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Sermon #1721 Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: Christ Our Substitute Text: 2 Corinthians 5:21 Subject: Christ Made Sin Sinners Made Righteous Date: Wednesday Evening — December 12,k 2007 Ashland Grace Church — Ashland, KY Introduction:
When Bro. Chapman asked me to preach for you tonight, I knew immediately what I would be preaching tonight. That is very unusual for me. But I was confident then, as I am now, that the Lord would have me preach from the same text and on the same subject as I did the first time Bro. Mahan asked me to come to Ashland to preach for him thirty-one years ago. I was 26 years old at the time, and as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, not so much because of preaching for Bro. Mahan, but because of the immense importance of my subject. I am even more nervous now; because the subject has only increased in its immensity to my soul over the years.
The first person to greet me that night was Ruth Adkins. She asked me a question I had never been asked before. I had often considered it; but I had never heard anyone ask it. She said, “Bro. Fortner, How good does a person have to be to get to heaven?” She beamed with delight, when I answered, “As good as God.” It is my prayer that God the Holy Spirit will give you grace and understanding to beam with delight in your soul as I show how that is possible tonight, just I did thirty-one years ago. The title of my message is Christ our Substitute. Our text will be 2 Corinthians 5:21.
(2 Corinthians 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
I want, by the grace and power of God the Holy Spirit to proclaim the person and work of our blessed Savior to you with simplicity and clarity, as it is set before us in this wonderful passage of Holy Scripture.
Context
In this passage, Paul is calling us to faith in Christ. He urges us to be reconciled to God upon the basis of reconciliation already made at the cross, promising righteousness, the very righteousness of God, to all who trust Christ. This message, he urges us to believe, and to believe now. His message is both urgent and authoritative, for it comes to us from one who speaks as the very ambassador of God. Indeed, it is God himself speaking to us by him (2 Cor. 5:17-6:2).
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
(2 Corinthians 6:1-2) “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
In our text, verse 21, the Apostle tells us two things by divine inspiration. The message of Holy Scripture is set before us in these two glorious gospel declarations.
First, he asserts that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who knew no sin was made sin for us — absolutely. — “He hath made him sin.” · We cannot be made new creatures in Christ until “He hath made him sin.” · God cannot reconcile us to himself until “He hath made him sin.” · We cannot be reconciled to God until “He hath made him sin.” · We cannot be made the righteousness of God in Christ until “He hath made him sin.” · We cannot receive grace until “He hath made him sin.”
What a profound truth, what stupendous grace, what wondrous mystery these words contain I cannot tell you. — “He,” God the Father, — “hath,” in holy justice and infinite mercy, — “made,” to become, created, — “Him,” the Lord Jesus Christ, his infinite, well-beloved, only begotten, immaculate Son, — “sin,” an awful mass of iniquity, — “for us,” helpless, condemned, sinful rebels!
Then, second, the Spirit of God tells us the reason why Christ was made sin for us. The sure consequence of God’s darling Son being made sin is this, — “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
From the depths of my inmost soul, I pray that the Lord will enable me, at least once, before I die, to preach the message of this text as it ought to be preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. I will not strive to be eloquent or impressive. I want to simply explain to you, to the best of my ability, under the influence of God the Holy Spirit, the words of our text — “He hath made him sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
This is the greatest transaction that ever took place upon the earth, the most marvelous sight that men ever saw, and the most stupendous wonder that heaven ever executed. Jesus Christ was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Jesus Christ, the spotless Son of God, was made sin!
If ever we find rest, peace and joy in our souls, if ever a sinner is made to be of good cheer, having the blessed knowledge of the forgiveness of sin, it must be fetched from that which is declared in our text. — “He hath made him sin for us.” No sinner will ever find real rest for his soul, a bed that he can stretch himself upon and a cover broad enough to wrap himself in, but this. — “He hath made him sin for us.”
Not Stated
First, let me show you what the text does not say. — It is not stated, as it is most commonly suggested, that God the Father made his Son “a sin-offering.” The Scriptures do declare, “thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.” Our all-glorious Christ is our sin-offering. We have no offering for sin but him. But that is not what this text says. Here the Holy Spirit declares, “He hath made him sin for us.”
