Redemption 2: October 7, 2012

Who is our Redeemer?  Jesus

John 3:16 - Who is familiar with this verse?  Everyone raised their hand and then we had one boy who knew it from memory who recited it for us: " For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 is one of the best known verses of the Bible, because it reminds us in one sentence of the salvation we have in Christ.  But who knows what John 3:17 says?  No one raised their hand.  John 3:17 is not as well known but equally important.  "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  These two verses together demonstrate that, despite our sin, God doesn't give up on us. God wants to redeem each of us and all creation; and God sent Jesus Christ to make that possible.  Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  So we know that all need redemption, a Savior. 

How many have ever had a broken item that needed to be fixed?  When we fix the item, will it be as good as it was before it was broken?  Will it be better than it was before it was broken?  How does God, through Christ, fix us?

In Table Group time, the students read and talked about the following Scripture:
Romans 5: 6-9
Romans 5: 12-15, 18-19
Romans 6: 1-11
Phillipians 2: 5-11
1 Peter 2: 24

Groups were asked to answer the following questions about the Scripture- What does this Scripture tell you about Christ, how Christ is our redeemer, and how Christ atones, or makes amends, for our sins? 

Redemption in the United Methodist Church:
Article VIII - Reconciliation through Christ from the "Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church" - We believe God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.  The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required. 

This statement affirms that our belief is that Christ is our redeemer and that Christ is capable of atoning for the sins of the entire world. 

What does it mean that Christ's sacrifice is perfect and sufficient?  How can this statement give us hope and comfort when we struggle with sin?