May 5 | Romans 5:1-11
- Pastor Dave Mann
- May 5, 2025
- 2 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
The Happy Exchange
By Dave Mann
A line in our graveside funeral service is my favorite – “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Why do we have sure and certain hope that we will be made acceptable to God and granted eternal life with him in heaven? Is it because we are relatively good enough to make the cut? If that is the case, how good is good enough? How can we be confident? It is important to be sure about the distinction between being part of those with eternal life and not among the eternally condemned.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 5 makes it very clear that the basis for confidence does NOT weigh in the balance of comparing our good deeds with our bad deeds. He states that while we were still powerless, still sinners, and God’s enemies (verses 6, 8, & 10), Christ died for us and therefore we are reconciled to God.
There is no minimum standard that we must meet through our own strength, our own goodness, our own righteousness. If using a scale were the means of measurement, we would be in deep trouble. Jesus himself stated that we must be perfect in the same way that our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). There it is – we are indeed expected to be perfect. But how can we possibly get there? We are powerless. We are sinners. We are God’s enemies. The way is for God in Christ to intervene and to offer all who believe that through the death of Jesus, there is a divine transaction. In faith, Jesus takes our sin upon himself and offers us his righteousness.
Martin Luther calls this the “happy exchange.” You no doubt know that in Luther’s early life, he tried to gain confidence through his own works. But confidence gained through that system is elusive. When Luther came to understand God’s gracious plan of salvation, he was set free from trying to be confident that his own best efforts could ever be good enough. Christ’s best is freely given to those who believe and are baptized. (For more information about Luther’s breakthrough, click here.)
When we trust in the finished work of the Cross, we are wrapped in Christ’s robe of righteousness. God the Father looks at us, and he sees Jesus. What he sees is his perfect Son, Jesus Christ, in all his righteousness.
PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, for your perfect plan of salvation – that while we were still powerless, still sinners, and still God’s enemies, you chose to die on the cross for us. Thank you for that happy exchange. You are my confidence for eternal life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Find additional "Dying to Live" study materials designed for small groups or individual use here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DAVE MANN
I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.
Amen! Thanks too for the great additional read.
The "Happy Exchange," How simple, yet difficult to accept. Thanks, Dave for reminding us of this truth. As I read the last line. I let out a sigh of relief.