DEVOTION//The Sweet Exchange

15 Days of Prayer

316NOW’s 15 Days of Prayer effort begins on January 25 and runs through February 8. Tap here for prayer suggestions for each of those 15 days.

These paragraphs are from the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus. This letter was written about the second century AD. It is probably the earliest surviving example of Christian apologetics (writings defending Christianity from its accusers).

Little is known about the Greek writer or recipient. Nonetheless, the letter provides us with a clear example that the "by grace alone" faith in Jesus that we cling to for eternal life was Christianity's foundation a century after Jesus' ministry was completed.  

When… our unrighteousness was fulfilled, and it was completely obvious that its wages—punishment and death—was to be expected, then… the time came during which God had decided at last to make clear his own benevolence and power (oh, the exceeding favor for humanity and love of God!). He did not hate us nor reject us nor hold a grudge. But he was longsuffering and patient. Being merciful, he took up our sins himself. He himself gave his own Son as the redemption price for us -- the Holy for the unholy, the Incorruptible for the corruptible, the Immortal for the mortal.

For what besides his righteousness could cover our sins? In whom is it possible for us lawless and ungodly men to be justified except in the only Son of God?

Oh, the sweet exchange!

Oh, the incomprehensible handiwork [of God]!

Oh, the un-looked-for kindnesses: that, on the one hand, the unlawlessness of the many be hidden in the Righteous One, while, on the other hand, the righteousness of the One justify the many lawless. 

Thus having proven in the former time the inability of our nature to attain life, now having shown that the Savior has the power to save even powerless things, for both these reasons he willed that we believe in his benevolence and think of him as our nurse, father, teacher, counselor, physician, mind, light, honor, glory, strength, life, and that we not worry about clothing and food….

For God loved men for whose sake he made the world, to whom he subjected all things that are in the earth, to whom he gave reason and mind, whom alone he permitted to look up to heaven, whom he created after his own image, to whom he sent his only begotten Son, to whom he promised the kingdom which is in heaven, and will give it to those that have loved him.