Geoff Hohneck
Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians
God's Glorious Exchange on Display
2 Corinthians 5:21
24 April 2016
Because of sin, mankind is separated from the holy God, and needs to be reconciled. Somehow, our sin must be dealt with. In Second Corinthians 5:21, Paul declares God's work of making men righteous.
The exchange began: verse 21 starts, "He made Him who knew no sin." That is, God made Jesus Christ, who was sinless, to be part of His plan of redemption. God's plan of salvation, like the covenant He made to Abraham, is unconditional, carried out in the person of Jesus Christ.
The exchange in progress: Paul continues, "to be sin on our behalf." Whilst Jesus was completely sinless, the Father treated Jesus on the cross as if He had committed our sins. Isaiah 53:4 reads, "surely He has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering."
The exchange settlement: "so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Through the work of Calvary, the stain of our sin has been removed forever! As Romans 8:1 puts it, "there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Christ did not only bear all our sins Himself, but His righteousness was also imputed to us, and now we have the righteousness of God!
Philippians 3:9 admonishes us to be "found in Him, not having a righteousness of [our] own... but that which is through faith in Christ."