The Apostle does not here tell us that Christ was made “a sacrifice for sin.” He is that. We rejoice to declare that when our blessed Savior died as our Substitute, he offered himself “one sacrifice for sins” and “sat down on the right hand of God.” Because of his one sacrifice “there remaineth therefore no more sacrifice for sin!” But here the Spirit of God tells us, “He hath made him sin for us.”
Again, the Holy Spirit does not tell us here that Christ was “reckoned to be sin” by his Father. That is the way we would read the text, if we followed the implications of our translators in adding those words “to be.” Yes, he was reckoned to be sin and punished as such for us. But here we read, “He hath made him sin for us.”
I could not declare the message of our text fully, if I did not also tell you that our Lord Jesus is not here said to have sin imputed to him. Sin was indeed, imputed to our Substitute, it was laid to his charge. That is because “He hath made him sin for us.” He was not made sun by imputation. Rather because he was made sin for us, our sins were justly imputed to him. In fact, insofar as the words of Holy Scripture are concerned, it is nowhere stated in the Book of God that sin was imputed to the Lord Jesus Christ. There is not a single passage in the Bible that speaks of our sins being imputed to our Savior. He was not made sin by imputation. Sin was imputed to him because he was made sin.
In Romans 4 the word “imputation” or its equivalent (accounting or reckoning) is used seven times. It is mentioned again in chapter 5 (v. 13). But in those places God the Holy Spirit speaks of sin not being imputed to us and of righteousness being imputed to us. Yes, our sins were imputed to Christ when he was made sin for us, and because “He hath made him sin for us.” But the Word of God never uses the word impute, or any word like it, to speak of sin being imputed to Christ.
Made Sin
Now, let me show you what our text does reveal. — “He hath made him sin.” I am fully aware that natural reason opposes it. And many have endeavored to make the Word of God say something else. We are told that Christ had sin imputed to him, that he bore the guilt of sin, that he was charged with the debt of our sins, that he became accountable for our sins, that he bore all the effects of our sins, and that he was treated as if he were sin. But this plain, straightforward, blessed statement of Holy Scripture is almost universally denied by men. — “He hath made him sin.” But there it stands. — “He hath made him sin.” How can this be? What can it mean?
In human law and human reason, among men, I fully acknowledge that guilt cannot be transferred, but only its effects. Among the sons of men, a third person may cancel my debts but not my crimes. But I am not talking to you about things men can, or may do. I am talking to you about what our God has done. And in this great affair of salvation our great God stands infinitely alone. In this, his most glorious work, there is such a display of justice, mercy, wisdom and power, as never entered into the heart of man to conceive. Consequently, it can have no parallel in the actions of mortals. — “Who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me” (Isaiah 45:21).
(Micah 7:18) “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth (BEARETH) iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”
Were our sins transferred to Christ and made to be his, or was our Savior only treated as if that were the case? What do the Scriptures say? I am not even slightly concerned about what men say concerning this matter. I only want to know this. — What does God say in his Word? And this is what God says. — “He hath made him sin.”
“Made”
In this statement, “He hath made him sin,” the word “made” is very significant. It is not a legal term, but a word that carries the idea of “create.” It means, “by one act gather together and cause to be.” Paul is telling us that God the Father, by one great, mysterious act, gathered together all the sins of all his elect throughout all the ages of time, and caused his darling Son sin for us.
(Isaiah 53:6) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
(Isaiah 53:12) “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
(1 Peter 2:24) “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
The Word of God plainly teaches that Christ our blessed Surety was made sin for us, that he bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that the Lord God laid upon him our iniquities, that “He hath made him sin.”
Mosaic Types
This transfer of sin from the sinner to the sinner’s Surety was clearly set forth in the typical sacrifices of the Mosaic law.
It was typified and prefigured by the sinner laying his hands on the head of the animal he brought to be sacrificed in his stead before God. You will recall that when Aaron and his sons were to be consecrated as priests unto God, they were commanded to “put their hands on the head of the bullock,” which represented typically the transfer of their sins to the bullock which was then counted worthy of death. Because the bullock bearing their sins was counted worthy of death, the Lord commanded, “And thou shalt kill the bullock before the Lord, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation” (Ex. 29:10-11).
