The Great Exchange

Introduction

When you became a Christian a great exchange took place. Jesus Christ took your place, and died for you on the cross. All of your sins were placed upon Jesus Christ, and He died in your stead. In that great transaction Christ got all your sins and guilt, and you received His righteousness as your eternal position in Christ.

This great biblical truth is found in our text. Look at verse 20, see the word reconcile? The Greek word means to “change” or “exchange.” Paul uses a stronger Greek word which means “to thoroughly, completely, or totally changed or exchange.

What is it that has been exchanged between God and us? We have exchanged our sin for a Savior. We have exchanged our death for His life. We have exchanged sin’s darkness for God’s Light. We have exchanged hell for heaven!

God made us a deal we could not refuse, “Give me your life, and I’ll give you Mine.”

How does this exchange work? That is the subject of this sermon; so, let me preach on the Great Exchange this morning.

I. The Source of the Exchange (1:19-20)

Least we are deceived by thinking that we have anything to do with this exchange, the Bible makes it clear that God does everything through His Son, our Savior.

A. The Person of the Son (1:19)

Jesus is “God in focus.” ILL. of my glasses brings objects into focus. That is what Christ does in the exchange—(see 2:9-10, 13-15). I now see or understand my need for a Savior and take Him as my own.

B. The Power of the Savior (1:20)

Jesus reconciled us to God, because He bore our sin penalty on the cross for us.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." (, NKJV)

II. The Swap in the Exchange (1:21-22)

II. The Swap in the Exchange (1:21-22)

What have we given to God and what has He given to us?

A. My Gruesome Past (1:21a)

" And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins," (, NKJV)

My sin separated me from life with God. There was an impassable expanse I could not cross over to get to God.

B. His Gracious Provision (1:21b-22a)

Christ bridged the gap for me so now I can have a relationship with the Father.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (, NKJV)

C. My Glorious Present (1:22b)

1. No more Corruption—filthiness—no longer ruled by sin.

2. No more Culpability—fault—no condemnation

Romans 8:1 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Rom. 8:1

3. No more Charge—indictment—I am justified before God

3. No more Charge—indictment

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I had known about Jesus dying for me, but I had never understood that, if He had died for me, then I didn't belong to myself. Redemption means buying back, so that if I belong to Him, either I had to be a thief, and keep what wasn't mine, or else I had to give up everything to God. When I came to see that Jesus had died for me, it didn't seem hard to give up all for Him. 

If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.  C.T. Studd.

III. The Surety That Caused the Exchange (1:23)

III. The Surety That Caused the Exchange (1:23)

In the Greek sentence structure there is no doubt about the Colossians continuing in the faith. The word “if” is better translated “since or because.” There is surety in our salvation.

A. A Certain Hope (1:23a)

I posses a “know so salvation” not a “hope so salvation.”

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Eph. 1:13-14

B. A Certain Herald (1:23b)

B. A Certain Herald (1:23b)

Because God exchanged my sin for His salvation, I must proclaim the gospel message to others.

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Have you exchanged your sin for my Savior? To make the exchanged is a simple as your ABC”s. Use the tract