was enough. The price was paid, the debt of sin canceled, and pardon was purchased.
 
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  –2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
 
You see, the God of the universe is a God of mercy and of justice. Because we need both. Love neither turns its back on broken people, nor pats them on the head and tells them to keep being broken. Love sees the brokenness, steps into it, redeems and restores relationship, and invites restored people into a better life.
 
 For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us!  –2 Corinthians 5:21 (TLB)
 
Offences occurred. Rebellion happened. In a fallen, sinful world, we became part of the problem. Selfish and fearful hearts dreamed up and performed acts of spiritual, emotional, and physical damage to the world and the people in it. Some of those acts were big, some small, some unfathomably cruel, some global in their impact. We had created a mess from which there was no escape.
 
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.  –2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)
 
Enter a Savior. The God-man took upon Himself the penalty that was rightfully ours. He wore our sin and paid the price we could not bear, leaving in its place the cloak of His rightness. I cannot say I understand it, how God the Father could look upon me and see, not my sin, but the face of His Only Begotten. But I believe it because He has told me it is true. And I marvel. And I worship.
 
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  –2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)