A CONVERSATION WITH A NEIGHBOR

Why Commemorate the Death of Jesus? 

WHY WAS A RANSOM NEEDED?

Shirley: I've heard people say that Jesus died so that we could have life. But to be honest, I've never really understood how that works.

Megan: You're not alone, Shirley. The subject of Jesus' ransom sacrifice is a deep one.  But it's also one of the most beautiful truths in God's Word.  By the way, how are you doing on time? 

Shirley: I have a few more minutes. 

Megan Good, I've just been reading up on the topic of the ransom, and I will try to explain it in a simple way.

Shirley: OK.

Megan: In order to understand the ransom, we first need to grasp the situation that Adam and Eve created when they sinned in the garden of Eden. To help us comprehend the issue involved, lets read together Romans 6:23. Would you please read that verse? 

Shirley: Sure. It says:  "The wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Megan: Thank you. Let's analyze those words. First, notice how the verse begins:  "The wages sin pays is death." This is a simple rule that God set out at the  outset of human history-the wage, or penalty, for sin is death. Of course, in the beginning, no one was a sinner. Adam and Eve were created perfect. so there would have been no reason for anyone to die. Adam and Eve and all their offspring had the prospect of eternal life in happiness. But as we know,m things didn't work out that way, did they?

Shirley: No Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.  

Next time: Conclusion of WHY WAS A RANSOM NEEDED

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015