Saturday, September 19th, 2026
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc DSc DD
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 (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the revelation of divine substitution. The Lord Jesus took your place so that you might take His place. This is the beauty, simplicity, and power of Christianity. God didn’t ask man to save himself or work his way into righteousness. Instead, He made the Lord Jesus the substitute for humanity.
Our opening scripture says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin….” Then the concluding portion tells us the reason God did it: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ! Jesus never sinned, never came under Satan’s dominion. Yet, God made Him to be sin for us so that we might be made righteous. This is the great exchange.
Notice the language carefully. It doesn’t say we should try to become righteous but that we’ve been made the righteousness of God in Christ. The moment you received Christ, this became your reality. Righteousness was imparted to your spirit as a gift of grace.
A similar truth is seen in 2 Corinthians 8:9 about your prosperity. It 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.” Again, notice the substitution. He took your place of poverty so that you could walk in prosperity, in the blessings and provisions of the Kingdom.
This principle was foreshadowed in the Old Testament when the children of Israel were bitten by fiery serpents because of their rebellion against God. The Lord instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. Then He declared that everyone who looked upon it would live (Numbers 21:8-9).
Notice how simple God made it. He didn’t say they had to struggle, crawl, or perform works to earn healing. He simply said, “Look and live.” Some may have thought it was too easy, yet that was God’s provision for their salvation from death.
In the same way today, salvation, righteousness, healing, and eternal life are received by looking to the Lord Jesus in faith. The work has already been done. The sacrifice has already been made. Your part is to believe and receive. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Never think Christianity is about trying to earn God’s acceptance through human effort. The Lord Jesus already took your place. Now, through Him, you’ve received righteousness, life, blessings and victory evermore, freely. Glory to God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and for the glorious exchange that took place through His death, burial, and resurrection. I rejoice knowing that I’ve been made the righteousness of God in Christ and have received your life, blessings and victory freely by grace, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
1 Peter 2:24 KJV
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5 KJV
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
John 3:14-15 KJV
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Galatians 3:26-4:1-20 & Isaiah 1-2
2-Year Bible Reading Plan
1 Timothy 4:9-16 & Jeremiah 37
