October 1, 2004

THE ONE MADE TO BE SIN FOR US

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV).

This startling portrait of Christ represents one of the most profound and significant Bible truths about Christ. The two essential elements of this portrait are His absolute sinlessness and His substitutionary death.

In what way did God make His sinless Son "to be sin for us"? In the Greek, the word, "sin," is used not as a verb, but as a substantive or a noun. A more accurate translation would be that God "treated as sin" the one "who knew no sin." The meaning is that God treated Jesus as though He were a sinner, although He definitely was not. Ellen G. White confirms this understanding: "Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share."--The Desire of Ages, p. 25. This sublime transaction is beyond our finite comprehension. What wondrous love and grace!

Our salvation was fully won through Christ's vicarious sacrifice on the cross. By His substitutionary death, we undeserving sinners have "become" righteous and therefore acceptable to God. This marvelous portrait of Jesus sums up the plan of salvation by emphasizing three great facts: (1) the absolute sinlessness of our Saviour, (2) the vicarious nature of His death, and (3) our freedom from sin through Christ our spotless substitute. "Christ has become our sacrifice and surety. He has become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Through faith in his name, he imputes unto us his righteousness, and it becomes a living principle in our life."--Review and Herald, July 12, 1892.

My Prayer Today: Lord, You were treated as I deserve so that I might be treated as You deserve. Thank You for such grace. Amen.