In furtherance of our study on grace, we will be looking at how grace gave us the divine exchange.Remember that last week, we learnt that grace is favour we did not earn, merit or deserve. It is based on the finished works of Jesus — not self-effort — and faith in his finished works gives us access to this grace.
Philippians 4:19 says: And it is he who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.
The last phrase in this construction says that our needs are supplied because of what Jesus has done for us — not because of self-effort.
Now, what did Jesus do for us?
You see, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was a divine exchange. He became who we were, that we might become who he is.
2Corinthians 8:9 says: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
In the above text, the word “rich” occurs twice. In the first instance, the word “rich” is derived from the Greek word “plousios”, which also means “opulent” or “wealthy.”
However, in the last instance, the word “rich” is derived from “Plouteo,” meaning to be or become wealthy, be increased with goods, be made, wax rich.
You see, grace — favour we did not earn, deserve or merit — gave us this divine exchange, made us rich. So as believers, we have no business being poor. In the word of TL Osborn, “it is a sin to be poor.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 says: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
The opening phrase in this construction says: “…Let your conversation be without covetousness.”
The word rendered conversation is from the Greek word “tropos”; it signifies our conduct, manner of life, character or moral disposition. And the word translated covetousness originates from the Greek word “aphilargyros,” which also means “love of money or Avarice”.
It denotes extreme greed for wealth or material gain, insatiable greed for riches; inordinate, miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth.
Remember, Jesus said “aphilargyros or the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 3:16).
However, Paul admonishes us to be satisfied with what we have, because Jesus has made the divine exchange, made us rich, meaning whenever a need arises, he meets it: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
The word translated never in this construction is “ou me”, a combination of two words (/ou, “not a fact” and /mḗ, “not a possibility”) — a double negative, which emphatically conveys, “not a fact … not even a possibility!” — literally, “no, no!” “Never, ever!”
You see, in English, a double negative has a positive meaning. In Greek, a double negative is extra-emphatic, expressing very dramatic, forceful negation.
Thus, ou and me, a double negative strengthening the denial, not at all — any more, at all, by any (no) means, neither, never, no (at all), in no case (wise), nor ever, not (at all, in any wise).
This means God will never ever or in no case (wise) forsake a believer, because he forsook Jesus on the cross.
You see, under the law in the Old Testament, God would be with people only when they were in complete obedience, But when they fail, He would leave them.
Today, however, we are under a completely different covenant (covenant of grace), and God will never leave us, because of what Jesus did on the cross.
He became our burnt offering. He bore our sins and carried our punishment. God’s judgment against our sins fell upon Jesus, who was forsaken at the cross by His father, so that we can have God’s constant, unceasing presence in our lives.
Jesus was made sin, poverty and sickness, and gave up the presence of God. We took Jesus righteousness, wealth, health and received the presence of God that Jesus had. This is the divine exchange. When we are doing right, He is with us, Even when we have failed He is with us.
Amplified rendering sums it up, saying:Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not! Hallelujah!!!
By Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe(Ps)
