Sermon #1282[1]
Title: “He Hath Made Him To Be Sin For Us!”
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:21
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21
Subject: The Substitutionary Work Of Christ
Date: Sunday Morning - May 18, 1997
Tape #: T-71
Introduction:
2 Corinthians 5:21 "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."
What a profound truth, what stupendous grace, what wondrous
mystery these words contain I cannot tell you. “He,” God the
Father, “Hath,” in holy justice and infinite mercy, “Made,”
by divine imputation, “Him,” the Lord Jesus Christ,
his infinite, well-beloved, only begotten, immaculate Son, “To be sin,” an
awful mass of iniquity, “For us,” helpless,
condemned, sinful rebels! From the depths of my inmost soul, I pray that the
Lord will enable me, at least once, before I die, to preach the message of this
text as it ought to be preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. I have nothing
new to say to you this morning. I will not strive to be eloquent or impressive.
I want to simply explain to you, to the best of my ability, under the influence
of the Holy Spirit, the words of our text - “He
hath made him to be sin for us.”
“The heart of the gospel is
redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of
Christ” (C. H. Spurgeon).
What I have to talk about this morning concerns the vital truth of the gospel.
Our text reveals the foundation truth of Christianity, the rock upon which our
hopes are built. This is the only hope of the sinner, and the only joy of the
true believer. I am talking about the great transaction that took place at
Calvary two thousand years ago - The great substitutionary work of Christ, the
mighty transfer of sin from the sinner to the sinner’s Surety - The punishment
of the Surety in the sinner’s place - The pouring out of the vials of Divine
wrath, which were due to us upon the head of our Substitute. This is the greatest transaction that ever
took place upon the earth, the most marvelous sight that men ever saw, and the
most stupendous wonder that heaven ever executed. Jesus Christ was made to
be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Jesus
Christ, the spotless Son of God, was made to be sin!
Proposition: I
have but one purpose in mind today. I want to drive home this one glorious and
awesome truth - Jesus Christ was made
to be sin for us. No man living upon this earth will ever really
understand this truth. Yet, I hope that we will this day be gripped by the
reality of it. Oh, may God cause it to get hold of our hearts!
Divisions:
I want to do three things:
1.
I want to
proclaim the doctrine of our text.
2.
I want us to
worship and adore our gracious God.
3.
I want to
persuade everyone of you to be reconciled to God.
I. I
WANT TO PROCLAIM THE DOCTRINE OF OUR TEXT.
The doctrine of our text is the doctrine of substitution. It
is the great truth of Holy Scripture. And it must be plainly declared. There
are no hidden meanings in my words. The time has come for those who believe the
gospel to plainly declare it in the boldest of terms. I have set my foot down
on this solid pillar of gospel truth. And, God helping me, I never intend to be
moved from it. Substitution will be the one, constant, glorious theme of this
pulpit. The gospel of Christ will not be pushed aside as an old piece of
furniture in this house of worship. Where we began[2] we must
remain. The glorious gospel of substitutionary redemption is the strength, the
glory, and the life of this church.
As I endeavor to set before you the
doctrine of this text, the great and glorious doctrine of Substitutionary
Atonement by our Lord Jesus Christ, I will raise and answer seven questions.
A. Who
was made to be sin for us?
Our text describes our great Surety upon one point only. He
was and is that One “who knew no sin.” The
Lord Jesus Christ, our Substitute was spotless, innocent, and pure. The Son of
God took upon himself human flesh and dwelt among men. Though he was made in
the likeness of sinful flesh, he knew no sin.
1.
He had no
original sin.
2.
He never
committed an act of sin.
3.
He never left
anything undone which ought to have been done.
4.
He never had
any inclination to or thought of sin. His holy mind never produced an evil
though or desire.
5.
It was
absolutely necessary that the sinner’s Substitute be without sin. If he had any
guilt of sin whatsoever, he could not atone for sin.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is such a
Substitute as we need. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from
sinners. He is the embodiment of purity and virtue. As a man he was made under
the law, but he owed nothing to the law. Yet he perfectly fulfilled the law. He
was capable of standing in the room of others, because he was under no
obligations of his own.
6.
Yet this Holy
One voluntarily condescended to be made sin for us! This is amazing love and
grace!
B. Who
made Christ to be sin for us?
“He,”
God the Father, made his son to be sin!
1.
God the Father
appointed Christ to be our Substitute (Job 33:24; Psa. 89:19).
Job 33:24 "Then he is
gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have
found a ransom."
Psalms 89:19 "Then thou
spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people."
2.
