"A Corresponding Ransom

"In Adam all are dying," said the apostle Paul. (1 Corinthians 15:22) The ransom thus had to involve the death of the exact equal of Adam-a perfect human. (Romans 5:14) No other kind of creature could balance the scales of justice. Only a perfect human, someone not under the Adamic death sentence, could offer "a corresponding ransom"-one corresponding perfectly to Adam. (1 Timothy 2:6) It would not be necessary for untold millions of individual humans to be sacrificed so as to correspond to each descendant of Adam. The apostle Paul explained: "Through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world and death through sin." (Romans 5:12) And "since death is through man," God provided for the redemption of mankind "through a man." (1 Corinthians 15:21) How?

Jehovah arranged to have a perfect man voluntarily sacrifice his life. According to Romans 6:23, "the wages sin pays is death." In sacrificing his life, the ransomer would "taste death for every man." In other words, he would pay the wage for Adam's sin. (Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24) this would have profound legal consequences. By nullifying the death sentence upon Adam's obedient offspring, the ransom would cut off the destruction power of sin right at its source. -Romans 5:16.

To illustrate: Imagine that you live in a town where most of the residents are employed at a large factory. You and your neighbors are well paid for your labors and lead comfortable lives. That is, until the factory manager turned corrupt, forcing the business into bankruptcy., Suddenly out of work, you and your neighbors are unable to pay the bills. Marriage mates, children, and creditors suffer because of that one man's corruption. Is there a way out? Yes, a wealthy benefactor decides to intervene. He appreciates the value of the company. He also feels for its many employees and their families. So he arranges to pay off the company's debt and reopen the factory. The cancellation of that one debt brings relief to the many employees and their families and to the creditors. Similarly, the cancellation of Adam's debt benefits untold millions.

Next time: Who Provides The Ransom?

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002w