“He Hath Made Him To Be Sin For Us!”

2 Corinthians 5:21

What was done with the Lord Jesus Christ when he was made to be sin for us? Let no one consider these things as mere matters of cold, theological speculation. They are to be studied and meditated upon only with deep reverence for him who was made to be sin for us.

Our Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily took upon himself an intimate, infinite acquaintance with human sin. He really did take our sins and make them his very own (Psa. 40:12; 69:4-5; 7-9). Our Savior voluntarily assumed all the sins of all his people and volunteered to be made sin for us and to suffer all the wrath of God for our sins, as our Substitute (Psa. 40:6-8; Isa. 50:5-7).

God almighty delivered his own dear Son over into the hands of Divine justice. He was made to suffer the fullest possible extent and extremity of God’s infinite and violent wrath. He was made to pay the just penalty of the law.

God made his Son to be sin! This was the soul of his sufferings. He who knew no sin was made to be sin. John Gill wrote, “He was made sin itself by imputation. The sins of all his people were transferred unto him, laid upon him, and placed to his account. He sustained their persons and bore their sins. And having them upon him, and being chargeable with, and answerable for them, he was treated by the justice of God as if he had been not only a sinner, but a mass of sin.”

The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, suffered and died under the justice and wrath of God as the greatest sinner who ever lived. He was charged with all the sins of all his people. He was made to be sin for all God’s elect at once. He suffered shame and reproach. He was despised and rejected of men. He was forsaken by his disciples. He was cursed and denied by Peter. He was nailed to the cursed tree. He was mocked, railed, and spit upon. He was forsaken by his Father!

“Oh, hear that piercing cry! What can its meaning be?

“My God! My God! Oh! Why hast Thou In wrath forsaken me?”

It was because our sins On Him by God were laid;

He who Himself had never sinned, For sinners, sin was made!”

Almighty God drew forth the dreadful sword of justice and slew his Son in our place! Who can grasp that thought? Who can enter into its depths? I cannot understand it. I can hardly realize it. But I can and do believe it. I rest my soul upon it! “He hath made him to be sin for us!” I cannot declare it as I wish I could. But I can bow down and worship my glorious Surety!

Don Fortner