The Complete Exchange

One of the newer water filters on the market has developed a technology to transform regular tap water into water that is 99.6% pure. This is accomplished by exchanging dissolved particles in the water for ions of hydrogen and oxygen. The filter traps dissolved particles of other substances and releases either hydrogen or oxygen in their place. When all of the impurities have been exchanged what remains is pure H2O.

Other water filters commonly found in one’s kitchen are based on an activated carbon filtration system. This common process only filters out a portion of the impurities in our water. It often leaves over 50% of the dissolved solids behind. This new filtration product begins with that same carbon filtering process. The difference is that it does not stop there. After water cycles through the carbon filter it proceeds on to another filter and the process of ion exchange. This filter traps the impurities and the releases the pure elements of water; hydrogen or oxygen. The result is a healthier, better tasting drinking water.

Religion and salvation can be compared to the process of filtering water. Religion is very much like a carbon activated filter. A person who is committed to a religious belief will often have improved behaviors and overall higher moral standards. Overall the characteristics of this change are good. Unfortunately they are incomplete. Religion itself cannot reconcile us to Almighty God. Although we may look and behave better, there is still the impurity of sin within. The apostle Paul clearly stated, “Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.” (Romans 3:23 AMP) We need something far beyond religion to transform our lives. We need a Savior to exchange His righteousness for our sin.

Like the ion exchange in this water filter, Jesus took our sin and exchanged it with His righteousness. “For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].” (2 Corinthians 5:21 AMP) We who were once totally separated from God because of our sin, have been made righteous through the death and resurrection of Jesus. “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6 AMP) Peter, remembering the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus wrote, “He was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips. When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly. He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:22-24 AMP) We have been made righteous through the sacrificial death of Jesus.

Now all who have received the gift of salvation through a relationship with Jesus Christ have the benefits of his righteousness. We share His life, “For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath [He did not select us to condemn us], but [that we might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who died for us so that whether we are still alive or are dead [At Christ's appearing], we might live together with Him and share His life.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 AMP) We are made holy. “Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence.” (Colossians 1:22 AMP) We have new life. “I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 AMP) We are now pure and blameless in God’s sight.

Religion can help us to clean up our behaviors a little bit, but it cannot transform the sin sick soul. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ can give life. “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP) Like the impurities that have been trapped in the water filter, our sin has been taken away from the result is new life. We become a new, pure creation.

Do not attempt to base your life on your religion of any kind. Receive the complete exchange of your sin for the righteousness of Jesus Christ that was paid for on the cross.