It kind of struck me this evening that this is kind of what God has done for us. He took His only begotten son Jesus Christ, and traded places between he and us. Jesus Christ lived the perfect life. We on the other hand have not. Even our best is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). God allowed Jesus, in our stead, to become as we are, taking upon himself all our sinfulness when He was nailed to the cross.
Now, in the movie, it was not enough that the Eddie Murphy character Valentine was just given the position. The offer was made and he could have declined the offer. He could have checked it out and walked away. He didn't though. While at first he seemed apprehensive, he soon took to the new role and started acting in a manner which fit the position to which he had been given, through no effort of his own. By mid movie we see Valentine now a hard working, honest individual whose tastes and interests had changed. He accepted the position which had been given him whole heartedly.
In the same way, we too must accept the position that we have been given. It was not enough just for Jesus to take our place on the cross and take upon himself our sins. We had to accept that and take on the role Jesus had. Jesus' position of righteousness, power, and authority is given to us if we accept the trade. We then grow into the role of Jesus and our character and interests become fitting to the role we accepted. We become more Christlike. After a while, we are no longer recognizable as the person we used to be, but instead are seen as the person whose role we took on, Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21 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.
Mathew Poole Commentary:
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: Christ knew no sin, as he was guilty of no sin; Which of you (saith he, John 8:46) convinceth me of sin? 1 Peter 2:22, He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: but God made him to be sin for us. He was numbered with the transgressors, Isaiah 53:12. Our sins were reckoned to him; so as though personally he was no sinner, yet by imputation he was, and God dealt with him as such; for he was made a sacrifice for our sins, a sin offering; so answering the type in the law, Leviticus 4:3,25,29 5:6 7:2.
That we might be made the righteousness of God in him; that so his righteousness might be imputed to us, and we might be made righteous with such a righteousness as those souls must have whom God will accept. As Christ was not made sin by any sin inherent in him, so neither are we made righteous by any righteousness inherent in us, but by the righteousness of Christ imputed to us; as he was a sinner by the sins of his people reckoned and imputed unto him.
Accept the offer to trade places, letting Christ take your place and you taking His.
Romans 10:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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