Folly abounds in our day, but the gospel of God remains the same. What’s more, the Christ of the gospel remains the same as well. He has been saving sinners throughout the ages and will continue to do so, building His church, until all that the Father has given Him are safely deposited within His care. This excerpt is but one more example of that marvelous truth. May it give strength and vigour to our faith as we join with the saints of all ages.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21)

The following is an excerpt from a second century letter simply titled the Epistle to Diognetus. Its author is unknown, and not much more is known of the recipient, but its content should be familiar enough to any Christian. Thoroughly biblical and profoundly encouraging, it outlines the contours of what the author here calls the “sweet exchange”—the transaction that took place at the cross whereby the “wickedness of many” was hid in a “single righteous One” and the “righteousness of One” justified many transgressors.

This emphasis upon such themes as justification, imputation, and penal substitution is important for a number of doctrinal and historical reasons, but the truly striking thing about the text, and the thing most worthy of note and imitation, is surely the devotional character of the passage. Its author doesn’t simply record these truths, he almost sings them. In setting forth an “apology” or defence of the Christian faith, he rises to soaring heights, thus reminding us of the inextricable bond between theology and doxology. As the psalmist said, “My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes” (Ps. 119:171).

In any event, I hope you will be encouraged by this passage. Folly abounds in our day, but the gospel of God remains the same.

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