“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (JOHN 3:16).
1, 2. Why do we say that human beings find ourselves in a situation similar to that of the young man in paragraph 1?
Because, just as the young man inherited a great debt that he could not pay, we inherit sin and death from Adam. That inheritance affects us all, and it is like a debt so great that none of us can pay off alone.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
What happens to this young man is that he has very rich parents, but one day he finds out that they died in an accident. But that's not the only bad news he receives. When his parents die, he realizes that they have squandered all their assets and, not only that, but they also left behind large debts. The situation has reached such a point that now they are demanding that debt from him... but he cannot pay it. In fact, you will never be able to pay it. Really, the situation of this young man is tremendous.
Just as the young man was not to blame for his parents' decisions, but still had to suffer the consequences, we, human beings, are in the same way. We did not commit original sin, but we have inherited it and we suffer its effects: imperfection, suffering and death. As Psalm 49:8 says, "The ransom price for your life is so high that it is always out of reach." And this is how we find ourselves: with a debt that we cannot pay.
If this young man had not found himself with that debt, his life would surely have been peaceful, since, as mentioned at the beginning of the paragraph, his parents were very rich. Then, I would have had no financial problems or worries. However, because of that debt, he had to face them.
Something similar happens to us. Jehovah created us humans to live happily and in full health, but because of the inheritance that Adam left us—sin and death—we cannot fully enjoy it.
3. In what sense are sins like debts?
Because, by sinning, we fail Jehovah and incur a debt with Him. Jesus compared sins to debts. That debt could only be paid with death. Because of the ransom he provided, Jehovah can forgive us that debt.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As the paragraph says very well, when we sin, in the end we contract a debt with Jehovah. But, thanks to Him, we have been given the possibility of being free from that debt.
Luke 11:4 puts it quite well when it says, "Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is in our debt." That is, it comes to the same thing; the words are similar.
Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Therefore, thanks to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, we have favor with Jehovah, and He can forgive us our sins.
4. a) Without help, what would become of us? (Psalm 49:7-9).
Without help, we could not recover what Adam and Eve lost, such as eternal life or the hope of being resurrected. According to Psalm 49:7-9, no one can pay for himself or others to be free from sin and death. Without Jehovah's intervention, our destiny would be like that of animals: without hope for a future life.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As we read in verse 8, the price of ransom is so high that it will always be out of our reach. Therefore, on our own we cannot recover what Adam and Eve lost, and we would not have the opportunity to live forever.
In Ecclesiastes 3:19 humans are compared to animals. It is said that we would both have had the same ending: being born and then dying.
Verse 7 of Psalms makes it clear to us that it is not in anyone's hands, because it clearly explains that none of them will ever be able to redeem anyone. No one could pay this price to free us from the inheritance that our first parents have left us.
4. b) What meanings does the word sin have in the Bible? (See “Sin” box).
In the Bible, the word sin has several meanings:
First: the original sin or transgression that Adam committed against Jehovah.
Second: the imperfection that we have inherited from Adam, that is, the tendency that pushes us to think and desire bad things.
Third: each of the bad things we do, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, due to that bad tendency that we have inherited.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
First, the sin that Adam committed against Jehovah by disobeying him. In Genesis 3:17-19, Jehovah told him what the consequences of this disobedience would be. From having an easy life, from then on his life would become very difficult. Furthermore, as a consequence, he would return to dust, that is, he would die, even though he could have lived forever.
There is also the imperfection that we carry, which we have inherited from Adam, and which, from the beginning, leads us to have bad tendencies or incorrect ways of thinking. Therefore, as Psalm 51:5 says: "When I was born I was already guilty of error, and my mother conceived me in sin."
The third meaning is those bad things that we do, moved by this bad tendency. James 1:14 explains that, when we have a desire, perhaps to do something bad, and this desire becomes fertile and gives birth to sin, that is, that evil action against what seems good to God.
