The Great Transaction

2 Corinthians 5:17

Introduction

Dr. Alan Redpath (1907-1989) asked and answers the following, "Can a child know salvation at an early age? Yes, for many Christians can testify to real faith in Christ when only 4 or 5. They will grow in maturity as they grow in understanding as the years go by, but the seed is received at whatever age the Lord reveals Himself."

Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) affirmed, "God does business with those who mean business."

Paul wrotes, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

Dr. Philip Doddridge (1702-1751) began the third stanza of his hymn "O Happy Day!": "''Tis done: the great transaction's done! I am the Lord's and He is mine." The term transaction means "something that is transacted, esp. a business deal or negotiation." Allow me to point out three elements of the great transaction. 

I. First there is the generous transition.

We read in Ephesians 2:1-10, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

Paul also wrote in Romans 2:4, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" Paul instructs Timothy, "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:24-26). The Puritans referred to repentance as "the gift of tears."