God the Father
laid our sin upon his well-beloved Son and charged him with our guilt (Isa.
53:6, 10).
Isaiah 53:6 "All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Isaiah 53:10 "Yet it pleased
the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to
grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD
shall prosper in his hand."
3.
God the Father
gave his Son up to die in the place of sinners (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10).
John 3:16 "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."
1 John 4:10 "Herein is
love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our
sins."
C. When
did the Lord God make his dear Son to be sin for us?
· In His Eternal Decree (Isa. 53:6)
Isaiah
53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we
have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all."
· At Calvary (1 Pet. 2:24)
1
Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his
own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
· In Conversion (Heb. 9:14).
Hebrews
9:14 "How much more shall
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without
spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living
God?"
D. What
was done with the Lord Jesus Christ when he was made to be sin for us?
Now I have come to the heart of my message. I will not even
attempt to explain the text. It is beyond the reach of my mind and yours. I
will simply remind you of this wondrous fact - “He made him to be sin!” Oh, may God the Holy Spirit now burn it
into your heart.
1.
Our Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily took upon himself an
intimate, infinite acquaintance with human sin.
a.
He took our
sins and made them his very own (Psa. 40:12; 69:4-5; 7-9).
Psalms 40:12 "For
innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon
me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine
head: therefore my heart faileth me."
Psalms 69:3-5 "I am weary of
my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. (4) They that hate me without a cause
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. (5) O God, thou
knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee."
Psalms 69:7-9 "Because for
thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. (8) I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my
mother's children. (9) For the zeal
of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached
thee are fallen upon me."
b.
He took our
sins voluntarily (Psa. 40:6-8; Isa. 50:5-7).
Psalms 40:6-8 "Sacrifice and
offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and
sin offering hast thou not required. (7) Then
said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, (8) I
delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."
Isaiah 50:5-7 "The Lord GOD
hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. (6) I gave my back to the smiters, and
my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and
spitting. (7) For the Lord GOD will
help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like
a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."
2.
God almighty delivered his Son over into the hands of Divine
Justice.
He was made to suffer the fullest possible extent and
extremity of God’s infinite and violent wrath. He was made to pay the just
penalty of the law.
3.
God made his Son to be sin!
This was the soul of his sufferings. He who knew no sin was
made to be sin.
John Gill said, “He was made
sin itself by imputation. The sins of all his people were transferred unto him,
laid upon him, and placed to his account. He sustained their persons and bore
their sins. And having them upon him, and being chargable with, and answerable
for them, he was treated by the justice of God as if he had been not only a
sinner, but a mass of sin.”
4.
The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, suffered and died under
the justice and wrath of God as the greatest sinner who ever lived.
He was charged with all the sins of all his people. He was
made to be sin for all God’s elect at once.
·
He suffered
shame and reproach.
·
He was
despised and rejected of men.
·
He was
forsaken by his disciples.
·
He was cursed
and denied by Peter.
·
He was nailed
to the cursed tree.
·
He was mocked,
railed, and spit upon.
·
He was
forsaken by his Father!
Oh, hear that piercing cry!
What can its meaning be?
“My God! My God! Oh! Why hast Thou
In wrath forsaken me?”
It was because our sins
On Him by God were laid;
He who Himself had never sinned,
For sinners, sin was made!
5.
Almighty God drew forth the dreadful sword of justice and
slew his Son in our place!
Who can grasp what I am saying? Who
can enter into its depths? I cannot understand it. I can hardly realize it. But
I can and do believe it. I rest my soul upon it! “He hath made him to be sin for us!” I cannot preach it as I wish I
could. But I can bow down and worship my glorious Surety!
E. For whom Was
Christ made to be sin?
“He hath made
him to be sin for us.”
1.
Christ was
made to be sin for ungodly, helpless sinners (Rom. 5:6-8).
2.
He was made to
be sin for his sheep, his church, his elect people.
3.
He was made to
be sin for us who believe.
F. What are the
results of this mighty substitutionary Sacrifice?
There are some sure, inevitable
results arising from Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice. Nothing was left to
chance, or to the free-will of men. He who died at Calvary died with a specific
purpose. And he will see his purpose accomplished (Isa. 53:10-12).
Isaiah 53:10-12 "Yet it pleased
the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to
grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD
shall prosper in his hand. (11) He
shall see of the travail of his soul, and
shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
(12) Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the
transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the
transgressors."
1.
Justice was
satisfied. All the wrath, condemnation, pain, and agony required by the law and
justice of God for sin was fully endured by Christ.
2.