Understanding these three meanings of sin makes us realize that we really have no escape from it. That is why we need help, which is what the paragraph said, because we cannot control what Adam did, nor can we control how we are born, and, since we are born sinners, we cannot control what we do many times. So we need that help.
5. What has Jehovah done to help us pay the debt of sin? (See image).
Jehovah has provided us with a priceless gift to pay the sin debt we inherited from Adam: the sacrifice of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. By delivering Jesus, Jehovah made it possible for us to be forgiven and freed from the condemnation of sin. This gift not only pays our debt, but also allows us to enjoy a restored relationship with God.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jehovah gave the life of his son, Jesus, to save us from sin.
As we see, Jehovah helped us pay the debt of sin by giving his son. In this way, with the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ, he helps us to reconcile with Him. Thanks to this gift, we can have a good relationship with Jehovah and the hope of eternal life, as John 3:16 shows us.
To illustrate this, we can continue with the example mentioned in the first paragraph, which asks the question of how this rich man would feel if someone offered to pay his debts. Well, it is clear that this man would be very happy and grateful throughout his life. In the same way, it would happen to us.
In the image we can see how Jesus explained very well what Jehovah did, and he did it out of love. He preached that good news about how much Jehovah loves us and how he is going to save us. That rich man had to have a lot of money to pay the debt, because Jehovah showed us a lot of love. The price he paid was very high, as we see in the image: the death of his son, whom he loved the most.
When we think about the great love that Jehovah showed by sending his son to die, it also makes us think about the great love that Jesus showed by giving his life for us. Jesus could have refused, he could have said: "There are many angels, I do a job with you." However, he didn't say that. When his father said to him, "Does this need to be remedied?" Jesus wanted to cooperate with his father. So, he also showed great love for all his creation.
It is very striking that the question asks: "What has Jehovah done to help us pay the debt?" He says "help us", making us understand that something is still missing. As John 3:16 says, we may have to demonstrate faith in that sacrifice. And now, when we already have that faith, is when Jehovah helps us pay that debt.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. Jesus speaking during the night. 2. Some Roman soldiers take Jesus' body down from the torture stake.
Jesus preached the good news about Jehovah’s forgiveness, which is made possible by the ransom (John 3:16). Afterwards, he gladly gave his own life as a ransom. (See paragraph 5).
6. What biblical concepts will we analyze in this article, and why?
This article will discuss the biblical concepts of reconciliation, atonement, propitiation, ransom, redemption, and being declared righteous. Meditating on them helps us more deeply appreciate all that Jehovah has done to forgive us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The following biblical concepts will be analyzed: reconciliation, atonement, propitiation, rescue, redemption, and being declared righteous.
If a rich man paid all that for us, the minimum would be to ask ourselves: Who is he, why is he doing it, how did he do it, where does he get the resources from, why has he noticed me? Deep down, these words may seem like technicalities, but they help us to value, as the paragraph says, and to be more grateful for everything that Jehovah has done for us.
THE GOAL: RECONCILIATION
7. a) What else did Adam and Eve lose?
In addition to eternal life, Adam and Eve lost the valuable relationship they had with Jehovah, their heavenly Father. They stopped being part of their family and were expelled before having children, which affected all their descendants.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
They also lost the precious relationship they had with their Father, Jehovah. Before they sinned, they were part of his family, God's family, and had a close relationship with Him; They could talk to Him as a son would talk to his father.
According to Luke 3:38, we see what is the closest relationship that can be had, since it is mentioned that Adam was a direct son of Jehovah. It was after sinning and being expelled from the Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve had a family. But, of course, their children already inherited the original sin that their parents had committed.
7. b) What do the descendants of Adam and Eve desperately need? (Romans 5:10, 11).
We descendants of Adam and Eve desperately need to be reconciled to Jehovah, that is, to regain a good relationship with Him. According to Romans 5:10, this is possible because Jehovah took the initiative in providing the means for us to be his friends again.
