Jesus Became Sin?

[Paladin D]

Did Jesus become Sin, when He died? Thats what some claim, using this verse as an example...

2 Cor 5:21 - "For he made him to be sin for us"

...anyway to explain this? Isn't it impossible for God to sin, since He's all good?

Edited October 15, 2003 by Paladin D

[willguy]

Yes it is impossible to sin. Therefore, Jesus didn't sin. No one said He did. 2 Cor. says that He was made "to be sin" for us. It's a very mystic sort of idea, and I don't have the eliquence to describe it the way I want to. Someone help!

[ironmonk]

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sec...chpt2art4p2.htm

"He died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures"

601

The Scriptures had foretold this divine plan of salvation through the putting to death of "the righteous one, my Servant" as a mystery of universal redemption, that is, as the ransom that would free men from the slavery of sin.397 Citing a confession of faith that he himself had "received," St. Paul professes that "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures."398 In particular Jesus' redemptive death fulfills Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering Servant.399 inDouche Jesus himself explained the meaning of his life and death in the light of God's suffering Servant.400 After his Resurrection he gave this interpretation of the Scriptures to the disciples at Emmaus, and then to the apostles.401

"For our sake God made him to be sin"

602

Consequently, St. Peter can formulate the apostolic faith in the divine plan of salvation in this way: "You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers . . . with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake."402 Man's sins, following on original sin, are punishable by death.403 By sending his own Son in the form of a slave, in the form of a fallen humanity, on account of sin, God "made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."404

603

Jesus did not experience reprobation as if he himself had sinned.405 But in the redeeming love that always united him to the Father, he assumed us in the state of our waywardness of sin, to the point that he could say in our name from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"406 Having thus established him in solidarity with us sinners, God "did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all," so that we might be "reconciled to God by the death of his Son."407

God takes the initiative of universal redeeming love

604

By giving up his own Son for our sins, God manifests that his plan for us is one of benevolent love, prior to any merit on our part: "In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins."408 God "shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."409

605

At the end of the parable of the lost sheep Jesus recalled that God's love excludes no one: "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."410 He affirms that he came "to give his life as a ransom for many"; this last term is not restrictive, but contrasts the whole of humanity with the unique person of the redeemer who hands himself over to save us.411 The Church, following the apostles, teaches that Christ died for all men without exception: "There is not, never has been, and never will be a single human being for whom Christ did not suffer."412

III. Christ Offered Himself to His Father for Our Sins

Christ's whole life is an offering to the Father

606

The Son of God, who came down "from heaven, not to do [his] own will, but the will of him who sent [him],"413 said on coming into the world, "Lo, I have come to do your will, O God." "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."414 From the first moment of his Incarnation the Son embraces the Father's plan of divine salvation in his redemptive mission: "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work."415 The sacrifice of Jesus "for the sins of the whole world"416 expresses his loving communion with the Father. "The Father loves me, because I lay down my life," said the Lord, "[for] I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father."417

607

The desire to embrace his Father's plan of redeeming love inspired Jesus' whole life,418 for his redemptive passion was the very reason for his Incarnation. And so he asked, "And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour."419 And again, "Shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?"420 From the cross, just before "It is finished," he said, "I thirst."421

"The Lamb who takes away the sin of the world"

608

After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."422 By doing so, he reveals that Jesus is at the same time the suffering Servant who silently allows himself to be led to the slaughter and who bears the sin of the multitudes, and also the Paschal Lamb, the symbol of Israel's redemption at the first Passover.423 Christ's whole life expresses his mission: "to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."424

Jesus freely embraced the Father's redeeming love

609

By embracing in his human heart the Father's love for men, Jesus "loved them to the end," for "greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."425 In suffering and death his humanity became the free and perfect instrument of his divine love which desires the salvation of men.426 inDouche, out of love for his Father and for men, whom the Father wants to save, Jesus freely accepted his Passion and death: "No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord."427 Hence the sovereign freedom of God's Son as he went out to his death.428

At the Last Supper Jesus anticipated the free offering of his life

610

Jesus gave the supreme expression of his free offering of himself at the meal shared with the twelve Apostles "on the night he was betrayed."429 On the eve of his Passion, while still free, Jesus transformed this Last Supper with the apostles into the memorial of his voluntary offering to the Father for the salvation of men: "This is my body which is given for you." "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."430

611

The Eucharist that Christ institutes at that moment will be the memorial of his sacrifice.431 Jesus includes the apostles in his own offering and bids them perpetuate it.432 By doing so, the Lord institutes his apostles as priests of the New Covenant: "For their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth."433

God Bless, Your Servant in Christ,

ironmonk

[Paladin D]

I'm lame .

I still don't understand.

