2 Corinthians 5:20-21God’s Plan: The Innocent for the Guilty

V.20- we beg youBeg- to ask for with urgency, with the implication of presumed

need—‘to plead. ImploreWe

Ambassadors- One who speaks and/or acts on the authority of another

As though God were making an appeal through us“Paul’s appeal throbbed with divine conviction. The

passion that welled in God’s heart rose in Paul’s heart.”“Get reconciled to God; and do it now!”

V.21- He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin

The Testimony of PilateLuke 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,

"I find no guilt in this man." Luke 23:13-14 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers

and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man

Luke 23:22 And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death;

The testimony of the criminal crucified alongside JesusLuke 23:41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are

receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

The testimony of a Roman centurionLuke 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened,

he began praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent."

The Testimony of ScriptureHebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot

sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

The Testimony of GodMatthew 3:16-17 After being baptized, Jesus came up

immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"

“Jesus did not go to the cross because fickle people turned on Him, though they did. He did not go to the cross because demon-deceived false religious leaders plotted Hi death, though they did. He did not go to the cross because Judas betrayed Him, though he did. He did not die because and angry, unruly mob intimidated a Roman governor into sentencing Him to crucifixion, though they did. Jesus went to the cross as the outworking of God’s plan to reconcile sinners to Himself.”

V.21- He (God) made [Him (Jesus)] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,

Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely [our griefs] He Himself bore, And [our sorrows] He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for [our transgressions], He was crushed for [our iniquities]; The chastening for [our well-being] fell upon Him, And by His scourging [we are healed]. 6 [All of us like sheep have gone astray], [Each of us has turned to his own way]; But the LORD has caused [the iniquity of us all] To fall on Him.

Mark 15:33-34 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

• We could not bear to live in a world where wrong is taken lightly and where right and wrong finally make no difference. Spare me a gospel of easy love that makes of my life a thing without consequence. Atonement is not an accountant's trick. It is not a kindly overlooking; it is not a "not counting" of what must count if anything in heaven or on earth is to matter. God could not simply decide not to count without declaring that we do not count.

V.21- He (God) made [Him (Jesus)] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God [in Him].

Romans 3:21-26 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

V.19- not counting their trespasses against them Obvious behavior designed to remove hostility

“On the cross God treated Jesus as if He had lived our lives with all our sin, so that God could then treat us as if we lived Christ’s life of pure holiness. Our sinful life was legally charged to Him on the cross, as if He had lived it out, so that His righteous life could be credited to us, as if we lived it.”

V.17- If anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creatureOld things passed awayNEW things have come and continue coming!

V.18- Who reconciled us to Himself through ChristReconciliation

To reestablish proper friendly interpersonal relations after these have been [disrupted or broken]

V.19- He has committed to us the word of reconciliationV.20- we are ambassadors for ChristV.20- as though God were making an appeal

through us

2 Corinthians 5:20-21God’s Plan: The Innocent for the Guilty