Okay, let's go ahead and get started. You can turn to 2 Corinthians 5 21. I'm just going to read that same verse again. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

So the last time we looked at who made him sin, we know who that was, that was God the Father. It was ordained by God that Jesus Christ come down and be made sin for his people. for which he would bear their sins in his own body. And scripture plainly declares that, so that's what we declare, and that's what we believe. And we also looked at what he was made. He was not made like he was sin, he was made sin. If it said he was made like sin, then that's what we would proclaim. It does not say that he was made as if he had sinned. It says he made him sin for us. He was made an offense so much so that the Father turned his back on him. He was forsaken by God the Father. We know he was because Jesus Christ is God and God cannot lie. And Jesus Christ cried out, why hast thou forsaken me? Who can explain that? No one. That's what God declares, so that's what we declare and that's what we believe.

So today we want to look at what was his relationship to sin. And we cannot really separate these things out. I know I got them separated out in points, but we can't separate this. This all goes together. So what was Christ's relationship to sin? It says right there in 2 Corinthians 5 21 that Christ was made sin for us who knew no sin. He was not familiar with, he was not intimately acquainted with sin. He was, he is and was then absolutely perfect, holy, just and good.

What do we read in Scripture, 1 Peter 3, 18? For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. That one who was perfect in every way was made sin in his own body. He had to die because he was made sin. The scripture says, the soul that sinneth, it shall die. We have done that, sinned against God. To enter into the law of commandments just to think you can do something worthy of God, you know, as something that you will do, is to enter into the curse. Nehemiah 10, 29, we read. They claimed to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and into an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses, the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord, our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes. By entering into this oath that they would keep God's law, they entered into the curse of it, willingly. because they nor we could keep the law.

But what we are reading here in our text is Christ, our substitute, taking on that curse, which meant he had to die. We read in Galatians 3.13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. For it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. but he is the just one who died for the unjust being made sin for them.

I like what Greg said this past weekend in his message. He says, the gospel is quite simple. This world or us in this flesh make it complicated by introducing lies against God. He was perfect, yet made sin. Both at the same time, The question is, will he bow me down to that truth? Because by nature in this flesh, I will not bow down to that. The just made sin for the unjust, who were made the righteousness of God in him. That's even kind of hard to understand too, ain't it? Two things impossible as it relates to man, but all things are possible with God. We read in this chapter that God did not impute our sin to us, even though we had them, innumerable sins, but they were there. Yet he did not impute our sin to us because of what we read in verse 21, because he made him to be sin for us. This is the ministry of reconciliation he has given to us. And what are we to do with that? Proclaim it.

With God there is no changing who he is and what he has said. It has been said and it's been repeated from God's word, God will not punish an innocent man. God does not commit abominations. Proverbs 17, 15 we read, he that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just, even they both are an abomination to the Lord. Does God justify the wicked? Does God condemn the just? Absolutely not. If he did, he would be an abomination to himself. It is an abomination for God to punish or condemn a just man.

Yet we read he suffered for sins, the just for the unjust. Did God relent on what he said? Jesus Christ died, and that brought with it God the Father forsaking the Son. Is it not condemnation to be forsaken of God? God forsook God, and we cannot explain that, but we have it right there in Scripture. Matthew 27, 46, we read it. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani. That is to say, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Did Jesus Christ get mixed up in his thoughts about his father? Are we going to explain that away as well? We know that's not true. When Christ prayed to the Father, even being forsaken, He looked to the Father for all things, at all times, because He knew no sin, yet He was that sacrifice to the Lord that we read about in Leviticus. But there was none to help. Not even that one where we read in Matthew 17, 15, where he says, while you yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud which said, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.

God the Father forsook him in that hour because we have it recorded in scripture. Why would God the Father do such a thing if he was only a just man? And I know there might be a better way to say that, but if he was only a just man in that hour, why was he forsaken? But he was just because we read that. But he was also made sin, we read that as well. He had to be made sin because he was a just man. He certainly would not commit sin himself because he cannot sin.

The only way this transaction could take place is if God did something that is impossible with man to do. Impossible for man in that man could not and some still don't want Christ to be made sin, even though that is the hope of every believer. But also impossible that any other man could die being sin because fallen sons and daughters of Adam are not just in and of themselves. We are not spotless in and of ourselves, so we are not fit for a sacrifice for the Lord. We are sin itself. Because of that, we commit sins.

