The Yennyawoso District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Charles Oduro, has described the death of Jesus Christ as a divine exchange because Jesus Christ exchanged His sinless life with the sinful nature of humankind by dying on the cross.
Pastor Oduro said this in a sermon he delivered on Thursday morning [April 6, 2023] at the ongoing New Tafo Zone Easter Convention at the New Tafo Division School Park.
Speaking to the event’s theme: “Jesus Christ, The Atoning Sacrifice For Our Sins,” based on 1 John 2:2, the Yennyawoso District Minister enlightened that the word ‘atonement’ which is synonymous with “reconciliation” is the restoration of a broken relationship.
The clergyman quoted Romans 5:12 and expounded that the entire human race became an object of sin, following the disobedience of Adam. He, however, noted that God, through Jesus Christ, brought the salvation plan to redeem humanity (Isaiah 53).
“Mankind was again reconciled back to God through the death of Jesus on the cross,” he stated.
Explaining why the death of Jesus is a divine exchange, Pastor Oduro intimated that Jesus Christ, who knew no sin was made sin for mankind so that in Him, believers might become the righteousness of God.
“Whoever believes in Christ Jesus is no longer a sinner. So, God does not see us as sinners, but righteous people,” he highlighted.
He further mentioned that Jesus was punished for the sins of the world so that believers might receive forgiveness (Isaiah 53:10). “Jesus became a curse so that we might receive God’s blessings. He exchange His glory with our shame; endured our rejection that we might have God’s acceptance; He died so that we might receive life (Romans 5:6-8),” Pastor Oduro added.
Another good news worth reflecting on, that the man of God further said was that: “Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance (2 Corinthians 8:9).”
According to the Yennyawoso District Minister, Jesus Christ is a full package, targeted to meet all the needs of mankind, saying, “All things were made through Christ Jesus, therefore, having Him implies that you have everything.”
Pastor Charles Oduro, however, stressed that these virtues and goodies can never be earned, but only be received by faith in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 11:6).
He, therefore, urged the congregants to have an absolute faith in Christ Jesus and believe that His death has liberated them from all kinds of curses and the shackles of the evil one.
“The entire message of the Gospel revolves around one unique historical event, that is, the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross,” he pointed out, adding, “For one sovereign act God solved the problem of humanity (Hebrews 10:14).”
Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah