BIBLE BULLETS – 29

2 Corinthians 5:21

“He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). That’s the Gospel, the Good News, in one simple sentence!

Jesus “did not know sin!”  Our perfect High Priest was “tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). There was “no sin in him” (1 John 3:5). He did “nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). No bad deeds. No bad thoughts. Not one! He was a perfect sacrifice, “an unblemished and spotless lamb” (1 Peter 1:19).

We, apart from Christ, are wretched sinners, destined for eternal condemnation. Sin is a universal trait. Each of us has “turned away … become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3; 53:3). “All have sinned”(Romans 3:23).“If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us’ ” (1 John 1:8).

God is gracious… but He is also just. A price must be paid to atone for sin! Jesus paid that price!

Jesus, eternally “existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

“When you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13–14).

Jesus, the Sinless One, carried our sin to Calvary so that He could wrap us in His robes of righteousness and make us right with God.

The righteous became wretched so that the wretched could be made righteous! Hallelujah!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).