Useful Bible Studies > 2 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 5

Christ, who had no sin, became sin for us

2 Corinthians 5:21

Sin means our wrong and evil thoughts, words and actions that are against God’s law. It includes our wrong attitudes and desires. We are all guilty*.

Since the first people chose not to obey God, only one person has been without sin. Christ, God’s Son, was perfect in every way*. He obeyed God the Father completely. Although the devil tempted Christ to do wrong things*, Christ never carried out any evil or wrong act*. Even in his deepest thoughts and desires, he never offended against God’s law.

For that reason, Christ was able to offer his own life, upon the cross, for our sins. The proper punishment for sin is death*; but Christ suffered the punishment that we deserve*. He died so that God can forgive our sins.

God forgives our sins when we invite Christ into our lives*. We must turn from our sins* and we must put our trust in Christ*. When we do that, God makes an astonishing change in our lives*. That is what it means to be born again*.

Paul says that, by the death of Christ, we can have the righteousness of God. That is an astonishing statement. Righteousness means a right relationship with God; even as sin means a wrong relationship with God. We have done nothing to deserve a right relationship with God, and we can do nothing to earn it. We can only receive it as the free gift of God*. We can receive it only because Christ died for us*.

Next part: Do not receive God’s grace in vain (6:1)

* See complete article for these Bible references.

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