Month: September 2024

(KJV) 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.

God’s Word nowhere states that Christ actually became a “sinner,” for He remained the perfect and spotless Lamb of God (the only complete sacrifice for sins; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Revelation 5:6, 12). But Jesus did take all our sin upon Himself and God the Father made Him the object of His judgment when Jesus paid our death penalty on the cross (Isaiah 53:10). By willingly giving His perfect life as a substitute for our sinful lives, Jesus endured the full grief and punishment for all sin of all time and paid our debt to God in full. Jesus satisfied God’s perfect justice and made it possible for us to receive His forgiveness if we willingly accept His sacrifice for ourselves and surrender our old lives to Him in exchange for His new and eternal life (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 3:24-25).

Righteousness refers to being in a right relationship with God and having the ability – through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit – to live in a way that is right by God’s standard.

1. Righteousness here does not refer to a person’s own ability to keep God’s law. No one can get right with God through good works, and no one can keep God’s law in their own ability. The only way we can become righteous is by accepting the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins and by surrendering our own sinful lives to Christ in return for the new life that comes through faith and devotion to Him (Philippians 3:9; Romans 3:21, 4:5, 22).
2. Believers experience and reflect God’s righteousness to others by growing in their relationship with Christ and by continually surrendering their lives to His purposes. The whole context of the passage (2 Corinthians 5:14-21; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 2 Corinthians 5:20) is concerned with believers living for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15), being controlled by “Christ’s love” (2 Corinthians 5:14), becoming a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), being Christ’s representatives in this world and leading others into a relationship with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Corinthians 1:30). Only to the extent that we are united with Christ in a close relationship do we become the righteousness of God (John 15:4-5; Galatians 2:20, 1 John 1:9).

• NIV Bible
• King James Bible
• www. biblegateway.com
• www.biblestudytools.com
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• Ballpoint Pens
• Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

1. CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20
2. RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-19
3. SATAN HIMSELF MASQUERADES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT / 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14
4. GOD OF THIS AGE BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS / 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4
5. GIVEN OVER TO DEATH / 2 CORINTHIANS 4:11-12
6. WEAPONS WE FIGHT WITH 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4
7. Guided By Grace About

• Facebook
• Google
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• X
• YouTube
• Etsy

(KJV) 2 Corinthians 5:20

 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.

An ambassador (Greek presbeuomen – “Ambassadors”) is an officially authorized representative of one country (and its government) to another. Paul was serving Jesus Christ as an ambassador (Ephesians 6:20) in that he was speaking with Christ’s authority in every effort to restore individuals to a right relationship with God. In this same effort, all Christ’s followers are to serve as His ambassadors, bringing His message, doing His work and representing His kingdom to those who do not yet have a personal relationship with God. Christ has not left us His Spirit to guide and empower us for service (Acts 1:8).

• NIV Bible
• King James Bible
• www. biblegateway.com
• www.biblestudytools.com
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• Ballpoint Pens
• Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

1. RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-19
2. SATAN HIMSELF MASQUERADES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT / 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14
3. GOD OF THIS AGE BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS / 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4
4. GIVEN OVER TO DEATH / 2 CORINTHIANS 4:11-12
5. WEAPONS WE FIGHT WITH 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4
6. Guided By Grace About

• Facebook
• Google
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• X
• YouTube
• Etsy

(KJV) 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Reconciliation (Greek katallage) is one part of Christ’s work of redemption (spiritual salvation, restoration, and renewal). To be reconciled to God means to be restored to a right relationship with Him.

1. The sin and rebellion of the human race have resulted in hostility toward God and separation from Him (Ephesians 2:3; Colossians 1:21). This rebellion brings God’s wrath – His justified anger – and judgment (Romans 1:18, 24-32; 1Corinthians 15:25-26; Ephesians 5:6). Our sin is so completely opposed to God’s perfect character that it required the most extreme penalty: death and eternal separation from God (Romans 5:12; 6:2).
2. Since we cannot earn or make our way to God through our own imperfect efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), God Himself chose to lovingly provide the perfect payment for our offenses against Him. He did so by sending His Son, Jesus (John 3:16), to pay our penalty and die in our place, bridging the gap between God and people (1 Peter 3:18). Through Christ’s atoning (sin-coving, forgiveness-providing) death, God has removed the barrier of sin and opened a way for the sinner to return to God (2 Corinthians 5:19; Romans 3:25; 5:10; Ephesians 2:15-16).
3. Reconciliation becomes effective for each person only through personal repentance (admitting and turning from sin, accepting God’s forgiveness, yielding one’s life to Christ, and surrendering to His purposes, Matthew 3:2). This is a step that must be taken by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22).
4. The church (all of Christ’s true followers) has been given the ministry of reconciliation – the opportunity and responsibility to spread Christ’s message and to help others be reconciled and restored to a right relationship with God (2 Corinthians 5:2; Romans 3:25).

• NIV Bible
• King James Bible
• www. biblegateway.com
• www.biblestudytools.com
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• Ballpoint Pens
• Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

1. SATAN HIMSELF MASQUERADES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT / 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14
2. GOD OF THIS AGE BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS / 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4
3. GIVEN OVER TO DEATH / 2 CORINTHIANS 4:11-12
4. WEAPONS WE FIGHT WITH 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4
5. Guided By Grace About

• Facebook
• Google
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• X
• YouTube
• Etsy