Perhaps the clearest, most well-known picture of the transfer of our sins to the Lord Jesus Christ and of him putting away our sin by bearing them and bearing them away in his own body on the tree is the scapegoat presented before the Lord on the day of atonement (Lev. 16:20-22).
(Leviticus 16:20-22) “And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: (21) And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: (22) And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.”
Now, notice what the Lord sets before us in this picture. · Here is the transfer of sin from the people to the goat — from us to Christ. · Here is the transfer of the sins of a particular people, of their sins and only their sins — the sins of the children of Israel. · Here is the transfer of all the sins of the children of Israel. · Here we see the sins transferred from the people to the goat taken away.
(Psalms 103:12) “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
(Hebrews 1:3) “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
(Hebrews 9:26-28) “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
(1 John 3:5) “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”
Isaiah 53
The Prophet Isaiah clearly declares that the Lord Jesus Christ, our all-glorious Substitute and Savior was made to bear our sins, not just the consequences of them, but our sins themselves, when he was made an offering for sin. Isaiah 53 clearly and distinctly tells us that he not only bore our sorrows and griefs, the consequences of our sins, but our sins themselves. In this portion of Holy Scripture, our Savior is set before us as one “despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” He was such, not on his own account, but because he is our blessed Substitute. Our transgressions wounded him. Our iniquities bruised him. Yes, by all means, we read, — “Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” But he carried more than our griefs and sorrows. He was made sin for us.
(Isaiah 53:6) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Our iniquity itself was laid upon Christ. — Not only was the Lord of Glory punished for sin, he was “made sin for us.” Not only did Christ bear the wrath and indignation of God against sin, he was made sin. The Son of God was made sin for us because there was no possible way in the world for God’s elect to be discharged of their sins, but for Christ to be made sin.
God’s eternal determination to redeem was a matter of pure, free, sovereign grace.
But once God determined to redeem and save an elect people, he could do it only by the satisfaction of justice, only by making Christ sin for us. — If righteousness could come by law, by anything we could do, then Christ died in vain (Gal. 2:21).
(Proverbs 17:15) He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Be sure you understand this. — God almighty could not justify his people unless he found a way to make them righteous; and he could not punish his Son unless he made him sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
God the Father looked upon Christ as the Surety of his elect in the covenant of grace, and said, “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom” (Job 33:24). And he “Laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
All the sins of all the elect were gathered together as one huge hideous, obnoxious load, and made to meet upon Christ. He was made sin for us and punished as the sinner in our place (Psa. 40:12; 69:5; Zech. 13:7).
Illustration: When our Lord made the water wine (John 2), he did not make the water look like wine, or taste like wine, he made the water wine.
By this means “the law and justice of God had full satisfaction and our recovery from ruin and destruction is procured.” (John Gill)
Our iniquity really became our Substitute’s iniquity by divine imputation. — Speaking as our Substitute, the Son of God cried, “Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me...My sins are not hid from thee” (Psa. 40:12; 69:5). Jesus Christ never knew sin. Yet, he died as the greatest sinner who ever lived, for he was made to bear all the sins of all his elect.
Christ really did bear all our sin, just as a Surety is really the debtor, when he willingly puts himself in the room of another.
Illustration: Grider’s Experience
Christ gave his bond as our Surety in the covenant of grace. God the Father, having accepted Christ as our Surety, cannot look for payment from us. If he will have payment for sin, he must have it from him upon whom the debt has been laid (2 Cor. 5:18-21).
Payment God cannot twice demand, First at my bleeding Surety’s hand, And then again at mine!
It is the Lord God himself that made Christ sin for us. — “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The triune God agreed in covenant love to lay all our sins, all the sins of all his elect, upon the Son. Sin, the greatest burden in the world, the most loathsome thing in the universe, the load that must have crushed our souls into hell, has been laid upon the God-man by God’s own hand! Look at verse 10 of Isaiah 53.
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
This great, mighty transfer of sin, from the sinner to the sinner’s Surety was... · Sought By Infinite Love. · Conceived By Infinite Wisdom · Ordained By Infinite Grace. · Executed By Infinite Justice.