He had to be made this because it was not in him to sin. Yet we are told right there in 2 Corinthians 5 21, he hath made him sin for us who knew no sin. And I do believe the whole point that it's there is to show the magnitude of what was done. It's just like that passage Walter brought out to us here a while back. In such weight, it shows the magnitude of what God did. In wrath, remember mercy. Back at 3.2. That's what we're reading out there in 2 Corinthians 5. 21. Wrath brought down on the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the God-man, made like unto his brethren. The wrath of the Father was brought down on him so that we may never see wrath, even though we deserve it completely. We're talking about that great transaction that was done by God the Father to the Son, and the Son willingly subjecting himself to it, being the very just one we worship. He made him sin and his wrath came down on his son so that there would be some who would know mercy and not wrath because of this making, being made sin.

He was made an offense to God and what is it to be made an offense to God? What does that bring with it? He must die. He was condemned to death, was he not? I hear a lot of these folks who want to go back to the Old Testament, and they do this to explain away what God tells us in His Word. It's okay to go back to the Old Testament. I'm not saying that. But when you have clear words such as we read in 2 Corinthians 5, 21, and I've heard them say it, Christ was not made sin. He was imputed our sin. We have clear declaration by God that He did. make him sin. The one who knew no sin, he walked this earth and all the while he did it, he was being perfect. He was absolutely just. He always did the right thing and he could do nothing else. Yet he died. For what? Because he was made sin.

You want to go back to the Old Testament and see what it tells us? Let's look at some Old Testament passages. Christ tells us with his own words in the Psalms, in Psalms 22.1, you don't have to turn to this one, but Psalms 22.1, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my Lord? This is Jesus Christ, of this we have no doubt, do we? Why did this just one say, that one that died, the just for the unjust? His words, not mine, of verse six of Psalm 22. He says, but I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

But there is more, and these passages are still in there, so I'm gonna proclaim them. They can call it foolishness, and some do. I call him my God and my Savior. They are hucksters. Instead of declaring, thus saith the Lord, I want you to listen to what Jesus Christ said. And we know this is Jesus Christ because we have the New Testament, which tells us these very things. So we can now say this is Jesus Christ saying these things. Turn with me to Psalm 69. Psalm 69. I know you all know these. Psalm 69, because they say these are proof texts. Well, they are, because that's what God says in His Word. Psalm 69, first five verses.

Save me, O God, for the waters are come up unto my soul. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying. My throat is dried. Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause, that's Jesus Christ. are more than the hairs of mine head. They that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty. Then I restored that which I took not away. O God, thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are not hid from thee.

This is Jesus Christ speaking. Of this we have no doubt. God makes sure that's so, that we know this. We, no matter what, get more than we deserve. We get better than we deserve. We deserve nothing but condemnation from God, the forsaking of God. But even those who Christ has done nothing for get far better than what they deserve. They get to walk around on this earth for some time using everything He has given them and everything that He has made the whole time they are blaspheming him. We don't deserve that. We deserve everlasting punishment, but God was pleased to make a just man sin, one that knew no sin, one that an evil thought never came into his mind. He did this so that some would see mercy, compassion, favor from God, when they never did anything to deserve such treatment from God. In fact, we are told in Scripture he did this while we were enemies of God, ungodly people and sinners.

But let's read on further in Psalm 69 verses 20 and 21. Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness, and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat, and my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Was not this what they done to him on that tree? He looked simply for someone to help him by giving him something to drink to quench his thirst. in his time of need, but they gave him vinegar. No help came even from those who were right there and gave him something, but they chose to give him something that was of no value to him. That's what we do. That kind of thing comes from this old Adamic heart that we have. We don't do anything for God. We by nature persecute Jesus Christ because we do not or will not believe him. We will not hear his son as he commands us to do. He told all of those people that we read about in the New Testament, he went around telling them the gospel. He was showing them what he would do. But unless he drew them near to himself, they would not have him. Neither would we have him. had he not drawn us to himself.

Those who mock and call foolishness the fact that Jesus Christ was made our sins and bore our sins in his own body, however God was pleased to do that, they show their contempt of God. Christ said himself in verse five of Psalm 69, oh God, thou knowest my foolishness and my sins are not hid from thee.

When he was made sin, bearing our sins in his own body, he felt the shame and the guilt of those sins. Because they were part of him having been made sin, however that it was. A just man made sin and one that knew no sin. Both at the same time. And if you don't believe that, then you don't believe the scripture.

Christ Jesus himself says, speaking to God the Father, thou knowest my foolishness. Jesus Christ being foolish, it seems quite contrary to him to say that, doesn't it? And you know why that is, because it is. He knew no sin, but yet he was made sin. Do you see the magnitude of that transaction?

What else did he say there? My sins are not hid from thee. His sins? But he knew no sin. Can you imagine God in the flesh having sins? It's hard to swallow, isn't it? Yet that's what we read in scripture. The absolute spotless lamb of God was made sin so much so that he cried to God the Father, my sins are not hid from thee.

