Wonderful Points about the "Ransom"

[Beggar for the Spirit]

Hi Everyone,

 

Below are some very intriguing points about the Ransom. While we all know the basics of the Ransom,

are there some further Gems about the Ransom that can encourage us and move us to love our Father Jehovah and Jesus our King even more?

Yes! So whichever points you find valuable below, please express your thoughts and feelings about this or any other aspect of the Ransom as we can all encourage one another during this special time of the year! 

 

For example, below you will find interesting points in connection with the Ransom such as

>  orphans

> "ready cash"

> The one who paid the Ransom is the same as the one who provided the Ransom?

> Jesus' blood is greater than ALL of something here on earth

> What all did Jesus sacrifice?

> When exactly did Jehovah view the Ransom as paid(very interesting!),

> Does the Ransom apply toward people who died before Jesus' death?

> Is the Ransom just a pointless exchange?

> What type of transaction was the Ransom?

> Jesus had to die for the Ransom but he didn't need to suffer?

> Who owns all the humans?

> Jesus has a "Rehabilitation" Center

> How to lose out on the benefits of the Ransom

 

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*** bh chap. 5 p. 50 par. 10 The Ransom—God’s Greatest Gift ***
 How did Jehovah provide the ransom? He sent one of his perfect spirit sons to the earth. But Jehovah did not send just any spirit creature. He sent the one most precious to him, his only-begotten Son. (Read 1 John 4:9, 10.) Willingly, this Son left his heavenly home. (Philippians 2:7) 

*** bw chap. 2 pp. 26-27 pars. 22-23 Encouraging Aid to Stick to Our Decision ***
Having been redeemed from the condemnation of sin and death, we are under obligation to Jehovah God who made the arrangement for our being ransomed. Suppose a large amount of silver or gold had been paid to ransom us from death. Would we not feel deeply indebted to the one who made such a major material sacrifice in our behalf?

How much greater, then, is our indebtedness to Jehovah God and to Jesus Christ! The ransom price paid was far more valuable than any material treasure that can be lost, stolen or destroyed. Its value is greater than all the silver and gold found on earth today. The precious blood of the sinless Son of God is the valuable ransom price that was paid.

It is the lifeblood of someone who had the right to live forever and, hence, of one who did much more than give up his life prematurely, as other men have done for what they thought to be a noble cause.
 

*** w14 8/15 p. 18 par. 8 How Jehovah Draws Close to Us ***
Jehovah has made it possible even for people who lived before the time of Christ to benefit from the ransom. From the moment Jehovah prophesied about a future Savior for mankind, the ransom was as good as paid from his viewpoint, for he knew that his purpose would not fail. (Gen. 3:15) Centuries later, the apostle Paul expressed gratitude to God for “the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus.” Paul added: “God in his forbearance was forgiving the sins that occurred in the past.” (Rom. 3:21-26) What a vital role Jesus has in our being close to God!
 

*** w11 6/15 pp. 14-15 par. 18 God Recommends His Love to Us ***
That cannot mean that Abraham was sinless while serving Jehovah over the decades. No, he was not righteous in that sense. (Rom. 3:10, 23) However, in his limitless wisdom, Jehovah took into account Abraham’s exceptional faith and his works resulting therefrom. In particular, Abraham exercised faith in the promised “seed” to come in his line. That Seed proved to be the Messiah, or Christ. (Gen. 15:6; 22:15-18) Accordingly, on the basis of “the ransom paid by Christ Jesus,” the divine Judge is able to forgive sins that occurred in the past. Thus, Abraham and other men of faith in pre-Christian times are in line for a resurrection.—Read Romans 3:24, 25; Ps. 32:1, 2.
 

*** w05 8/1 p. 29 par. 13 Jehovah Is “the Rewarder of Those Earnestly Seeking Him” ***
The greatest indication of mankind’s potential value in Jehovah’s eyes is the provision of the ransom. The apostle John wrote: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) The provision of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ runs counter to the very notion that we are worthless or unlovable in Jehovah’s eyes. Indeed, if Jehovah paid so high a price for us—offering his only-begotten Son—he must surely love us deeply.
 