None but God could do it! — Who but God could lay sin upon God? Who but God could punish God for sin? Who but God could dispose of sin for the salvation of his people? — Some think we lay our sins upon Christ! You cannot even lay your hand upon him, much less your sin! If you imagine that your prayers, tears, mournings, fastings, and confessions can lay your sins off yourself and on Christ, you are just beating the air! Your wisdom is ignorance! And your religion is blasphemy! To lay iniquity upon Christ is the work of Jehovah alone. · God the Father laid sin upon Christ for the satisfaction of his own justice (2 Cor. 5:21). · God the Son laid sin upon himself for the redemption of his people (1 Pet. 2:24).
(1 Peter 2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
· God the Holy Spirit lays sin upon Christ in the revelation of the gospel (John 16:8-11).
(John 16:8-11) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
We do not lay our sins upon Christ by faith. We see our sins laid on him, punished in him, and removed by him by faith; but faith does not lay anything on Christ.
Soul Comforting
I want you to see that this is the most soul comforting truth in all the world. — “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Blessed are those people who have this gospel published to them. Blessed are those who have ears to hear this good news. The transfer of sin from you to Christ is not something that must be done. It is something already done. The text does not say, “The Lord shall lay the iniquities of us all upon Christ if we will meet certain conditions and terms.” It says, “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all!” (Read Rom. 10:6-8!).
(Romans 10:6-8) But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) (7) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (8) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
The Lord has done it! There is nothing for you to do! Faith simply receives, believes and rejoices in what the Lord has done. It adds nothing to it.
(Romans 5:10-11) “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Illustration: A Prisoner Receiving Pardon
When did the Lord do this? It is true, God applies the pardon of sin at conversion. But our sins were laid upon Christ and put away by him long before we believe.
· God the Father laid our sins upon his dear Son, our Surety, in his eternal decree (Rev. 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:18-21).
(Revelation 13:8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
(1 Peter 1:18-21) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
· God executed his decree, laying sin upon his Son when he hung upon the cursed tree.
· He will never make another transfer of sin!
(Psalms 32:1-2) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (2) Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(Romans 4:8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
There is not a moment in time, or a condition possible, in which God will transfer sin back from Christ to his people. Sin, once laid upon the scapegoat, is carried away into the land of forgetfulness, never to be seen, or brought back, again! Our message is “DONE!” not “DO.”
The Psalms
Christ’s being made sin and the transfer of our sins from us to Christ is clearly revealed in the Psalms. In the Psalms, we are given even more specific language. Here the Lord Jesus Christ calls our sins his own, because “He hath made him sin for us.” — “The Lord haht laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Can you grasp this glorious truth? God the Father, against whom we have sinned, from whom we have strayed, whose law we have broken, whose justice must be satisfied, has laid upon the Lord Jesus Christ, his own dear Son, all the sins of all his elect. The Son of God was made sin for us, so that he might be justly punished for sin in our stead, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Our sins have all been laid upon Christ, by whose death justice has been satisfied and our sins forever put away.
Psalm 40
In the fortieth Psalm, the One speaking is beyond all doubt, our Savior. We know that because the Holy Spirit tells us that it is Christ who is speaking here. (Heb. 10:5). He knew that being made sin for us, he would be brought into an horrible pit and filled with distress. Yet, his love for us was and is so great that in verse 7 he declares his readiness to assume a body, and to accomplish his Father’s will in the salvation of his chosen, agreeably to the ancient settlements written in the Volume of the Book, saying, — “Lo! I come, I delight to do thy will, O my God.” Then in verses 11 and 12, he prays for deliverance from his deep distresses.
(Psalms 40:11-12) “Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. (12) For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.”
(Psalms 22:1-3) “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (2) O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. (3) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
This is exactly the same thing we read in John 12:27-28.
(John 12:27-28) “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (28) Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
Why was the Son of God brought to such sorrow and grief? Here is the answer. — “He made him sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him!” Indeed he could never have suffered the painful, shameful, ignominious death of the cross as our Substitute, had he not been made sin for us. Justice would never have allowed it (Ex. 23:7; Pro. 17:15).
(Exodus 23:7) “Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.”
