2 Corinthians 5:16-21: a reflection

16Therefore we know no one according to the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In a single verse Paul captures the heart of what God has done for us in Christ, a great exchange almost too wonderful to grasp. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Christ, who had no sin of his own, took our sin upon himself, was made sin for us; and in exchange, we who had no righteousness of our own are given his, made the righteousness of God in him. Our sin was laid on the sinless one; his righteousness is given to us. This is the great exchange at the heart of the gospel: Christ took what was ours, our sin, and gave us what was his, his righteousness, that we might stand before God not in our own unrighteousness but in his. What we could never achieve, a standing of righteousness before God, is given to us through what Christ became for us.

Notice the exchange Paul describes: our sin laid on Christ, his righteousness given to us. Christ knew no sin; yet he was made sin for us, taking upon himself what was ours. And the purpose was that we might become the righteousness of God in him, receiving what was his. This is the great exchange: he took our sin, we receive his righteousness; he bore what we deserved, we are given what we could never earn. We do not stand before God in our own righteousness, which we do not have; we stand in Christ's, given to us because he was made sin for us. The sinless one became sin, that sinners might become righteous; this is the wonder at the heart of the gospel. Our standing before God rests not on what we have done but on this exchange, Christ made sin for us, we made righteous in him. What we lacked, he supplied by taking what we had.

That is worth resting in, for in the great exchange Christ was made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. We can try to establish our own righteousness before God, and fall short, never sure we have enough; but the gospel is not that we achieve righteousness but that we receive it, given to us because Christ was made sin for us. He took our sin; we are given his righteousness. Our standing before God rests on this exchange, not on our own achievement. When you doubt your standing before God, rest not on your own righteousness but on the exchange, Christ made sin for you, you made righteous in him. Rest in the great exchange at the heart of the gospel, that Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God, as Paul declares; for we do not stand before God in our own righteousness, which we lack, but in Christ's, given to us because he took our sin upon himself, and this exchange, his righteousness for our sin, is the ground of our standing before God, not anything we have achieved.

Lord, in a single verse Paul captures the heart of what you have done for us in Christ, a great exchange almost too wonderful to grasp. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Christ, who had no sin of his own, took our sin upon himself, was made sin for us; and in exchange, we who had no righteousness of our own are given his, made the righteousness of God in him. Our sin was laid on the sinless one; his righteousness is given to us. This is the great exchange at the heart of the gospel: Christ took what was ours, our sin, and gave us what was his, his righteousness. Show me the exchange Paul describes: our sin laid on Christ, his righteousness given to us. Christ knew no sin; yet he was made sin for us, taking upon himself what was ours. And the purpose was that we might become the righteousness of God in him. He took our sin, we receive his righteousness; he bore what we deserved, we are given what we could never earn. I do not stand before you in my own righteousness, which I do not have; I stand in Christ's, given to me because he was made sin for me. The sinless one became sin, that sinners might become righteous. Let me rest in that, for in the great exchange Christ was made sin for me, that I might become the righteousness of God in him. I can try to establish my own righteousness before you, and fall short, never sure I have enough; but the gospel is not that I achieve righteousness but that I receive it. When I doubt my standing before you, help me rest not on my own righteousness but on the exchange, Christ made sin for me, I made righteous in him, Lord, as Paul declares.