5:17 new creature. The miracle of regeneration—being born again and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the spiritual body of Christ—is a true miracle of special creation (not psychological redirection, or anything of that sort), comparable in quality (not quantity) to the creation of the universe. No natural process can accomplish or explain such a miracle.

5:21 knew no sin. According to Paul, Christ “knew no sin.” Peter says He “did no sin” (I Peter 2:22) and John says that “in Him is no sin” (I John 3:5). Yet He was “made sin” for us, suffering and dying as the “propitiation…for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2), in order to reconcile God to sinful mankind. Then we are “made the righteousness of God,” being given credit before God for His perfect righteousness. No wonder Paul could say: “The love of Christ constraineth us” (II Corinthians 5:14).