He Who Knew No Sin

"Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf;
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"
(II Corinthians 5:21).

     That Jesus alone knew no sin is a great theme of the Bible. "For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). We remember the series of temptations Satan used against Him in the wilderness, yet he was able to withstand because He was aware of God's will in all these matters. He did not yield. He knew no sin.

     The whole of the book of Hebrews speaks of the better things relating to the Christ. He is a superior high priest to those of the covenant given through Moses. "For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all when he offered up himself" (Hebrews 7:26,27). Such sacrifice satisfied for all time rather than for one year only.

     Not only does the writer of the Hebrews letter speak of these better things, but Peter also echoed the sinlessness of the Christ. "For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (I Peter 2:21,22).

     "And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin" (I John 3:5). It would seem the world's greatest injustice. He had never sinned. He was the only perfect human being, yet he suffered a cruel death for sin. Why would such a think happen?

     The scriptures that speak of His sinless nature also speak of the reason for His death. He did it for me. I could not satisfy God's requirements for a perfect sacrifice. "...that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21b).

     Had it not been for the love of God and the willingness of Christ to put such perfect life on the line for us, there would have been no hope for us. Sin is a devastating thing, the wages of which are death (cf. Romans 6:23). But the price has been paid: a price that we could not possibly have paid. He who knew no sin paid the ransom price for my sins, and your sins; not for sins that He had committed.