"Who Knew No Sin"

“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 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

Can your mind even come to terms with this piece of scripture? Christ is God, the incarnate God, 100% man, 100% God. Sinless, holy, and so pure without blemish, and yet, Jesus became sin. He did not know sin as He had never sinned and never did sin as some falsely teach. Sin was impossible for Him even in the incarnation. He is God.

If you took a scale and placed every man on earth on one side, and Jesus on the other, His glory alone would outweigh all of us. So, can we really understand the cost of our salvation? Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 21:23, “his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.” How cursed this must be, as the person must be removed from the tree, because of Jewish burial tradition, so the land is not defiled. Christ became a curse for you. He who was perfect, righteous, and holy became a curse for your salvation.

Paul wrote in Galatians 3:13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree,” Paul used the verse from Deuteronomy to illustrate His point on the cost of our salvation. Can you conceive that cost? Christ paid a penalty so vile, so brutal, so humiliating, and so painful, all the while knowing you would be born in sin, and live in sin until that chosen time you would be called to Him. That is the mercy and grace of God who “shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

The very God who held wrath against your sin sacrificed Himself on the cross so that you could be saved from His wrath. Can you imagine such a love, you were saved by God, from God, for God. No wonder a non-believer cannot comprehend the gospel, “ for the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

You were bought and paid for by the very blood of the God from whom you were separated. Paul wrote, “For you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20). In His mercy, you were purchased not as a slave, as was the matter of course in the first century, but as a Brother or Sister. Therefore, we must glorify God in everything we do. While we will still sin, even the worst of sins, in our repentance Christ’s blood has paid for your sin.

In his book Grace Abounding to the Chief of All Sinners, John Owen details his struggle with sin and his understanding of God's grace. He details how the tempter led him astray and attacked him without end, and his only solace was found in the Word of God. Owen made a profound point in his autobiography: he realized he was only praying for forgiveness, not for God to give him strength against further temptation. We all pray for forgiveness, but how often do you pray for God’s strength and the Spirit's wisdom and leading away from the sins of which we are tempted?

Glorify Christ who paid a price so outrageous and costly for your salvation. Turn from your sins, ask God for strength and leading so that you may honor God in all you do. I frequently give the words of Paul to my son: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians10:31). He became a curse that you might be saved from the pit; does He not deserve your devotion and sacrifice in this world? You will be glad you did in the next.

Do not know Christ as your Savior, seek Him today. Contact us here at In Messiah Ministries, and we can show you the scripture that details salvation by grace, through faith in Christ alone.

Grace and Peace.