DDITIONAL COMMENTS
What we desperately needed was to be reconciled with God, to be part of his family again. This is what is mentioned in this reference work, which explains the meaning of the Greek word related to reconciliation. It says: "To make an enemy become a friend." So, if we want to be reconciled to Jehovah, we need that sacrifice.
According to Romans 5:10, 11, it is very clear to us that sin causes a division between man and God. As we have seen, we are born in sin and continue to commit sin. Therefore, Jehovah does not approve of us due to this condition, and for the relationship to be restored, it is necessary to meet certain requirements in order to be reconciled with Him.
We also see in Romans 5:10, 11 that reconciliation is an initiative that Jehovah takes with humans, and this makes it even more impressive. That is, we can accept this reconciliation and benefit from it, but the one who proposes it is Jehovah, through Jesus Christ. If we value this fact, it really is something impressive.
That proposal from Jehovah was made when we were still enemies of Him. That is, Jehovah takes His love to the limit by saying: "Although you are my enemies, although you are not part of my family, although you have what you deserve because you have inherited it, I offer you this alternative."
THE SYSTEM: THE ATONEMENT
8. a) What is atonement?
Atonement is the system that Jehovah established so that sinful human beings can recover a good relationship with Him. It consists of exchanging something for another of equal value, allowing to restore or replace what has been lost or destroyed.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
This is the system that Jehovah established to restore sinful human beings to a good relationship with Him. What does this imply? Well, practically, it is exchanging one thing for another that has the same value. So, in that way, what has been lost can be recovered.
8. b) What is propitiation?
Propitiation is Jehovah's way of making it possible for a person to be at peace with Him and be His friend. It is a similar concept to the atonement, and refers to how God, through the sacrifice of Christ, allows us to be reconciled to Him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Propitiation is Jehovah making it possible for a person to be at peace with Him. So, basically, Jehovah helps make that possible.
Since the relationship we had with Jehovah God had been lost when Adam and Eve sinned, something was now needed to cover what had been lost, which was Adam's perfect life. So, Jesus Christ was the one who could fulfill that role. In this way, anyone could be declared righteous if they showed faith in Jesus Christ.
The note at the end also mentions a detail from Hebrews 9, because in the ark of the covenant, the lid, the covering, was called the mercy cover, and it was a lid exactly like the box; It neither stood out nor fell short, representing very well that Jesus' sacrifice was exact, it was appropriate, it was what made it possible for human beings to be reconciled with God, because Jesus gave exactly the measure of what was needed.
Jesus was so perfect, so tailored, so propitiatory, that Jehovah was so clear about it that he even began to forgive before Jesus came to earth. The note also explains it when it says that he forgave the sins of the past. If we see that this propitiatory sacrifice, or the means that Jehovah had provided to forgive sins, had the freedom to begin to be used earlier, it is because he knew that it would work perfectly.
In Romans 3:25 it says that God presented Jesus as a reconciliation offering through faith in his blood. Here we see how, indeed, it is God who takes the initiative for all this.
9. What temporal system did Jehovah establish so that the Israelites could receive forgiveness for their sins?
Jehovah established a temporary system for the Israelites, based on animal sacrifices, especially during the Day of Atonement, which was celebrated once a year. On that occasion, the high priest offered sacrifices for the sins of the people. Although these sacrifices could not completely eliminate sins, they did allow Jehovah to forgive them if the people sincerely repented. Furthermore, this system reminded them of their sinful condition and the need for a definitive solution for the forgiveness of sins.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It was the Day of Atonement, on which the high priest offered the sacrifice of animals on behalf of the people. And although he could not atone for all the sins of human beings, or of the Israelites, since the animal is inferior to the human being, Jehovah was willing to forgive their sins, as long as the Israelites repented and offered sacrifices on that day, in forgiveness of those sins, which was done once a year.
In Hebrews 10, Paul made it clear that none of those sacrifices offered under that law had permanent value. So, what the Israelites did remember with this was that they needed a better solution, one that was permanent.
These sacrifices helped the Israelites become aware of their condition and their sins, and Jehovah valued their offerings and strengthened their friendship with Him.
