GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE HOW GOD GAVE YOU A SAVIOR

Intro:

Our greatest need is to be in a right relationship with God. Are you?

1) If you were to die tonight, are you sure you would have eternal life?

2) If you were to die tonight and stand before God, and He were to ask you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” what would you tell Him?

WHAT GOD DEMANDS 1. There are 2 things that must happen for

a person to be in a right relationship with God:

a. You must have holiness.

1) Leviticus 19:2 – “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

2) Galatians 3:10 – “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

WHAT GOD DEMANDS 1. There are 2 things that must happen for

a person to be in a right relationship with God:

b. You must have no sins.

1) Isaiah 59:2 – “Your iniquities have separated you from your God.”

2) Romans 6:23a – “The wages of sin is death.”

WHAT GOD DEMANDS

+ holiness

- sins

= life

WHAT GOD SEES 2. God demands that He see no sin, that He see

only holiness. But what does He see?

a. Looking at us, He sees people who lack holiness. Isaiah 64:6 – “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags.”

b. He sees sinners. Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

c. He sees people who are deserving of death, not life.

WHAT GOD SEES

- holiness

+ sins

= death

MAN-MADE REMEDIES

3. What can we do about this? a. You might think, “Guess I’ll have to try

harder,” but that won’t remove sin or make you perfectly holy, will it?

MAN-MADE REMEDIES

3. What can we do about this? b. Or you might determine to make up for every sin with a good deed. But that doesn’t remove sin.

MAN-MADE REMEDIES

3. What can we do about this? c. Or you might think, “I’m not perfect; but at least I’m better than many others”. But God expects you to compare yourself to Him and His perfect holiness, not to other people.

MAN-MADE REMEDIES 3. What can we do about this?

d. All such self-help efforts are doomed to fail.

Try Harder Balancing Act Comparison

GOD’S REMEDY 4. ONLY God has the remedy. His remedy might be called GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE.

a. He sent His only Son into the world to become one of us.

b. His Son lived a perfectly holy life – in our place.

c. His Son died on a cross, paying the wages of sin in our place; for “the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

GOD’S REMEDY 4. ONLY God has the remedy. His remedy might be called GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE. d. God has credited the perfect life of Jesus and His

death for sin to our account: 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Him who had no sin to be, sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

e. His son rose from the grave, guaranteeing our redemption: Romans 4:25 – “He was raised to life for our justification.”

f. The result: we have the holiness (Jesus’ holiness) and the removal of sin we need for life. What God requires of us – holiness and sinlessness – God gives to us.

GOD’S REMEDY

+ holiness

- sin

= LIFE

+ holiness

- sin

= LIFE

my sins

Jesus’ holiness

GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE

GOD’S PROMISE 5. This new life is yours as a gift. a. Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death, but the

gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

b. God promises you: Acts 16:31 – “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (put your trust and confidence in Him as one who lived a holy life and died for you in your place) and you will be saved.”

c. God produces faith and new life through the Gospel: Romans 1:16 – “The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

Forgiveness New Life

Salvation

Forgiveness New Life

Salvation

God’s Word (Bible)

“The Means of Grace”

(Baptism) Sacraments (Lord’s Supper)

Good News

God gives us his blessings through the good news of Jesus in the Word and the Sacraments

We call these the “Means of Grace”

GOD’S PROMISE

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

a.  new life right now

John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”

new life right now

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

b.  eternal life in heaven

John 3:16 – “God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

new life right now

eternal life

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

c. freedom from guilt

Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

d. fruits of faith

Galatians 5:22-23 – “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

e. power for daily living Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no

longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

f. answers to prayer

Psalm 50:15 – “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

answers to prayer

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

g. guidance for your daily life

Psalm 119:105 – “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

answers to prayer

guidance for live

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

h. strengthening fellowship of other believers

Ephesians 2:19 – “You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

answers to prayer

guidance for live

Christian fellowship

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW 6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God

through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

i. assurance of God’s love in every situation

Romans 8:28 – “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

answers to prayer

guidance for live

Christian fellowship

assurance of God’s love

Key Points •  1. What God demands •  2. What God sees •  3. Man-made remedies •  4. God’s remedy •  5. God’s promise •  6. Blessings that follow