Freedom Calls

Reflections on 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Philippians 3:1-11

A Deal Too Good to Be True?

What if someone offered you a trade where you give up trash—literal garbage—and walk away with a treasure beyond your wildest dreams? You’d take it, right? That’s the deal God offers us in the gospel, and two Bible passages unpack it like a one-two punch: 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Philippians 3:1-11. In the first, we see the mechanics of the swap—Jesus takes our sin, we get His righteousness. In the second, Paul shows us what it looks like to live it out. Let’s dive into this mind-blowing truth and see why it’s worth celebrating every single day.

The Swap of the Ages: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Start with this: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21, KJV). Jesus, the sinless Son of God, didn’t just take a slap on the wrist for us—He became sin itself. Not a sinner by nature, but our substitute, carrying the full weight of our guilt on the cross. Every dark thought, every broken promise, every rebellion—He took it all. Why? So we could get something we could never earn: the righteousness of God.

This isn’t a partial fix. It’s a total transformation. God doesn’t just wipe our slate clean—He hands us Christ’s perfect record. When He looks at us, He sees His Son’s holiness. That’s the swap: our filth for His flawlessness. It’s not fair—it’s grace.

Paul’s Take: From Résumé to Rubbish

Now, flip over to Philippians 3, where Paul gets real about what this swap meant for him. This guy had a résumé most religious folks would kill for: “circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:5-6, NKJV). If anyone could brag about earning God’s favor, it was Paul.

But then he met Jesus, and everything changed. He says, “What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ… and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:7-9). That word “rubbish”? It’s polite. The Greek term skubala is closer to dung or garbage. Paul looked at his old life—his achievements, his rule-keeping—and said, “It’s trash compared to knowing Jesus.”

Why? Because he’d tasted the righteousness from 2 Corinthians 5:21. His own efforts couldn’t hold a candle to the gift of being “found in Him.” Paul didn’t just accept the swap—he ran toward it, ditching the junk of self-righteousness for the treasure of Christ.

The Why Behind the What

So why does this matter? Because the swap isn’t just about what happens—it’s about why it happens. Jesus became sin “for us” out of love, not obligation. Paul traded his pride for Christ because he saw the “excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). This is personal. It’s not a cold transaction—it’s a relationship.

And the payoff? Paul says it’s “to know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). The righteousness we get isn’t static—it pulls us into a life of intimacy with Jesus, sharing in His victory and even His pain, all pointing to the hope of resurrection.

Living the Swap in 2025

Here we are, April 6, 2025, and this truth isn’t gathering dust—it’s alive. What does it look like for us?• Ditch the Résumé: Stop trying to prove yourself to God or others. If Paul’s best efforts were rubbish, ours don’t stand a chance. Rest in Christ’s righteousness instead. • Rejoice in the Gift: Paul starts Philippians 3 with “rejoice in the Lord” (v. 1). Why? Because this swap is worth celebrating—daily. • Chase the Treasure: Like Paul, make knowing Jesus your goal. His righteousness isn’t just a status—it’s an invitation to a deeper life with Him.

What Will You Trade?

2 Corinthians 5:21 gives us the swap: Jesus takes our sin, we get His righteousness. Philippians 3 shows us the response: trading our garbage for the gain of Christ. It’s the best deal ever offered, sealed by the cross and proven by the empty tomb. So what’s your “rubbish”? What are you clinging to that’s keeping you from fully embracing this gift? Let it go. The treasure’s worth it.

Drop a comment—what’s one thing you’re ready to count as loss for the sake of knowing Christ? Let’s talk about it!