2 Corinthians 5:21

2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 Corinthians 5:21 This verse is one of the most important in all of Scripture for understanding the meaning of the atonement and justification. The one who knew no sin is Jesus Christ (v. 2 Corinthians 5:20), and he (God) made him (Christ) to be sin. God the Father made Christ to be viewed and treated as “sin” even though Christ himself never sinned (Hebrews 4:15; see Galatians 3:13). For our sake. God viewed and treated “our” sin as if it belonged to Christ himself. Thus Christ “died for all” (2 Corinthians 5:14) and became our substitute. Christ took the punishment that we deserved (1 Peter 2:24). The background for this is Isaiah 53:1, the most lengthy and detailed OT prophecy of Christ’s death. It contains several parallels to 2 Corinthians 5:21. so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Just as God gave our sin and guilt to Christ (“he made him to be sin”) so God also gives Christ’s righteousness to all who believe in Christ. God now views and treats believers as having the legal status of “righteousness.” See further notes on Romans 5:18; Romans 10:3; Romans 10:6; see also Isaiah 53:11.