Glorious Exchange | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Glorious Exchange | Previous Challenge Entry
By Cliff Mansfield
03/04/26
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I sit on the porch with a cup of coffee in my hand. The rich aroma of coffee makes me happy to be alive. My bible, journal, and favorite pen balance on my lap as I enjoy the stillness of the morning and wait in anticipation to hear from God. The Bible lies open to the words of Jesus. He shares a parable focused on those confident in their own righteousness. I hear the voice of a Pharisee standing in the middle of the temple with one eye open to make sure he is being watched, recounting all that he has done for the Lord. But standing apart is a tax collector, a traitor, and a thief. He had no right to enter the temple, yet he came with nothing but his sin; unable to lift his eyes toward heaven, he confessed with agony his unworthiness.

Jesus clarified that the only one who went home forgiven between the two of them was the tax collector. I scratched a few words on the blank page of my journal. “What is the lesson to be learned? And how does forgiveness work as Jesus describes it in Luke 18?” I thumbed through scripture, looking for verses that would help in my understanding. In Romans 5:1, I found Paul’s words, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

But how does that work? How is that possible that by simple faith God can forgive me? Digging deeper, I found a verse in 2Corinthians chapter 5 that made sense. Paul said in verse 21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

In another journal entry I wrote, “How did God do that? Why did God have to make Jesus be sin so that we could be righteous?” I continued to search scripture, I found this: Romans chapter 5 verse 12 Paul tells us: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so, death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” That makes sense when you think about it. You do not have to teach a child to be mean, or dishonest, or rebellious. It’s the reverse; we have to teach them to resist the built-in drive towards evil. Because of our sin nature, it is impossible to reach God. God is pure holiness and cannot look on sin.

Since the penalty of sin is death, we stand at the crumbling edge of the impassable chasm that separates us from holy God and cry, “What is the answer?” That is when Jesus raised his hand and said, “Take me, I’ll pay for their trespasses.” The cross made a path for our sins to be transferred to Jesus and tore the curtain of the temple that separated us from the Holy of Holies from top to bottom. His righteousness, transferred to us, and our sin transferred to Him, creating a glorious exchange. No longer are we held accountable for our transgressions, no longer is the stain of sin on us; washed in the lamb’s blood and made white as snow, with the law of sin and death satisfied, we are justified. I can say, praise God, it is just as if I’d never sinned. When God looks at us, he sees Jesus.

When you are feeling good about yourself and the effort you put in for the kingdom, remember Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” On the cross, when Jesus said, “It is finished.” He meant it. The work on earth we do, do with humble gratitude, not pompous pride. So, like the tax collector, we can return home justified.

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