(Proverbs 17:15) “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.”
Hear the Savior’s words in verse 12, and worship him. — “For innumerable evils have compassed me about.” — He was beset on every side with evil. Countless woes compassed our great Substitute and Sin-bearer. Spurgeon said, “Our sins were innumerable, and so were his griefs.” From every quarter, all the accumulated sins of all his people, for all time, in all parts of the world were made to be his! The Blessed One of God, who knew no sin and did no sin, was made sin! Read on. —
“Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up.” — He had no sin, but sins were laid on him, and he took them as his own. “He was made sin for us.” “The transfer of sin to the Savior was real,” Spurgeon wrote, “and produced in him as man the horror which forbade him to look into the face of God, bowing him down with crushing anguish and woe intolerable.”
O my soul, what would our sins have done to us eternally if the Friend of sinners had not condescended to take them all upon himself! · Oh, blessed Scripture! “The Lord hath made to meet upon him the iniquity of us all.” · Oh, marvellous depth of love, that made the perfectly immaculate Lamb of God to stand in the sinner’s place, and bear the horror of great trembling which sin must bring upon those who are forever keenly conscious of it in hell!
“They are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.” — The pains of God’s holy fury against sin, his unbending justice and unmitigated wrath were beyond calculation, and the Savior’s soul was so crushed with them, that he was sore amazed, and very heavy even unto a sweat of blood. His strength was gone, his spirit sank, he was in an agony.
(Psalms 22:14-15) “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. (15) My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.”
Gethsemane
It was the thought and anticipation of being made sin for us, not of simply paying the debt due unto our sins, but of being made sin, that caused his bloody sweat in Gethsemane.
Golgotha
It was this fact, the fact that he was made sin for us, that caused him to be forsaken of his Father as he hung upon the cursed tree on Golgotha’s hill.
(Psalms 22:1-3) “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (2) O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. (3) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
“Came at length the dreadful night. Vengeance with its iron rod Stood, and with collected might Bruised the harmless Lamb of God,
“Yes, my God bore all my guilt, This through grace can be believed; But the horrors which he felt Are too vast to be conceived.
David understood what he wrote in this Psalm and was utterly overwhelmed by it.
(Psalms 40:5) “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
Psalm 69
In Psalm 69 we again hear Immanuel calling our sins his own as he hangs upon the cursed tree, suffering the wrath of God for us.
(Psalms 69:1-5) “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. (2) I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. (3) I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. (4) They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. (5) O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.”
How could they be “his” otherwise than by this act of wondrous justice and grace. — “He hath made him sin for us!” As debts are transferred to the surety, our sins were transferred to our Savior. “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer” (Luke 24:46). Since he became voluntarily responsible, “ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26.)
New Testament
This great doctrine is fully attested in the apostolic writings of the New Testament. All the expressions of the inspired apostolic writers in relation to this subject seem to have a reference to the legal sacrifices. As the animal offered in sacrifice was called sin, because it typically bore transgression, so Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor. 5:21). When he was made sin, he was made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13), because he was “once offered to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9: 28).
This one offering was not typical, like the sacrifices of the law, but a real expiation of iniquity. Our blessed Savior was not a figurative Substitute, but a real Substitute. Our sins were not made his figuratively, but really (1 Pet. 2:24).
(1 Peter 2:24) “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
If there is anything in the Book of God with which we should desire to be acquainted it is this, upon which our salvation and everlasting consolation depend. “He hath made him sin for us!” If we would know Christ, and the fellowship of his sufferings; if we would look on him whom we have pierced and mourn; if we would die unto sin, and bring forth fruit unto God, we must have the gift of God the Holy Spirit to reveal to us this great mystery, that God the Father has laid on Christ the iniquity of us all, that “He hath made him sin for us!”
Why did the holy Redeemer go mourning to the grave? Why did divine justice pursue him? Only because he bore the sin of many. From this Fountain the streams of free salvation flow. We die unto sin, we live unto righteousness, only because he, his own self, bare our sins in his own body on the tree. O wondrous grace! O magnificent justice! O mysterious transfer! O amazing mystery!
