A preacher was once asked to summarize the gospel message in one verse. The verse he chose was 2 Corinthians 5:21. That verse says, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” This verse captures the beauty of the gospel message so clearly. Notice a few things about this verse:
1.“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf.”
This part of the verse can be a little wordy, but if you pay attention to what it says it is so powerful. This verse says “He” (God) made “Him who knew no sin” (Jesus) to be as if he sinned “on our behalf” (you and me). In simple terms this piece of the verse says that God treated a sinless Jesus as if he lived my sinful life. This is what happened on the cross. He took on the punishment you and I deserved for our sins. What a sacrifice!
2. ”So that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”
This part of the verse is just as powerful as the first. It captures the result of that great sacrifice. The reason the sacrifice took place was so that you and I could “become the righteousness of God.” That means you and I are treated as if we lived a righteous life. This is the beautiful result of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. What a reward!
When you put these verses together you get one of the most profound truths taught in the Bible. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus gave Himself on the cross to be treated as if He lived my sinful life so that I could be treated as if I lived His sinless life..... let that sink in. Jesus gave Himself on the cross to be treated as if He lived my sinful life so that I could be treated as if I lived His sinless life....
This is the beauty of the Gospel message. This is the core of the “good news” that Jesus christ came to bring. He stepped into our place and took on our punishment that we deserved so that we could receive the reward that He deserved.
As I reflect on this message, I am reminded of Peter’s words in 1 Peter 1:3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
-Kolton Ballance