What is the context?
Paul identifies God as the source of the new life he has described. Reconciliation means a broken relationship being put right: God has brought them to Himself through Christ and entrusted them with that message for others.
The message concerns God’s work in Christ, not counting people’s trespasses against them. Paul and his companions serve as ambassadors, carrying an appeal on Christ’s behalf. They do not present themselves as the source of forgiveness.
The appeal is direct: be reconciled to God. Paul’s description of God’s initiative leads to a call to respond, rather than a declaration that no response matters.
The final verse holds Christ’s innocence and His work for others together. The one who knew no sin is made to be sin on their behalf, so that in Him they might become God’s righteousness. The BSB also notes sin offering as an alternative rendering. The verse does not describe Jesus committing sin.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Christians commonly understand reconciliation as God’s saving work through the sinless Christ, but explain becoming God’s righteousness in different ways.
The Reformed Westminster Confession 11.1–2 describes God forgiving sins and counting believers righteous because of Christ’s obedience, received through faith. It distinguishes that acceptance from inward change while insisting that the faith receiving it is accompanied by love. The Catholic Catechism 1989–1991 includes forgiveness and inward renewal together in its account of being made right with God.
Wesley’s note on verse 21 speaks of Christ as a sin offering and of righteousness both credited and planted within the believer. These readings should be described in their own terms, rather than reduced to a contrast between Christians who value faith and Christians who try to earn salvation.
Where does this fit in God's plan?
Isaiah 53:4–6 describes the servant bearing others’ sorrows and iniquities, with peace coming through His suffering. 1 Peter 2:22–25 explicitly applies the sinless servant’s suffering to Jesus and says He bore sins so that people might die to sin and live to righteousness.
That explicit New Testament connection places Paul’s reconciliation appeal within God’s saving purpose through the innocent Son. The aim includes people brought back to God and a life turned toward righteousness, grounded in what Christ has done for them.
What is our position?
Our study The Gospel According to Jesus affirms that Christ died for our sins and rose, bringing salvation from sin and the separation it produces as a gift of grace received through faith. That established gospel core supports the reconciliation announced here. The study does not settle every explanation of becoming God’s righteousness or the precise meaning of Christ being made sin in verse 21.