WHAT THE RANSOM TEACHES US ABOUT JEHOVAH - Continue

 While the ransom helps us to understand that Jehovah is just, it especially helps us to grasp the dept of his love.  (John 3:16; read 1 John 4:9, 10) The teaching of the ransom reveals that Jehovah wants us not only to have endless life but also to be part of his family.  Consider when Adam sinned, Jehovah expelled him from His family of worshippers. As a result, all of us have been born outside of God's family. But on the basis of the ransom, Jehovah forgives our sins and will eventually bring into his family all mankind who exercise faith and are obedient. Even now we can have a warm relationship with Jehovah and with our fellow worshippers. Truly, we are recipients of Jehovah's tender love! -ROMANS 5:10, 11. 

We can better understand how much Jehovah loves us if we consider what the ransom cost him. Satan claims that no servant of God will remain loyal to Him when it is hard to do so. To refute that charge, Jehovah allowed Jesus to suffer before he died. (Job 2:1-5; 1 Peter 2:21) As Jehovah looked on, Jesus was mocked by religious opposers, whipped raw by soldiers, and nailed to a stake. Then Jehovah watched as his dear Son was left to suffer a painful death. (Matthew 27:28-31, 39) Jehovah had the power to stop the process at any given point. For example. when opposers said: "Let [God] now rescue him if he wants him. "Jehovah could have done just that. (Matthew 27:42, 43) However, if God had stepped in, no ransom would have been paid and we would have left without hope. So Jehovah permitted his Son to endure suffering until he drew his last breath.

Next time: WHAT THE RANSOM TEACHES US ABOUT JEHOVAH - Conclusion

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