Understanding Your Religion
7 Major Doctrines that Define Christianity
What Atonement Achieves
The Sub-Doctrine of Redemption
Estrategia pedagógica
The focus of this lesson is the difference between the act of atonement and its natural result of redemption. Of special note in this lesson is the process and relationship of these two vital salvation concepts.
Resultados del aprendizaje de los estudiantes
- Know: Explain the relationship between atonement and redemption.
- Feel: Value the love and sacrifice offered by God.
- Do: Live faithfully as a result of our redemptive state.
Cuerpo de la lección
Preguntas de discusión
A continuación se sugieren preguntas para utilizar durante la parte de debate guiado de la lección. También se sugieren respuestas a las preguntas para ayudar a los alumnos a comprender los distintos conceptos. Se proporcionan para ayudar al debate y no se consideran respuestas "correctas o incorrectas".
Answers will vary but look for responses that show that atonement is the method or process that God used to bring us back into a good relationship with Himself.
To redeem means to buy back or purchase a debt. It can also mean to liberate or set free from punishment due to our guilt. As a result of the atonement (payment), we have been bought, set free or redeemed from the consequence of our sins (death) which have been removed.
God freed Israel from physical slavery and gave them a new identity (Exodus 3:7). Along with the identity came the responsibility of having a special relationship with God.
In the same way, the death of Christ frees us from the slavery to sin, identifies us as citizens of His Kingdom and gives us a special relationship with God (Romans 6:1-10; Romans 8:12-24).
- John 8:34 – Sin is slavery.
- Romans 3:23 – Everyone is guilty.
- Romans 6:23 – We are separated from God because of our sin.
- Romans 5:6-11 – We owe debt to God we cannot pay therefore God paid the price through Jesus.
- We are released from slavery – We have been bought (redeemed) from slavery and the eternal consequences.
- We have a new identity – We now belong to God as His people.
- We have a new purpose – We now live to serve God as faithful citizens of His Kingdom.
The expression, "freedom is not free" has been used to help us understand the sacrifice others have made for the physical freedoms we enjoy as citizens of our respective nations. In the same way, our freedom from the slavery to sin was purchased at an incredible price. It required the death of the innocent Jesus.
We must not forget that nor take it for granted. We owed a debt we could not pay. God paid the debt. We are now His people and enjoy all the benefits and consequences of that relationship.