Either, Or
Third, I want you to see the importance of this fact. — “He hath made him sin for us.” I hope that I have more reverence for our God and his Word, and more respect for you, than to make a lot of noise about nothing. This is both a matter of great importance and great consolation, a clearly revealed point of gospel truth that sets before us the mysterious wonder of redemption and the wisdom and glory of God in accomplishing it.
· Either the Lord Jesus was made sin for us and our sins were transferred to him, or he did not bare our sins in his body on the tree, as the Book says he did, but only the consequences and effects of them.
The Prophet of God says, “He shall bear their iniquities.” The word “bare” means “carry,” as a man carries a burden. The Old Testament saints were well acquainted with God our Savior, as a sin-bearing Redeemer God, and considered this to be the glory of his character. Micah said, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth (beareth) iniquity; and that passeth over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?” (Micah vii. 18).
· Either the Lord Jesus was made sin for us and our sins were transferred to him, or he did not really bear the consequences and effects of them. I mean by that, either he was made sin for us and our sins were transferred to him, or he did not bear the penalty of them.
The shame and spitting, the beating and buffeting, the meanness and mockery our holy Savior endured at the hands of the Jews and Roman soldiers, the cross, the nails, and the thorns, were a very small part of the reward of our transgressions. The principal part of the punishment of sin, consists in a sense of guilt, and of Divine wrath: but neither of these could Immanuel have endured, unless he was made sin, unless he bore our sins themselves.
· Either the Lord Jesus was made sin for us and our sins were transferred to him, or our sins are still our sins and justice finds them upon us still!
The infinite justice of God still finds guilt upon us and upon the saints in glory, too, and must find them upon us forever. If that were the case, justice would still require satisfaction and mercy could be bestowed only at the expense of righteousness.
But, thank God, that is not the case! Here is the great glory of God revealed in the salvation of his elect, as it is set forth in this Book. — The guilt of our sins, and our sins themselves, were forever put away by the sacrifice of his darling Son, washed away completely by the blood of the Lamb!
Here is the glory of his righteousness. — Not only that that he removed the curse, but the cause of the curse also. — “For as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
Our Savior was made sin for us, and our sins were so completely transferred to him, that if he had not conquered and destroyed them, they would have destroyed him. His resurrection is proof that sin is on him no longer. Turn again to Hebrews 9. In verse 26, after showing us that our all-glorious Redeemer, has by the merit of his blood obtained eternal redemption for us and that he is our ever-living High Priest who appears in the presence of God for us, the Apostle Paul declares that he bore our sins and put them away “by the sacrifice of himself.”
(Hebrews 9:26) “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Now, look at verse 28. Let me show you something I got from Tobias Crisp.
(Hebrews 9:28) “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
Did you catch Paul’s words? He tells us that Christ bore the sins of many. Then he says, “unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” — “He shall appear the second time without sin.” “Mark it well,” Crisp said, “there was a time that Christ did not appear without sin, for he bore the sins of many. But there is a second time when he shall appear, and then he shall be without sin. So that believers have no sins upon them, and Christ hath none either.” What a glorious truth. It is, truly, worth more to our souls than a mountain of gold!
· Either the Lord Jesus was made sin for us and our sins were transferred to him, or his sufferings were not penal sufferings and the justice of God was not satisfied by them.
Justice requires that iniquity be punished, but the sufferings of Christ were not punishment, unless our sins were transferred to him, unless he was made sin for us. An innocent person may suffer, but an innocent person cannot be punished, upon any just ground. And justice will not, indeed cannot allow an innocent person, considered as innocent, to suffer punishment in the room of the guilty, anymore that it can reward a guilty, sinful, corrupt one with life eternal.
But, blessed be his name forever, our penal Substitute has fully satisfied his own infinite justice for us, by suffering in our room and stead as One made sin for us, bearing in his own body all the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of all his people!
When our Lord Jesus turned the water into wine (John 2), he did not make the water look like wine, or taste like wine, he made the water wine. And when he was made sin for us by his Father laying on him the iniquity of all his elect, he was not made to look like sin, or made merely to be considered as sin, or even to only be treated as sin. He was made sin!
