2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21

Worship Devo with Rebeckah Hastings

Dive Deeper

Armor of God- Swipe
Slide

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21

Armor of God- Behind the Scenes
Slide

Have you ever been assigned to do a group project either at school or work? Most of us know the dread of being assigned to have to work with other people and even worse when you are paired up with that one student or co-worker who just never seems to care, goofs off all the time, and is lazy. You know how frustrating it can be to work so hard to get your part of the project done only to find out that person hasn’t done his or her part. And now you have a choice, either finish their part of the project so that you all get a good grade or don’t and risk everyone on the team getting a bad grade.

Slide

In these kinds of situations, we can get so angry (and rightly so) because the other person isn’t doing their part and it just isn’t fair. It isn’t fair if you do all the work and he or she gets a good grade for it. And it isn’t fair if you don’t do their work but get penalized for their laziness. We all hate this kind of situation and there is rarely another group exercise that can cause more tension than this.

Slide

Now take that feeling and let’s look at the Gospel message in today’s verse. Jesus, who knew no sin, willingly chose to take on our sin and give us His righteousness. He did all the work. He filled in all the gaps. And we get all the blessings! Does the unfairness of that exchange hit you? I know it hits me!

Slide

Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, the Son of God and the second person of the Godhead- He chose to leave heaven, a place of perfection, and come to earth. He chose to trade in perfect peace for the struggle of humanity. He chose to be tempted and struggle. He chose pain and heartache. He chose to be betrayed and to be humiliated. He took on everything He never deserved. Why? So that we could take on something we could never deserve- Righteousness.

Armor of God- Make it Real
Slide

Sometimes I really struggle to feel righteous. I know my sin all too well and the enemy likes to continually remind me and bring it up over and over. I know how I have screwed up and it makes my stomach turn at times. I have felt the sting of shame and the heaviness of regret. I have walked down pathways I knew I shouldn’t go and made decisions I knew I shouldn’t make. I have done so many things wrong.

Slide

And yet, because of this eternally unfair exchange, when God the Father looks at me, all He sees is the righteousness of Christ. He doesn’t see my sin because Jesus has taken it all from me. He doesn’t see my shame because the blood of Christ has washed it all away. He doesn’t see my imperfections because the perfection of Christ covers me.

Slide

This week, as we talk about the breastplate of righteousness, I want us to really understand what this means. It’s not just some sort of flippant thing to put on the breastplate of righteousness. It is an immense honor, purchased by the eternally perfect and precious blood of our Savior. And because that righteousness belongs to Jesus and is reflective of Him and not me, there is nothing I can do to ruin it. I can’t lose it or break it. Because of what Jesus did, this righteousness is mine for all of eternity- never dependent on my works, but wholly and completely dependent on the perfect work of Jesus Christ.

Slide

So next time the enemy tries to throw your sins in your face, turn, face him dead on and let him see that shiny breastplate you wear. Let him see that emblem of Christ stamped on your life. Let the light of Christ shine brightly off its polished and perfectly unblemished surface- so bright it shines him in the eyes and makes him cower away. Stand victorious, my friend, in the righteousness of Christ. And walk with honor and dignity, knowing that you are set free from sin and death in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

Armor of God- End in Prayer
Slide

Jesus,

Oh sweet Jesus! I don’t have the words. My lips will forever praise you and I will never stop speaking of Your lovingkindness toward me. I praise You for the perfect righteousness that I can choose to walk in every day. I thank You that it is permanent and firm. Help me to claim it, to walk in it boldly, and to live my life according to it. I could never earn it. But You give it freely to all who believe! I praise You, Lord!

In the name of Jesus Christ,

AMEN!

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“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

2 Corinthians 5:21 

Behind the Scenes

Have you ever been assigned to do a group project either at school or work? Most of us know the dread of being assigned to have to work with other people and even worse when you are paired up with that one student or co-worker who just never seems to care, goofs off all the time, and is lazy. You know how frustrating it can be to work so hard to get your part of the project done only to find out that person hasn’t done his or her part. And now you have a choice, either finish their part of the project so that you all get a good grade or don’t and risk everyone on the team getting a bad grade. 

In these kinds of situations, we can get so angry (and rightly so) because the other person isn’t doing their part and it just isn’t fair. It isn’t fair if you do all the work and he or she gets a good grade for it. And it isn’t fair if you don’t do their work but get penalized for their laziness. We all hate this kind of situation and there is rarely another group exercise that can cause more tension than this.  

Now take that feeling and let’s look at the Gospel message in today’s verse. Jesus, who knew no sin, willingly chose to take on our sin and give us His righteousness. He did all the work. He filled in all the gaps. And we get all the blessings! Does the unfairness of that exchange hit you? I know it hits me!  

Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, the Son of God and the second person of the Godhead- He chose to leave heaven, a place of perfection, and come to earth. He chose to trade in perfect peace for the struggle of humanity. He chose to be tempted and struggle. He chose pain and heartache. He chose to be betrayed and to be humiliated. He took on everything He never deserved. Why? So that we could take on something we could never deserve- Righteousness. 

Make It Real

Sometimes I really struggle to feel righteous. I know my sin all too well and the enemy likes to continually remind me and bring it up over and over. I know how I have screwed up and it makes my stomach turn at times. I have felt the sting of shame and the heaviness of regret. I have walked down pathways I knew I shouldn’t go and made decisions I knew I shouldn’t make. I have done so many things wrong.  

And yet, because of this eternally unfair exchange, when God the Father looks at me, all He sees is the righteousness of Christ. He doesn’t see my sin because Jesus has taken it all from me. He doesn’t see my shame because the blood of Christ has washed it all away. He doesn’t see my imperfections because the perfection of Christ covers me.  

This week, as we talk about the breastplate of righteousness, I want us to really understand what this means. It’s not just some sort of flippant thing to put on the breastplate of righteousness. It is an immense honor, purchased by the eternally perfect and precious blood of our Savior. And because that righteousness belongs to Jesus and is reflective of Him and not me, there is nothing I can do to ruin it. I can’t lose it or break it. Because of what Jesus did, this righteousness is mine for all of eternity- never dependent on my works, but wholly and completely dependent on the perfect work of Jesus Christ.  

So next time the enemy tries to throw your sins in your face, turn, face him dead on and let him see that shiny breastplate you wear. Let him see that emblem of Christ stamped on your life. Let the light of Christ shine brightly off its polished and perfectly unblemished surface- so bright it shines him in the eyes and makes him cower away. Stand victorious, my friend, in the righteousness of Christ. And walk with honor and dignity, knowing that you are set free from sin and death in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

Crystal Garnett

Crystal Garnett

ACF Digital Discipleship Pastor

End in Prayer

Jesus, 

Oh sweet Jesus! I don’t have the words. My lips will forever praise you and I will never stop speaking of Your lovingkindness toward me. I praise You for the perfect righteousness that I can choose to walk in every day. I thank You that it is permanent and firm. Help me to claim it, to walk in it boldly, and to live my life according to it. I could never earn it. But You give it freely to all who believe! I praise You, Lord! 

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

AMEN! 

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