DAILY TEXT, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son (Rom. 5:10).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2026

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son (Rom. 5:10).

Adam and Eve lost their precious relationship with their Father, Jehovah. Before they sinned, they were part of God’s family (Luke 3:38). But when they disobeyed Jehovah, they were expelled from his family. This happened before they had any children (Gen. 3:23, 24; 4:1). For this reason, we, their descendants, need to be reconciled to Jehovah (Rom. 5:10, 11). In other words, we need to restore our good relationship with him.

According to one reference work, when this passage speaks of reconciliation, it uses a Greek word that can mean “to make an enemy into a friend.” What is striking is that Jehovah took the initiative to make reconciliation possible. How did he do this? By means of the Atonement, the system he established so that sinful humans could regain a good relationship with him. It involves exchanging one thing for another of equal value. In this way, something that has been lost or destroyed can be recovered or replaced. w25.02 3, 4 pars. 7, 8

What temporary system did Jehovah establish so that the Israelites could receive forgiveness for their sins?

In the days of the Israelites, Jehovah established a temporary system so that they could receive forgiveness for their sins and maintain a good relationship with him. On the Day of Atonement, which was observed once a year, the high priest offered animal sacrifices on behalf of the people. Of course, these sacrifices could not completely atone for the Israelites’ sins, since animals are inferior to humans. But Jehovah was willing to forgive their sins, provided the Israelites repented and offered the sacrifices he required (Heb. 10:1-4). Furthermore, the sacrifices they offered on the Day of Atonement and at other times served as a reminder that they were sinners and needed a better, permanent solution.

What permanent solution for the forgiveness of sins did Jehovah have in mind?

What permanent solution for the forgiveness of sins did Jehovah have in mind? He had his beloved Son “offered once to bear the sins of many people” (Heb. 9:28). Jesus gave “his life as a ransom in exchange for many people” (Matt. 20:28). And what is a ransom?

In the Bible, what is a ransom?

In the Bible, a ransom is the price paid for atonement and reconciliation. From Jehovah's viewpoint, it is the basis for recovering what was lost.

What conditions would have to be met to pay the ransom?

Let us remember that Adam and Eve lost their perfect life and the possibility of living forever. So the ransom would have to be worth the same as what was lost (1 Tim. 2:6). 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 up or sacrifice that life for us. Only if all these conditions were met could that person's life replace the life that had been lost and the atonement be accomplished.

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