Sin was
removed.
3.
The law
released its claim upon God’s elect.
4.
The
righteousness of God was made ours.
5.
These things
were accomplished on the spot; and other things were guaranteed by the death of
Christ.
·
The death of
Christ guarantees that every believer will be made perfectly righteous.
·
The death of
Christ guarantees the eternal salvation of all God’s elect.
·
The death of
Christ guarantees that every soul for whom he died will enter into eternal
glory.
Complete atonement Thou hast made,
And to the utmost farthing paid
Whate’er Thy people owed:
Nor can His wrath on me take place,
If sheltered in Thy righteousness,
And sprinkled with Thy blood.
If Thou hast my discharge procured,
And freely in my room endured
The whole of wrath Divine:
Payment God cannot twice demand,
First at my bleeding Surety’s hand,
And then again at mine.
F. Now, why was
the Lord Jesus Christ made to be sin for us?
There are two answers to that question.
1.
He loved us!
“Having loved
his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end!”
2.
There was no
other way by which we could be saved (Matt. 27:42).
Matthew 27:42 "He saved
others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come
down from the cross, and we will believe him."
That is the doctrine of our text. It
is the doctrine of substitution. “He hath
made him to be sin for us.” I wish I could preach it better. But I am
committed to it. I intend to go on preaching it, so long as God gives me grace
and life and strength to do so.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
II. Secondly, I WANT
TO WORSHIP AND ADORE OUR GRACIOUS GOD.
I hope that the substitutionary sacrifice of our Lord Jesus
Christ has become more to you than a mere point of orthodox doctrine. I have
said all that I have said this morning with the desire of stirring up your hearts
to worship him. I try to keep my eyes of faith continually upon that mighty
transaction which took place at Calvary. I look at the substitutionary
sacrifice of Christ with devout adoration. These words overwhelm me - “He hath made him to be sin for us!”
A. Look to
Calvary, my friends, and adore the Lord our God.
1.
Reverently
adore the justice of God - Sooner than tarnish his justice, God bound his Son
to the cross and killed him.
2.
Adore the
wisdom of God.
3.
Adore the
mighty grace of God toward us.
4.
Adore the
infinite holiness of God.
5.
Adore the
immeasurable love of God.
B. Look at the
cross, and lovingly embrace the one who died there in your place.
1.
Remember who
he is.
2.
Remember what
your were.
3.
Remember what
it cost him to have you.
C. Look
continually to the crucified Christ with confident, joyful, expectant faith.
1.
Realize the
perfection of his work.
2.
Rest in the
merits of his blood.
3.
Rejoice in the
pardon of sin.
4.
Rely upon him
alone always and for all things.
O Thou who didst Thy glory leave
Apostate sinners to retreive
From Adam’s deadly fall,
Me Thou hast purchased with a price,
Nor shall my crimes in judgment rise,
For Thou hast borne them all.
Jesus was punished in my stead,
Without the gate my Surety bled
To expiate my sin:
On earth the Godhead deign’d to dwell,
And made of infinite avail
The sufferings of the man.
And was He for such rebels given?
He was; the incarnate King of heaven
Did for His foes expire:
Amazed, O earth, the tidinngs hear;
He bore that we might never bear
His Father’s righteous ire.
Ye saints, the Man of Sorrows bless,
The God for your unrighteousness
Appointed to atone:
Praise Him, till with the heavenly throng,
Ye sing the never ending song,
And see Him on His throne.
III. One more thing I must do before I am finished - I WANT TO PERSUADE EVERYONE OF YOU TO BE
RECONCILED TO GOD (v. 20).
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 "Now then we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
(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."
How can I plead with you, reason with
you, and persuade you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? I preach to you and
call upon you in God’s stead to be reconciled to him by faith in Christ.
A. God is a God
of terrible wrath and justice. He will punish sin (v. 11).
2 Corinthians 5:10-11 "For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (11) Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;
but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your
consciences."
B. God is ready,
willing, and able to save sinners for Christ’s sake.
C. The blood of
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, will effectually cleanses every believing sinner.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
D. Today is the
day of salvation. Do not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1-2).
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also
that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in
the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"
Conclusion:
I finish my message as I began it. I send you home with
these words. Oh, may God the Holy Spirit burn them into your hearts today - “He hath made Him to be sin for us!”
1. This is my only hope - “He
hath made Him to be sin for us!”
2. This is my only comfort - “He hath made Him to be sin for us!”
3. This is my soul’s inspiration - “He hath made Him to be sin for us!”
4. This is my message - “He
hath made Him to be sin for us!”