*** cl chap. 14 pp. 144-145 pars. 14-15 Jehovah Provides “a Ransom in Exchange for Many” ***
 To whom would that ransom be paid?

Psalm 49:7 specifically says that the ransom is paid “to God.”

But is not Jehovah the one who arranges for the ransom in the first place? Yes, but this does not reduce the ransom to a pointless, mechanical exchange—like taking money out of one pocket and putting it into another. It must be appreciated that the ransom is, not a physical exchange, but a legal transaction. By providing for the payment of the ransom, even at enormous cost to himself, Jehovah affirmed his unwavering adherence to his own perfect justice.—Genesis 22:7, 8, 11-13; Hebrews 11:17; James 1:17.

 

 In the spring of 33 C.E., Jesus Christ willingly submitted to an ordeal that led to the payment of the ransom. He allowed himself to be arrested on false charges, judged guilty, and nailed to a stake of execution. Was it really necessary for Jesus to suffer so much? Yes, because the issue of the integrity of God’s servants had to be settled. Significantly, God did not allow the infant Jesus to be killed by Herod. (Matthew 2:13-18) But when Jesus was an adult, he was able to withstand the brunt of Satan’s attacks with full comprehension of the issues. By remaining “loyal, guileless, undefiled, separated from the sinners” in spite of horrific treatment, Jesus proved with dramatic finality that Jehovah does have servants who remain faithful under trial. (Hebrews 7:26) No wonder, then, that at the moment before his death, Jesus cried out triumphantly: “It has been accomplished!”—John 19:30.
 

*** w77 10/1 p. 586 par. 3 What the King Does for Us ***
 By his ransom sacrifice paid to Jehovah God, the Owner of all things, Jesus Christ owns the human race, to deal with each one according to God’s righteous purpose, until he eventually rehabilitates all obedient ones, completely reconciling them with God

 

*** w74 6/15 p. 370 par. 8 ‘Living No Longer for Ourselves’ ***
It is only those with an approved standing before the Creator who gain the full benefits of the ransom provision—permanent release from sin, sickness, old age and death. While all are invited to gain that approved standing, not all want to accept it because of the responsibility that is involved. Many do not want to act in harmony with the fact that a ransom or redemptive price has been paid in their behalf. They do not want to acknowledge that they have been bought and that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are their rightful Owners or Masters, deserving of full obedience. All who persist in disobedience or who later renounce Jehovah God and Jesus Christ as their Owners lose out on the benefits of the ransom provision.—Matt. 10:33; John 3:36; Heb. 10:26, 27; 2 Pet. 2:1-3.
 

*** gh chap. 13 p. 116 A Release from Death to Life ***
A Release from Death to Life
THE cruel wars of this twentieth century have resulted in many orphans. Imagine a family of orphans who have lost both parents. Without home or means of support, they are wandering destitute through life—hungry, sickly and without hope for the future. However, suppose a kindly gentleman takes note of their plight, and shows love toward them. He instructs his own son, who is unmarried, to befriend these orphans and to bring them into the home. There he cleans them up, feeds and clothes them, and pays off their debts. Becoming like a real father to them, the son raises them to enjoy a full life. Should not those orphans be thankful to the kindly gentleman and his son? Truly, they should thank them!

 Do you realize that you are a member of just such a family of orphans? Yes, for you are a descendant of Adam, the father of mankind, who through his own willful sin abandoned the entire human family to the miserable condition in which it finds itself today. Just like those orphaned children, we are “sold under sin,” inheriting this unhappy condition from Adam.—Romans 7:14.

