He Became Sin? Well, yes but so much more!

As studied and growing Christians we know that Christ became sin though he knew not sin himself. I wonder what that must have been like for him. Having lived 33 years (on Earth) without ever experiencing the pain of sin, being able to identify sin but never knowing it, how much that must have hurt; physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Way beyond my capacity to tolerate for certain.

I realize too that when Christ took on our sins, God did not forgive him. Instead He killed Him. Such a hard thought it defies reason. But that is only true when examining the situation from one side. For on the other side of that horrible cross, Christ continued to become. He did not stop 'becoming' once he became our sin.

Consider;

Hebrews 5:9 (NIV)

⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ^[1]

^[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

The word perfect immediately caught my attention. Before I consulted my materials I knew that word meant 'complete.' We've heard the words of Christ "It is finished!" What exactly was finished? Why it was the perfection of Christ Jesus. And in his 'becoming' he became the source of eternal salvation; the perpetual fount of every blessing. The sin he had 'become' had died on the cross with him as the law was fulfilled. God's requirements met, his anger abated and joy begun.

But let's not overlook the last part. God has fulfilled his promise and Christ his obligation. God has done everything He needs to do to allow reconciliation between the created and the Creator. All that remains is our part.

We know that at the beginning of our part is 'fear of the Lord' for that is the beginning of the truest wisdom. Yet even Satan fears the Lord so that cannot be the sum of our part. To fear we must add faith and when the two react, springs forth love. Here too, Lucifer knows the truth of God and I suppose in some manner this prevents faith. If not, then the reaction of fear and faith to bring forth love is made ineffective by his self-love. Nevertheless, fear, faith, love leads to the greater things of God and underlying them is the foundation of obedience.

As we see in this verse, the obedience ushers in the realization of the perfection of Christ, the culmination as it were of all he did and does. In this He is truly the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Love Ya!

Carl