[BLAZEr]

I'm lame (and blind and deaf) too, but let me give it a shot:

You have to understand what the Jews used to do in the temple in order to understand how Jesus "became sin." The Jews used to offer sacrifices and holocausts (lambs, doves, sparrows, etc.) and have the Priests kill these animals and burn them on an altar to offer to God in honor of him, or to make up for some wrong that they did. The animal would represent their sin, and they would burn it up to represent their sin being burnt up and their life being turned around. In this way they would be "made clean."

There were some people who were too poor to even offer those sacrifices. Sometimes other people would pay for their sacrifice and then it would be offered in honor of the person who needed to be "made clean." The Jews believed that God accepted this sacrifice, paid for by someone else.

Similarly there were very rich Jews who had slaves and if they had to do some type of sacrifice or prayer, they would have their slaves stand in the Temple and offer prayer on their behalf. The Jews also thought that God accepted the slave's offering on behalf of their master.

Now, think about all of humanity. We had a debt so big, we had sin so great that we could not, on our own, offer enough sacrifices or prayers or oblations to ever make up for it. The only way that we could possibly be redeemed is if God Himself would offer up an oblation on our behalf.

That's exactly what God does in Jesus Christ. He sends Jesus to the world to offer a Perfect Sacrifice, a complete and final oblation that all of Humanity could hereby and until the end of time, be cleansed through. Jesus is the "Lamb of God" who was offered as a sin offering to God. Jesus is "made sin" like the lambs offered by priests in the Temple and like the lambs, who were innocent of sin, Jesus is innocent of sin, but he is "made sin" in order to free those who are sinful.

The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross is the salvation of the world. It is through this sacrifice that all of humanity is made clean. Everyone, before and after the day of the crucifixion, has access to this sacrifice through Jesus Christ. The Church makes this sacrifice (the same one on Calvary 2000 years ago) present every day in the Holy Mass. We remember this moment, we make it present again through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which makes the Body and Blood of Jesus present, so that all men might be saved.

This is why Catholics say that we don't "crucify Christ again" in the mass. In fact, we are only making present (in a mysterious but real way) that same single offering of Christ on the Cross.

[Katholikos]

I'm lame (and blind and deaf) too, but let me give it a shot:

You have to understand what the Jews used to do in the temple in order to understand how Jesus "became sin."  The Jews used to offer sacrifices and holocausts (lambs, doves, sparrows, etc.) and have the Priests kill these animals and burn them on an altar to offer to God in honor of him, or to make up for some wrong that they did.  The animal would represent their sin, and they would burn it up to represent their sin being burnt up and their life being turned around.  In this way they would be "made clean."

There were some people who were too poor to even offer those sacrifices.  Sometimes other people would pay for their sacrifice and then it would be offered in honor of the person who needed to be "made clean."  The Jews believed that God accepted this sacrifice, paid for by someone else.

Similarly there were very rich Jews who had slaves and if they had to do some type of sacrifice or prayer, they would have their slaves stand in the Temple and offer prayer on their behalf.  The Jews also thought that God accepted the slave's offering on behalf of their master.

Now, think about all of humanity.  We had a debt so big, we had sin so great that we could not, on our own, offer enough sacrifices or prayers or oblations to ever make up for it.  The only way that we could possibly be redeemed is if God Himself would offer up an oblation on our behalf.

That's exactly what God does in Jesus Christ.  He sends Jesus to the world to offer a Perfect Sacrifice, a complete and final oblation that all of Humanity could hereby and until the end of time, be cleansed through.  Jesus is the "Lamb of God" who was offered as a sin offering to God.  Jesus is "made sin" like the lambs offered by priests in the Temple and like the lambs, who were innocent of sin, Jesus is innocent of sin, but he is "made sin" in order to free those who are sinful.

The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross is the salvation of the world.  It is through this sacrifice that all of humanity is made clean.  Everyone, before and after the day of the crucifixion, has access to this sacrifice through Jesus Christ.  The Church makes this sacrifice (the same one on Calvary 2000 years ago) present every day in the Holy Mass.  We remember this moment, we make it present again through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which makes the Body and Blood of Jesus present, so that all men might be saved.

This is why Catholics say that we don't "crucify Christ again" in the mass.  In fact, we are only making present (in a mysterious but real way) that same single offering of Christ on the Cross.

crrrrreak, SNAP

That's the sound of my elbow creaking, followed by a snappy salute.

amesome answer, BLAZEr, simply amesome.

[cmotherofpirl]

Go read Leviticus 4 :13-21.

THen read Is53:11 and Acts 3:14 then finally John 8:34-36

then the CCC 601

"Jesus did not experience reprobation as if he himself had sinned. But in the redeeming love that always unitedhim to the Father, he assumed us in our state of waywardness of sin, to the point he could say in our name from the cross:'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" ccc

[cmotherofpirl]

Remember we do not take verses in isolation from one another. THe Church says Scripture ( which is a product of the Church) is read as a whole piece, not piece- meal.

[Aloysius]

Remember we do not take verses in isolation from one another. THe Church says Scripture ( which is a product of the Church) is read as a whole piece, not piece- meal.

Amen!