CANCELING THE DEBT OF SIN
Just like the kindly gentleman’s son in our illustration, who paid off the debts of the orphaned family, Jesus could cancel the debt of sin that the human family had inherited from Adam. However, Jesus must first have on hand the value of his life, like “ready cash,” to pay that debt. He had to die as a human in order to release his right to human life for use elsewhere. To this end, he willingly submitted to a cruel death at the hands of God’s enemies. But these enemies could not take from him that right to human life. It became now like “cash” in his hands. When God had resurrected him “in the spirit” and he had ascended again into heaven, he still had that “cash” on hand to pay over to Jehovah as a “ransom.” Thus he could buy back what Adam lost—life for all Adam’s offspring.—1 Peter 3:18; Romans 3:24.
 As in the case of the orphaned family described earlier, Jesus, as God’s agent, took action to relieve mankind of their distressed state. 

 

Edited March 16, 2016 by Beggar for the Spirit

[New World Explorer]

Jehovah's adherence to his own perfect justice really moves me and gives me confidence that Jehovah really loves his children and me personally.

Satan pointed  finger at Jehovah  saying many mean things   ..you are like this and that ... but Jehovah has handled whole case in such a dignity !

I'll join angles by saying ..

You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.”

 

[carlos]

Thanks you for bumping this, Neil. I must have overlooked this topic last year.

 

Great research and very timely points.

[hatcheckgirl]

Great thoughts to ponder on before going out to the Memorial.  Thank you so much Neil!

(I think we forget all the subtleties, like when the ransom was actually paid).

[carlos]

Another interesting point: Neil has explained why Jesus had to die (in order to pay the ransom) and why he had to suffer (to resolve the issues of sovereignty and integrity). But why did he have to die on a stake? After all, the previous two points would have been accomplished equally well if Jesus had suffered any other kind of death.

 

Jesus had to die on a stake to remove the curse of the Law against the Jews.

 

*** it-2 pp. 300-301 Malediction ***
Setting Aside of Maledictions. A malediction can be set aside or canceled by Jehovah, but only where his just requirements are properly satisfied. This appears to be the case with the original malediction on the earth that was evidently terminated by the Flood that cleansed the globe of wickedness. (Ge 8:21) Failure to keep the Law covenant brought a malediction on all the nation of Israel, even on those who conscientiously (though imperfectly) tried to keep its terms. The apostle Paul shows that it was for this reason that Christ Jesus died in the manner in which he did—upon a torture stake. (Ga 3:10-13) Thereby Jesus, though he had perfectly observed the Law himself, took upon himself the curse that resulted from the malediction of the Law and that rested on all those under that Law. Deuteronomy 21:23 states: “Because something accursed [literally, a malediction] of God is the one hung up [upon a stake].” Jesus, by being nailed to the stake as a criminal, sentenced (though unjustly) by the Jewish priestly court, in effect became “a curse.” Thereafter, when Jesus presented the value of his sacrifice in heaven, the Law was canceled by God. In accepting the sacrifice, God figuratively nailed the Law to the stake, and the curse accompanying that Law was legally removed. (Col 2:14) Because Jesus’ body was viewed as being a malediction, and also to fulfill the Law’s requirement so that the Sabbath might not be profaned, the Jews were anxious that Jesus’ corpse and those of the malefactors be removed from their stakes before the day ended.—De 21:23; Joh 19:31.

 

*** it-2 p. 1117 Torture Stake ***
Why Jesus Had to Die on a Stake. At the time Jehovah God gave his law to the Israelites, they obligated themselves to abide by its terms. (Ex 24:3) However, as descendants of sinner Adam, they were unable to do so perfectly. For this reason they came under the curse of the Law. To remove this special curse from them, Jesus had to be hanged on a stake like an accursed criminal. Concerning this the apostle Paul wrote: “All those who depend upon works of law are under a curse; for it is written: ‘Cursed is every one that does not continue in all the things written in the scroll of the Law in order to do them.’ . . . Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: ‘Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake.’”—Ga 3:10-13.

 

Edited April 11, 2017 by carlos

[DENCOL]

Thank you so much for sharing these reminders.  Made a note in my Bible Teach to share with Bible students.

[bagwell1987]

Carlos. THAT was amazing. I'm going to re-read it after work, it needs more than a cursory read to fully understand. Why didn't I ever give the 'stake' more thought.