10. What permanent solution for the forgiveness of sins did Jehovah have in mind?
Jehovah had a permanent solution in mind for the forgiveness of sins: sending his beloved Son, Jesus, to be offered once and bear the sins of many people. Jesus gave his life as a ransom in exchange for many people.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
According to the letter to the Hebrews 9:28, Christ was offered only once to bear the sins of many people. Thus, Jehovah provided that permanent solution: that Jesus died once for all of us.
THE PRICE: THE RESCUE
11. a) In the Bible, what is a ransom?
In the Bible, a ransom is the price paid to achieve atonement and reconciliation. It is the basis for recovering what was lost due to the sin of Adam and Eve: the perfect life and the possibility of living forever.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As the Bible says, a ransom is the price paid for atonement and reconciliation.
Atonement and reconciliation are Jehovah's method so that humanity, or each of us, can become his friends. But for that, you have to pay a price, and that price is the ransom.
It is curious that, in some cultures or languages, it is said that ransom means 'the price of a life', and in others, that it is 'the payment made for a person or a crime'.
11. b) What conditions would have to be met to pay the ransom?
To pay the ransom, a man was needed who met three requirements: being perfect, having the possibility of living forever on Earth, and being willing to sacrifice that life for us. Only then could his life replace the one that was lost and achieve atonement.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Only a man who met these three requirements could pay it: being perfect, having the possibility of living forever on earth and being willing to give or sacrifice his life for us.
As the paragraph comments, precisely those conditions are what Adam had. So, since they were the ones that were lost, they are the ones that have to be recovered with that rescue so that it is equitable.
To illustrate, it is as if someone has a new car, fresh from the factory, and they hit it tremendously, it rolls over twice, and now the culprit says: “Well, nothing, hey, sorry, next time I'll look better,” but it doesn't stop there. Now, one has to compensate. In fact, even humans have such a system: insurance compensates and damages are assessed. The word ransom has that concept of compensation, as does the word atonement. So the requirements are not because Jehovah is very demanding, but simply because what has been lost must be valued and compensated.
12. For what reasons was Jesus able to pay the ransom?
Jesus was able to pay the ransom for three main reasons:
It was perfect: He did not commit any sin.
I could live forever: As a perfect man, he had the possibility of living eternally on Earth.
I was ready to die: He voluntarily gave up his life to benefit us.
Being a perfect man, just like Adam before he sinned, Jesus was able to atone for Adam's sin by replacing what was lost.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
First, he was perfect and committed no sin. Second, for that reason, he could live forever on Earth. And third, he was willing to give up that life and die for us.
As First Peter 2:22 says, he was perfect and in his mouth there was no error, no deceit, just like Adam before he sinned. That's why he was able to do it.
Romans 5:19 says, "For just as many became sinners through the disobedience of one man, who was Adam, so many became righteous through the obedience of one person, who was Jesus Christ."
It is also said of Jesus that he became the last Adam. This means that, after the last one, there is no one else. So, as a consequence, there is no need for any other perfect human being to come and pay for what Adam had lost. Jesus died once and for all.
Unlike priests, who could atone for sins but had to offer sacrifices for themselves and then for the people, in the case of Jesus he was a special, peculiar, unique high priest. Because he himself, by offering his life with those three special qualities, freed us from sin and death forever with his life.
13. What is the difference between the atonement and ransom system?
The difference between the system of atonement and ransom is the following:
The system of atonement is the process that Jehovah establishes so that human beings can reestablish a good relationship with Him.
The ransom is the specific price paid to make that atonement possible. That price was the precious blood of Jesus shed for our sins.
In short, atonement is the means and ransom is the payment.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The system of atonement is what God does so that we have a good relationship with Him, and the ransom is the price He has paid to forgive the sins of humanity.
To understand it simply, we could say that the atonement system is the legal system that Jehovah has established, in which it is indicated that one thing must be paid correspondingly for another. And rescue is precisely that corresponding thing. So the conjunction of both makes it possible for this ransom to be paid for us.
