Who was actually on the cross according to 2 Corinthians 5:19?
Second Corinthians 5:19 teaches that God was in Christ on the cross. The One crucified was the Creator of the universe, the same God of Genesis 1:1, who took on flesh. He had to be God to taste death for every man and pay the sin debt of every human being.
Les explains that verse 19 means God was in Christ as He hung on that cross. It was the Creator of the universe who hung there—Jesus of Calvary was the same God of Genesis 1:1 who called everything into being. He had to be God, or He could never have tasted death for every man or paid the sin debt of every human being. Paul is telling us God was in Christ reconciling the world back to Himself after Adam lost it, not imputing trespasses until a lost person dies.
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.