Comforted by Sin’s Credit? ( 2 Corinthians 5:21; LD 14)

Reformed & Expository Preaching

What do we make of the statement, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Does this mean that Christ is a sinner? If that is the case then we are in a horrible predicament. What does Paul mean?

Paul is describing the heart of the Gospel and the ministry of reconciliation. He explains that the purpose of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection is to reconcile sinners to God. There is a double transaction that must occur. Our sins get credited to Christ. He is so holy that our sin does not contaminate him. He does not know sin in the sense that he is a sinner. Jesus in his perfection is treated as the sinner.

The other side of this is that Christ’s perfect work is given to us. We are credited as faithful sons. Jesus was treated and received what we deserve. He was treated as a sinner who never sinned. This was done so that we can receive the righteousness of God.

But notice, this isn’t just about our individual salvation. In the context of 2 Corinthians 5, Paul is calling the Corinthians to live out this reconciliation. If Christ has reconciled us to God, how can we not live as agents of reconciliation in the world? To know that Jesus became sin for us is to know a love so radical that it reorients everything about how we relate to God, to ourselves, and to others.

This transaction shows us the depth of sin. It shows what it takes for sin to be eradicated and removed from us. It shows us what needs to be done in order for us to come into the Lord’s presence. The beauty of this verse is that it does not just show the hope of the gospel, but it assures us that the gospel is not theoretical, but actual as we are joined to Christ we receive his distinct blessings. We are called to live out the life-giving union that is ours in Christ Jesus.