Among the things that Jehovah has done for this atonement is the whole arrangement that he made with his people of Israel: the fact that it was organized, that there was a priesthood, that there was a temple where sacrifices were made, and that the Messiah came for that people. Jehovah has done all of this throughout history. Today, Jehovah also has his organization on Earth, which precisely makes this sacrifice effective today.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, was specific about precisely what that price entailed, referring to the blood of Jesus. Furthermore, verse 7 of chapter 1 gives another additional detail of what that price, that ransom, implies, and that is that it is also associated with the undeserved kindness of God. Therefore, we should show enormous gratitude for all that Jehovah and his son Jesus have done for all of us.
THE RESULTS: REDEMPTION AND BEING DECLARED RIGHTEOUS
14. What are we going to analyze now, and why?
We are going to analyze the different biblical expressions that describe the benefits of the atonement. Although they have similar meanings, each highlights a unique aspect of Jehovah's forgiveness. This analysis will help us value more deeply what his forgiveness means to us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Let's see how this atonement benefits us and why? To value Jehovah's forgiveness more.
15, 16. a) What does the biblical concept of redemption refer to?
The biblical concept of redemption refers to being freed or absolved from slavery to sin and death thanks to the payment of the ransom. According to 1 Peter 1:18-19, we were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It refers to being acquitted or released thanks to the payment of the ransom.
The apostle Peter highlighted the value of that price that had been paid. He says it was not with silver or gold, but with that precious life of Jesus Christ, this human man who had no defect, and he offered his life as a corresponding ransom for what Adam had lost.
15, 16. b) How do we feel when we think that we can be freed from sin and death?
Thinking that we can be freed from sin and death, which cause so much suffering, we feel deep gratitude toward Jehovah and Jesus. This hope fills us with comfort, peace and joy.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
All of us are very grateful because we are living the consequences of that sin and what it entails for all of us. So, thinking that, through the sacrifice of Jesus, we can have not only the forgiveness of our sins, but a better life like the one Adam had, must make us very grateful to Jehovah and Jesus.
Having this clear knowledge, the truth is that what one feels is relief. It's what you feel in your heart: you have relief and you have faith. Not unlike other religions that are still waiting for the second coming of Jesus and the coming of the Messiah.
We love Jehovah more because He gave him precisely what he loved most. As we see in the letter to the Hebrews 9:14, it talks about Jesus offering his life to God. It is very interesting that Jesus loved humanity and Jehovah so much that he made this sacrifice to God.
The truth is that we are very grateful because we have hope, thanks to the blood of Jesus Christ, thanks to the rescue. Because, as 1 Corinthians 15:22 says: "For just as in Adam all are dying, so in Christ all will receive life."
17, 18. a) What does it mean to be declared righteous?
Being declared righteous means that Jehovah drops the charges against us, forgiving our sins as if we had never committed them, wiping our record clean. This does not mean that Jehovah ignores his standards of justice, but rather that our faith in Christ's system of atonement and ransom allows Him to forgive us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It means that the slate is wiped clean, although we see that Jehovah does not break his rules of justice, because on our own merits we would not have that forgiveness. He is not permissive with our sins either, but the price that his son Jesus Christ paid is so high that it does serve as a basis for the forgiveness of sins.
As Romans says, it is a gift that Jehovah gives us: being declared righteous. And to accept that gift, what we have to demonstrate is faith in everything He has prepared.
17, 18. b) How does that benefit us?
This benefits us greatly, because some Christians are adopted as children of God and will reign with Jesus in heaven. Other Christians, hoping to live on Earth, become friends of God and will never die. Millions who have died will be resurrected and will also be able to enjoy living on Earth and never die.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
In the case of anointed Christians, it benefits them by having their sins forgiven and makes them worthy of being part of Jehovah's heavenly family and, thus, being part of the heavenly Kingdom and ruling with Jesus.
