What does the Bible say about Christ being made sin?

Scripture clearly states in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that Christ was made sin for us who knew no sin, indicating that He bore the weight of sin and its repercussions on our behalf. This critical doctrine underlies the understanding that Christ's sacrifice was not merely symbolic but an actual bearing of sin's effects. John Calvin elaborates that while Christ was entirely free from sin, He was made sin for us as an expiatory sacrifice; this means that on the cross, He took the accumulated sins of His people upon Himself, suffering the consequences and wrath due for those sins, even though He did not inherently possess sinfulness.

Moreover, theologians like John Gill affirm that Christ being made sin does not suggest He committed any sin, but rather that God the Father imputed our sins to Him. This imputation involved Christ being treated as if He were a mass of sin, enduring its effects and fulfilling the justice of God in our place. Therefore, understanding Christ's role as our substitute is essential in grasping the fullness of the gospel, emphasizing that His righteousness is credited to believers in return for His sacrificial atonement.