“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself” (Hebrews 7:26,27).

Again and again we are told two things in Scripture: first, that Jesus Christ was without sin of His own; second, that He died in substitution for the penalty of our sins. He was utterly “separate from sinners,” yet “He offered up Himself” to die for our sins.

It is clear that He “did no sin,” but then He “bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (I Peter 2:22,24). Nor did He have a sin-nature, for “in Him is no sin” (I John 3:5). Further, He “knew no sin,” yet God “hath made Him to be sin for us” (II Corinthians 5:21). He did no sin, knew no sin, and had no sin, but He was made sin, and bore our sins!

“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (I Peter 3:18). “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). In many ways, these great themes appear time after time in the New Testament. Here is another: “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold. . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:18,19).

Yet it is in the Old Testament (Isaiah 52:13–53:12) that we find the fullest exposition of this incomparable truth. For example: “He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to . . . make His soul an offering for sin. . . . My righteous servant (shall) justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:9–11). Therefore, since He died for us, we should live for Him. HMM