One of the benefits that moves us the most, or that we are most waiting for, is the one shown in Acts 24:15 or John 5:28 and 29, where Jehovah promises us that people who have died will be resurrected. How many loved ones do we have who have lost their lives? Family, friends... and we have the hope and confidence that Jehovah will resurrect them, and we will be able to see them again and enjoy their company.
Thanks to the atonement, many Christians who hope to live on Earth, like the great crowd, will see how, thanks to the sacrifice, our sins will be forgiven. We will also survive Armageddon and, in this way, others can be resurrected afterwards. All of Jehovah's faithful servants will enjoy freedom as children of God.
Another very nice benefit is being able to have a friendship with Jehovah, something that was lost when our first parents sinned. We can also enjoy everything that Jehovah teaches us.
It's like the example of the young man we mentioned at the beginning, the one who had so many debts that it was impossible for him to pay them. When the rich man offered to pay him and left the entire account at zero, he thought: “My life has changed,” because that huge burden he had was no longer there. And besides, now I had perspective on life and so many wonderful things. Well, that's what happens to us thanks to that price, that big and just ransom that Jehovah paid. Because, thanks to His justice, the price was exact, and that is why we have the hope of living forever with so many blessings.
Although all of us who exercise faith in Jesus' sacrifice benefit, there is a difference: some will live in heaven as kings and priests, and others will live on earth. Those who will live in heaven, those who are anointed to rule with Christ, have become children of God. While we, who have the prospect of living forever on Earth, have become friends of God. So there is a small difference: some are children, and others are friends.
19. What situation are we in thanks to what Jehovah and Jesus have done for us? (See also the box “Jehovah's Forgiveness.”)
Thanks to Jesus' rescue and Jehovah's atonement system:
1. We were freed from the unpayable debt of sin and death.
2. Our sins can be forgiven completely, as if they had never existed.
3. We enjoy a close relationship with Jehovah, our loving Father.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We were in a pretty desperate situation, but thanks to Jehovah sending his Son to Earth, we are now in a good position if we are obedient to Him. And not only that, but now we can have Jehovah's approval and a good relationship and harmony with Him, which is what we should value most.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. People from different cultures. 2. Jesus carrying his torture stake.
20. What will we analyze in the next article?
In the following article we will analyze some biblical comparisons that will help us delve deeper into what Jehovah's forgiveness really means for each of us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Let's look at some biblical comparisons to delve deeper into what Jehovah's forgiveness really means for each of us.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What is the goal of Jehovah's forgiveness?
The goal of Jehovah's forgiveness is to reconcile us to Him, allowing us to regain a good relationship with our heavenly Father. Through the system of atonement and ransom, Jehovah seeks to free us from sin and death, restoring what Adam and Eve lost, so that we can be part of his family and enjoy eternal life in peace with him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jehovah's goal or purpose is that He wants imperfect human beings to enjoy a good relationship with Him.
What is the basis for Jehovah to forgive our sins?
The basis for Jehovah's forgiveness of our sins is the ransom paid through the valuable blood of Jesus Christ, together with our faith in that sacrifice and in the system of atonement. Jesus, as a perfect man, offered his life to atone for Adam's sin, fulfilling the necessary requirements to replace what was lost.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The basis for Jehovah to forgive our sins is to exercise faith with knowledge and works of the sacrifice of Jesus, who gave his perfect life as a ransom for humanity.
How does Jehovah's forgiveness benefit us?
Jehovah's forgiveness benefits us by freeing us from sin and death, and by giving us the hope of eternal life, according to our heavenly or earthly hope.
Furthermore, it allows us to be declared righteous, enjoy a close relationship with Jehovah, and experience peace of mind and spiritual, knowing that our sins have been erased, as if they had never existed.
It also gives us the hope of a future resurrection for those who are asleep in death, with the prospect of eternal life on Earth.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As we have seen, it frees us from sin and death, and thanks to that we will be able to live on earth. Our sins are erased and we can have a beautiful and close relationship with Jehovah and become part of his family.
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