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To be Sin for Us

To be Sin for Us

Words of Faith 10-19-17

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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2 Corinthians 5

[21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

       The message declared by the Embassy of God is this-- Be reconciled to God. This message is in the Cross. The Cross is the "ways and means" department of God's diplomacy. Without the cross, there is no offer of immunity. Without the cross, there is no diplomacy and no offer of reconciliation. But how does that work? The Word gives us the explanation.

       God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).   God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (Jn 15:13).

       The Savior was sinless: He had no sin. He was "without sin". He was not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin (Heb 4:15). He appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin (1 Jn 3:5).

       He took on Himself the sin of the world. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed (1 Pet 2:24). He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn 2:2).

       God made Him to be sin for us. As Isaiah foretold it-- Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (53:4-6). Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand (53:10).

       The sins of the world were placed on Him so that, in turn, His righteousness could be given to those who trust Him and are in Him. "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:17).

         This gift of righteousness is obtainable only by faith.   This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Rom 3:22). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23). It is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast (Eph 2:8-9). We will be found in him, not having a righteousness of our own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Phil 3:9).

 

       Thanks be to God who made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.