Christ Was Made To Be Sin For Us
2
Corinthians 5:21
In
order to save me, the Lord Jesus Christ was made to be sin for me. The Son of
God voluntarily took upon himself that horrible, ugly, vile, ignominious thing
which he most hates - sin. O my soul, be forever astonished! The God-man became
sin for me, that I might be made the righteousness of God in him!
A Door Opened For Sinners
When he was made to be sin
for me, he was treated as the obnoxious thing itself, and suffered all the
wrath of God due to me for my sin. The Father forsook him. Justice was executed
upon him. And when the infinite justice of God had spent itself upon the
sinners’ Substitute, a door was opened in heaven for sinners, whereby we may
draw near to God (Heb. 10:19-23).
“For Us”
Christ
was made to be sin “for us.” That
little word, “us,” is very important.
Every time the Bible sets forth the glorious, gospel doctrine of
substitutionary redemption, every time the Word of God explains the meaning of
Christ’s death and the atonement he made for sinners at Calvary, it speaks of
his work as something done for a specific people, by which he accomplished the
eternal redemption and secured the everlasting salvation of a specific people
called “us.”
The
Son of God was made to be sin for and redeemed “us.” – “Us” whom he came
to save (Matt. 1:21).– “Us” his
church and espoused bride (Eph. 5:25-27). – “Us”
for whom he prays (John 17:9, 20). – “Us”
who are the elect of God (Eph. 1:3-6). – “Us”
who come to God by him (Heb. 7:25). – “Us”
who, walking in the light of the gospel,
believe on him (1 John 1:7, 9).
Like
all the other blessings of grace, redemption is for God’s elect alone. If
Christ were Surety and Substitute for all men, then all men must be saved. Had
he paid the debt of all men, then none could ever suffer the wrath of God for
sin. Justice would not allow it. But that he did not do. Jesus Christ died for
us. He died for me, and paid my debt in full. How I rejoice to know that I
shall, therefore, never be called to account for myself.
“Payment God cannot twice
demand,
First at my bleeding
Surety’s hand,
And then again at mine!”
Security In Christ
I
know that Christ died for me because I trust him. My faith (the gift of his
Spirit) in him is the result of his death for me (Gal. 3:13-14). Oh, how the
Son of God must love me (1 John 4:9-10). Oh, how I ought to love him! Now, in
him, I am absolutely safe and secure. Christ has magnified the law and made it
honorable for me. He has put away my sin. This sinner, for whom the Son of God
was made to be sin, can never be charged with sin again (Rom 4:8; 8:34).
“He bore that I might never
bear
The Father’s righteous ire!”
In him, God is both just and the Justifier of this
sinner, who believes on his Son (Rom. 3:24-26).
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #738
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net