Lesson 9

“If anyone among you becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold” Leviticus, 25: 25. When an Israelite became poor, he could dispose of his lands, or he could sell himself as a slave, but not forever. He had to redeem himself, depending on his means, by paying a ransom; if he wasn’t able to do it, a relative had to do it for him; and if that relative couldn’t pay for it or didn’t want to, the slave and his possession were given their freedom in Jubilee year

Redeemer had to be a close relative, i.e., to share the same blood In our case, who could redeem us? Every close relative we had were slaves of sin, like us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3: 23. Only a righteous man could redeem, but where shall we find Him? “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1: 29 Thank God for our brother Jesus Christ, his ineffable gift! "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death“ Hebrews 2:14, 15.

The close relative had to redeem when the poor man couldn’t do it by himself We couldn’t pay for our redemption. No sinner can save himself. But thanks to God, “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" Romans 5: 6. If Christ had rejected to die in our place, we wouldn’t have had any chance of salvation, we would have been lost forever, but… Praised be God! Christ paid with His grace and He has given us free redemption.

The close relative had to have something to redeem with Could Christ redeem? Could He pay the ransom? The ransom was immense. It was necessary to pay with a perfect and clean life. The work done on Calvary is eloquent, “for Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" 1 Peter 3: 18. The expression “once” indicates that the sacrifice Christ presented was enough. "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" Hebrews 10: 14. The perfect life of Christ fulfilled the requirements of divine justice when he gave it for our sins.

The close relative had to want to redeem He wasn’t obliged to do it, it was a voluntary act. Who obliged Christ to give His life for us? No one; He said: "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again" John 10: Only love constrained Christ to do it. He was held to the cross by His love, not by the nails. "just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God “ Ephesians 5: 2. There are no merits in us. We owe everything to Him.

The close relative had to pay the whole ransom If Christ had stopped paying something on the cross, our redemption would have been unfinished. But Christ paid all our debt, glory to God! "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:1. “Having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” Colossians, 2: 14.

Reconciliation is a divine act which moves us to the same relation with God that we had before the sin. This divine act reconciles us with our similar, making us one with Christ.

Jesus, the mediator, achieved this reconciliation between God and the man through the cross. Once we are reconciled with God, we are mediators between our similar through reconciliation ministry. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” 2 Corinthians, 5:

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” Romans, 3: Justification is that, despite we are sinners, God considers us righteous thanks to the sacrifice that Jesus did in our favour.

AA sacrifice provided by God. AAn act of substitution. Christ, free of sin, burdened Himself with our sins. PPropitiation. It covers our sins before the rage of God. IIt assures the legal foundation of our salvation. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” 1 John, 2: 2.

“Jesus, precious Saviour! We may study the love of the Father in that He gave His dear Son to die for a fallen world. As we study this inexpressible love in the light of the cross of Calvary, we are filled with wonder, with amazement. We see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended harmoniously with justice and dignity and power. Jesus bids the sinner to look to Him and live. "I," He says, "have found a ransom.". The gulf of perdition opened by sin is bridged by the cross of Calvary. Penitent, believing souls may see a forgiving Father reconciling us to Himself by that cross of Calvary”. E.G.W. (The day with God, page June 16)

ASSOCIATE truth – Why should I study this lesson? DISCOVER truth – What does the Bible say about this truth? APPLY truth – How can this truth affect my life today? PLAN using the truth – How can I use this truth today? TRANSFER truth to life – What changes do I need in my life ? ADAPT it! Teaching Approach Effective for SMALL GROUPS Slideshare.net/chucho1943