Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

December 19, 1999

THE GREAT EXCHANGE

II Corinthians 8:9

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

Two Observations

1. His riches for our poverty.

2. Our poverty for his riches.

Exchange #1 - His riches for our poverty.

Christ was rich beyond imagination - not with our kind of wealth only, but with spiritual riches from the realm of Glory. When He became man He laid all of that aside to become a humble carpenter. It was grace that enabled Him to do that. “For you know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He did that for our sakes. “Birds have nests. Foxes have holes. But the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

From the splendor of Heaven Christ came to the squalor of earth. The incarnation was an incomprehensible renunciation of spiritual and material glory. He who had everything became poor, making Himself nothing (Philippians 2:7). He assumed our debt of sin and paid for it with His life (Philippians 2:8).

Exchange #2 - Our poverty for His riches.

If He had not stooped to our level, we could in no way rise to partake of His wealth. He became what we are (sin) that we might become what He is (rich) II Corinthians 5:21. This is very personal, is it not?

Love you all.