What Does it Mean That Jesus Became Sin When He Knew No Sin?

Second Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 is a challenging part of the Bible. The sentence that “Jesus who did not know sin, how did he become sin?” what does it mean? In this article, we will briefly review this section and answer this question.

We have heard the expression “He who knew no sin became sin,” but what does this mean in the Bible?

The importance of understanding the context of the verse

To fully understand this verse, we must pay attention to the context surrounding it. Otherwise, we can easily misunderstand this verse and not understand Paul’s original meaning.

In verses 11 to 15 of this chapter, Paul expresses his motivation to share the gospel of Christ. He says: “The love of Christ holds me to it.” Why? Because he believed that Christ died for all people. And those who now have new life in Christ should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them.

Paul goes on to say that he used to view people, including Jesus, from a worldly perspective. A worldly perspective focuses on issues such as personal relationships, gender, ethnicity, religion, economic status, or skin color.

But Paul saw beyond the surface. He saw Christ as the one who reconciles us to God, and he saw other people as loved by God and in need of the reconciliation that Jesus provides.

Paul understood that God had entrusted him with the ministry of reconciliation. This service of reconciliation had two aspects. First, to make it clear that God reconciles the world to himself through Christ. And secondly, to beg people to reconcile with God.

“He who knew no sin, how did he become sin?” what does it mean?

As the above discussion showed, 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2 is about reconciliation. Specifically, what God has done to reconcile fallen humanity to Himself. And 2 Corinthians 5:21 is really the key verse in this discussion of reconciliation.

Here, Paul says that “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Paul affirmed that Jesus had no sin. Hebrews 4:15 also states that Jesus, although we have been tempted in all the ways, was without sin.

But in a way, God made him, who had no sin, sin for us. I believe Leviticus 16 can help us understand what Paul is referring to. This chapter describes the sacrifices offered on the annual Day of Atonement.

The old head would offer a sacrificial cow for his own sin and then a goat for the sins of the people. The blood of these animals was sprinkled on the ark of the covenant and then on the altar of burnt offering.

After that, the high priest would lay his hands on the head of the second goat. Then he would confess the sins of the people on this goat and send it to the desert. And when he went out, he carried the sins of the people.

The two goats together symbolized what Jesus would do later. The first goat shed its blood, which was brought before God to atone for the sins of the people. Then the second goat took that sin into the wilderness.

As the first goat, Jesus shed his blood for our sins. Then that blood was brought before God for our atonement. And Jesus, like that second goat, carried our sins into the wilderness of death. He, who had no sin, became sin for us.

Supporting verses that Jesus had no sin

1 Peter 2:22: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.”
Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is indifferent to our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.”
1 John 3:5: “You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.”
John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

What is God’s justice?

Isaiah tells us that “all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 6:64). And Paul, citing Psalm 14:3, says that no one is righteous (Romans 10:3). All the justice that humans are able to do is incapable of the justice that God requires.

But the result of Jesus’ sin was that “in him we become the righteousness of God.” Because of Jesus’ atoning death on the cross, God’s righteousness can be imputed to us. It is not that we ourselves become righteous somehow. Rather, we become his justice. It is God’s righteousness that enables me to be in right covenant with Him. My own righteousness will never get me there.

1 Corinthians 5:21 describes the deal that happens when I come to faith in Christ. My sin is given to Jesus to deal with. And in return, God’s righteousness is given to me. And in this way, I reconcile with God.

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