2 Corinthians 5:21 is a profound verse that succinctly captures a vital truth of the Christian faith: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This verse teaches that Jesus, who was without sin, took on our sin in order to make us righteous before God. But what exactly does it mean that Jesus “became sin” for us? Let’s explore this important doctrine in more detail.
Jesus Took Our Sin Upon Himself
The first key truth we must understand is that Jesus, who was perfectly holy and blameless, took on himself the penalty for our sin. Though He was Himself sinless, He willingly bore the punishment and condemnation that we deserved for our sin. As 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.” Isaiah 53:6 declares, “The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Jesus, the sinless one, became sin for us by taking our sin upon Himself.
This happened most graphically at the cross. As Jesus hung on the cross, suspended between heaven and earth, He took upon Himself the sins of the world. Though He had no sin of His own to pay for, He chose to receive the punishment for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 teaches that God the Father “made him to be sin who knew no sin.” Though Jesus had never sinned, God treated Him as if He had committed every wicked deed that has ever been done. The wrath of God was poured out on Christ in place of being poured out on us.
Jesus Took Our Sin to Cancel the Charges Against Us
Why did Jesus take our sin upon Himself? He did this in order to cancel the record of debt that stood against us because of our sins. Colossians 2:14 says that Christ “canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Our sin had created a moral debt that we could never repay. There were legal demands against us because of our rebellion against God.
Jesus solves this problem by taking our sin and nailing it to the cross with Him. When He died, our sin died with Him. The charges against us were, in a sense, pinned upon Jesus. He served as our substitute, taking our place and bearing the punishment that should have been ours. As He hung on the cross being punished for our sins, the record of debt against us was forever canceled.
Jesus Took Our Sin so We Could Become Righteous
This incredible exchange – Jesus takes our sin and we receive His righteousness – is at the heart of 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Salvation is not just about being forgiven of our sin debt, as incredible as that is. Something even more astonishing takes place: we become righteous before God!
How does this happen? Our sin was placed on Jesus, who suffered the wrath of God in our place. His perfect righteousness is then credited to us when we place our faith in Him for salvation. Jesus got what we deserved (punishment for sin), and we get what He deserved (the merit of His sinless perfection). This doctrine of Christ’s atoning work is called “double imputation.” Our sin is imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us.
Key Bible Verses about Jesus Becoming Sin
Here are some other key Bible verses that shed light on Christ becoming sin for us:
Isaiah 53:5 – But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 – He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
2 Corinthians 5:15 – And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Romans 5:8 – But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 2:2 – He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus Had to Become Sin for Us
Given the absolute holiness of God, sin had to be perfectly atoned for. God’s justice and wrath against sin could not simply be brushed aside. Therefore, the only solution was for Jesus to become sin for us by absorbing God’s holy wrath on our behalf. As Anselm stated, it was necessary for our righteous substitute to make satisfaction to God’s honor.
Jesus had to stand in our place and receive the blows that should have fallen on us. Only the sinless Son of God could pay the infinite price for sin. But He did this willingly for our salvation. As Jesus declared, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
The Results of Jesus Becoming Sin for Us
What are the results of Jesus becoming sin in our place?
- We are forgiven and redeemed – Ephesians 1:7
- We are reconciled to God – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
- We are freed from condemnation – Romans 8:1
- We are justified and made righteous – Romans 5:18-19
- We receive eternal life – 1 John 5:11
And this is only a partial list! Our salvation rests completely on what Christ accomplished for us on the cross as He became sin on our behalf. We contributed nothing to this work; it is solely by God’s grace.
How to Respond to Christ Becoming Sin
How should we respond to the amazing truth that Christ became sin for us?
- Repent and believe the gospel – Mark 1:15
- Rejoice and give thanks for God’s grace – Colossians 1:11-14
- Walk in holiness and obedience – Romans 6:1-2
- Share the gospel message with others – 2 Corinthians 5:20
- Worship Jesus for His sacrifice – Revelation 5:9-10
Christ becoming sin for us should motivate us to turn from sin and dedicate our lives to serving Him. This doctrine should fill us with immense gratitude and inspire profound worship.
Jesus Becoming Sin Reveals God’s Love
While God’s holiness and justice required a sacrifice for sin, it was His great love that led Him to send Jesus for our salvation. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 1 John 4:10 also states, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” The Father loved us so much that He sent His beloved Son to bear the wrath we deserved.
Jesus also showed His love by willingly obeying the Father and becoming sin for us. He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus calls us friends and lays down His life to save us from sin.
Common Misunderstandings
In closing, let’s address some common misunderstandings about Christ becoming sin:
- Jesus did not literally become sinful – He remained perfectly holy, but was treated as if He was sinful.
- God did not change His attitude toward Jesus – The Father poured out wrath on the Son, but did not forsake Him or love Him less.
- The cross was not Satan’s triumph – It was God’s sovereign plan to redeem sinners and defeat the powers of darkness.
The doctrine of Christ becoming sin for us is challenging but incredibly hope-producing. It displays God’s perfect justice and amazing grace. Understanding this truth more fully will nurture our worship and empower our witness for Jesus Christ!