The Great Exchange

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” - Romans 1:22-23Last week, we ended by hearing the wonderful news that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus is justified by faith. But instead of continuing in that theme, Paul takes a moment to remind us of the types of thinking that we have been saved from; things which lead to God’s wrath. It is what happens when people suppress the truth – not because the truth was hidden – but because the truth points us to a God who is to be obeyed.God has revealed Himself in the beauty of creation, in the order of the universe, and in the intricacy of the human body. These invisible attributes testify to the reality of God, so everyone is without excuse. But sadly, many people cover their eyes.And Paul says that the result is an exchange, one that leads to trading truth for a lie. Sin, at its core, is a bad trade. We give up the infinite for the finite, and we trade glory for substitutes. Because we swap the Giver for the gift, Paul says that “God gave them over...”But in order for the good news to be truly good, we first have to see the bad news. And this bad news is going to give way to the good news of chapter 3 that another exchange is coming (and has come). At the cross, the ultimate exchange takes place, and our sin is traded for Christ’s righteousness.With that in mind, this week, may we approach our time together in humble thanksgiving.Grace & Peace,Pastor Aaron