Because they were not hid, God forsook him. He knew this was going to happen from the beginning. It's just amazing to me to think on these things. The sovereign God from heaven came down to me made in the likeness of this flesh that we have. He lived here and was absolutely perfect so that God the Father said he was well pleased with him.

Yet there came a time ordained of God where he would cry, my sins are not hid from thee, being a substitute for his people. It's a hard pill to swallow, but I'm telling you, it is the only hope of those who are in Christ who ever know the peace of God and peace with God and union with God.

He and what he has done is our only hope of salvation, period. Call me foolish for hoping in him and what he did, all you wish. That's my only hope.

that the Christ of God, God manifest in the flesh, was made sin for me, bearing my sin in his own body. He took them willingly and died for it. He died because it says he gave up the ghost of his own will. That's something we cannot do. Life is taken from us in this world. But those he died for, this flesh, him dying for wicked sinful men who have been saved by the grace of God, it is a blessing because they will then see him as he really is.

They will see that one who died the just for the unjust, that one who was made sin, him who knew no sin, made the very thing I am. He was my substitute. He took my place on that tree and took the curse for me. And that's in for me. And that he died for. Now I don't have to die. I in fact can live unto God because of him. Those for whom he did this for will be raised in everlasting life.

So let's conclude on this point. And you all know this next passage, Romans 4, 24 and 25. You don't have to turn there. It's where we read of Abraham believing God and him accounting or imputing the faith of Christ as their righteousness. And it goes on to say, Romans 4, 24 and 25, but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

He was delivered for our offenses, being made an offense to God. He was made this because there was no other way to do it, seeing that he knew no sin. It pleased God to make him sin for us, so that he might be a just God and a Savior. He could not kill his son had he not been made an offense. He could not justify those who did no sin, thus, and committed and commit sins, because he cannot justify the wicked. But in Jesus Christ, he could be just and justify those that believe.

There's no doubt that he did not know sin. He had no intimate relationship with sin as we do. We drink up iniquity like water. What do we read of him, Hebrews 4.15, for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the filling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin. No matter what trial he was under, not even a hint of sin, it was not possible for him to sin.

But again we read another, 1 Peter 2, 21 and 22. For even here unto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Jesus Christ did not commit sin. He did not think a bad or evil thought, and he did not speak an evil thought. He did not do an evil thing. He was truly just in all that he did.

But yet he was made the very thing he hated and despised. He was made sinful. Romans 3 24 through 26 we read, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. through the forbearance of God to declare, I say at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. So by what was done in the covenant of grace was done for a people to accomplish something. We read it in 2 Corinthians 5.21. You will read of that in that verse. Here is why all that was done, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Because he was raised for our justification. He died to bear and pay the debt of sin we owe, and that debt of sin is death. But God be thanked, his sacrifice being accepted of God the Father, he raised to life.

In order for the sacrifice to be an acceptable sacrifice to God, the sacrifice itself had to be without blemish. We only see this in type as it concerns those animals in the Old Testament. But when we see the Lord, we know how spotless he was. But he did not stay that way, else he would have not been a sacrifice. Sin is punishable by death, so if he was made sin, he had to die, right? It's as simple as that, as profound as that may be. But he died guilty of my offense.

If they brought a sacrifice to be offered up for sin and it already had blemishes, it would need either to have a sacrifice for its own sin, just like the priest did, but even more than that, God would never have accepted that. And we see that in the Old Testament. There was an example when they sent their lame animals to sacrifice and God did not accept them. It had to be spotless. And Jesus Christ was because it says he knew no sin. But it also says he was made sin. He had to be made sin because of the fact that he knew no sin. The fact that he would do this for us is what's so amazing about his grace in this to us.

He was the perfect spotless lamb taking my place by being made sin so that he would die in my stead, that I might be made free in him. Free not to do whatever I want to do, but free to serve Jesus Christ. Instead of me raising my fist against the holy God of scripture as I did in times past, I can rejoice and give thanks to God because of what he has done, working in Christ for me that which is needed to reconcile me to himself. That is worthy of praise. That's worthy of proclaiming no matter what others say. It doesn't matter what I think. It just does not matter. I don't matter. What matters is what God says and that I believe God. He did this all that we might be made something that we are not. The righteousness of God. Not our righteousness, but made the righteousness of God in Christ. And God willing, we will go through that next time we are here. Amen.

Dear Lord God, the wonders of your grace, dear Lord, we can't even fathom. We get a glimpse, dear Lord, and we love to see the glimpse of your son, dear Lord, dying on that tree, taking our place, dear Lord. Remind us all the time of what it took for us to be shown grace, dear Lord. All these things we ask in Christ's name, amen.