We have seen that God “imputed” our sins to Jesus’ account. Our sin nature that made us children of the devil was put on Jesus. He suffered the wrath of God at the crucifixion in our place. This is why He cried out, “My God, my God; why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
Jesus was the Son of God. He did not become sin because of something that He did. He took the sin of the entire world into His body on the cross to obtain an eternal redemption for humanity.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
2 Peter 2:24
Jesus took our sin and “bare” it in His body. This included both our sin actions and sin nature.
When a person invites Jesus in their heart they pray a prayer of repentance. This does not need to include a repentance for “sins” (plural). I have heard Christians tell people they need to confess their “sins” in order for forgiveness to be granted. Our “sins” were forgiven through the redemptive work of Christ before any of us were alive! A sinner now only needs to confess their “sin” (singular) giving reference to their “sin” nature.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
People invariably will point to this Scripture. John does tell us to “confess our sins” (plural). This is commonly used to guide people into the prayer of salvation but it was not addressed to unbelievers.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 16:29-31
Paul did not ask the Philippian jailer to pray a prayer of repentance. Notice that he also did not ask him to repent of his “sins”. He simply told him to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”. This is much different from what we do today.
Jesus took our “sin” nature and provided us His righteousness. Unbelievers do not need to confess their “sins” to receive forgiveness. We were born in sin and confess our sin nature when inviting Jesus to save us. If He required us to confess our sins we would have to confess every one that has ever been committed from birth forward. It is impossible to think that would work because there would be some sins we would forget to confess!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
The “old things” Paul is referencing are a result of our sin nature. When a person receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the nature they were born with is exchanged for God’s nature. This is the sin nature and it “passes” away.
It seems as if the majority of Christians live in condemnation bound up by a consciousness of sin because they lack revelation of these truths that are foundational to our being able to live a victorious Christian life.
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