the flesh: See study note on 6:19.
in the likeness of sinful man: Jesus fully shared human flesh and life in a world ruled by sin. He identified with sinful people so that he could act as their representative. At the same time, he did not himself commit sin.
an offering for sin: In the Greek Old Testament, this phrase frequently describes a sin offering, and three of the eight New Testament occurrences also have this meaning (Hebrews 10:6, 8; 13:11). Christ was the sin offering that brought forgiveness and turned away God’s wrath against sin. God judged sin in Christ, our substitute (the one who took our place), so that we could escape judgment.