Our Savior had no sin of his own. He was born without original sin, being even from birth “that Holy One” (Luke 1:35). Throughout his life he “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21), “did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22), “and in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). But on Calvary the holy Lord God “made him who knew no sin sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Just as in the incarnation “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), in substitution he who was made flesh “was made sin for us.” · I do not know how God could be made flesh and never cease to be God; but he was. · I do not know how God could die and yet never die; but he did (Acts 20:28). · And I do not know how Christ who knew no sin could be made sin and yet never have sinned; but he was.
These things are mysteries beyond the reach of human comprehension. But they are facts of divine revelation to which we bow with adoration. Hard as it is for many to realize, our God is “slightly” bigger than our puny brains!
Blessed Consequences
Now, stay with me just a few more minutes, and I will show you some of the blessed, sweet consequences of all this. — “He hath made him sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
· Because Christ was made sin for us, because he bore our sins in his own body on the tree and bore them away, the Lord God almighty declares that all who trust him have no sin (Ps. 103:12, Mic. 7:18-19; Jer. 50:20; 1 John 3:5).
(Psalms 103:12) “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
(Jeremiah 50:20) “In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.”
(Micah 7:18-19) “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth (beareth) iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
(1 John 3:5) “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”
· Because “He hath made him sin for us” all who believe on the Son of God are made “the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:17-21).
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Do you remember what I told you about the first word translated “made” in verse 21 as it relates to Christ being made sin? — It is not a legal term, but a word that carries the idea of “create.” It is in the past tense and implies that he who was made sin for us was personally involved in the work. It means, “by one act gather together and cause to be.” Paul is telling us that God the Father, by one great, mysterious act, gathered together all the sins of all his elect throughout all the ages of time, and caused his darling Son sin for us.
But when he tells us that we are “made the righteousness of God in him” another word is used for “made.” When he speaks of us being “made the righteousness of God in him,” the word Paul uses for “made” is another word altogether. It is a present tense, passive verb, implying total passiveness on our part and means “continually cause to become.” Paul is telling us that those for whom Christ was made sin God continually causes to become the righteousness of God in him without doing a thing.
“Mark it well, Christ himself is not so completely righteous, but we are as righteous as he was. Nor are we so completely sinful, but he became (being made sin) as completely sinful as we. Nay more, the righteousness that Christ hath with the Father, we are the same, for we are ‘made the righteousness of God.’ And that very sinfulness that we were, Christ is made before God. So that here is a direct change, Christ takes our persons and condition, and stands in our stead. We take his person and condition, and stand in his stead. What the Lord beheld Christ to be, that he beholds his members to be. What he beholds them to be in themselves, that he beheld Christ himself to be.
So that if you would speak of a sinner, supposing him to be a member of Christ, you must not speak of what he manifests, but of what Christ was.
If you would speak of one completely righteous, you must speak and know that Christ himself is not more righteous than he is. And that that person is not more sinful than Christ was when he took his sins on him. So that if you will reckon well, beloved, you must always reckon yourself in another’s person, and that other in yours. And until the Lord find out transgressions of Christ’s own acting, he will never find one to charge upon you.” (Tobias Crisp)
· Because the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Righteous Servant, has fully obeyed his Father’s will in putting away our sins by the sacrifice of himself, because he was made sin for us, because he bore our sins in his own body on the tree, because he paid all the debt for our sins and put them away completely and forever, he now assures sinners everywhere of this glorious truth by the gospel. — “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37-40).
(John 6:37-40) “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Come to Christ, no matter who you are, no matter how vile your transgressions are, and he promises that he will receive you, just as you are, and that he will never cast you out, that he will give you eternal life, that you shall never perish. Come, then, to Christ…
Sinners, come and welcome!
(Matthew 11:28-30) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Is there a sinner here? I am talking about a sinner. Is there a sinner in this house?
“To understand these truths aright, This grand distinction should be known — Tho’ all are sinners in God’s sight, There are but few so in their own. To such as these our Lord was sent: They’re only sinners who repent.
What comfort can a Savior bring To those who never felt their woe? A sinner is a sacred thing; The Holy Ghost has made him so. New life from Him we must receive Before for our sin we rightly grieve.”
(2 Corinthians 6:1-2) “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
Amen.
Don Fortner
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