What Jehovah Has Done to Rescue Sinful Humans (Q's & A's)

The SANONS’ Response to Study Article 31. What Jehovah Has Done to Rescue Sinful Humans. Theme Text.

“God loved the world so much that  he gave his only-begotten Son. ”—JOHN 3:16. FOCUS.

How Jehovah has been taking the  initiative to help us battle against sin and how he has made it possible for  us to enjoy eternal life, free from sin. Paragraphs 1 & 2. WOULD you like to know how  much Jehovah God loves you?

Here is a good way for you to learn the answer: Study what he  has done in order to save you from sin and death. Sin is a terrible enemy, one that you  cannot defeat on your own. We all sin daily, and we die because of sin.

There is  good news, though. With Jehovah’s help, we can defeat sin. In fact, our  victory is absolutely certain!

Jehovah God has been helping humans  fight against sin for some 6,000 years. Why? Because he loves us.

He has loved humans  from the very beginning, so he has gone to great lengths to help them in this fight. God knows  that sin leads to death, and he does not want us to die. He wants us to live forever.

That is  what he wants for you. In this article, we will discuss three questions: 1. How did Jehovah offer  hope to sinful humans?

2. How did sinful humans in Bible times gain Jehovah’s favor? 3.

How did  Jesus come to the rescue of sinful humankind? Question 1 & 2. What is sin, and  how can we win our fight against it?

Our Response: Sin is a powerful force that we cannot overcome by ourselves, but with Jehovah’s help,  victory is certain. His love and desire for us to live forever, free from sin, is clearly shown  in his actions. Reflecting on Jehovah’s love, as expressed in Romans 5:12 and Romans 6:23, gives us  hope and strengthens our confidence that Jehovah will help us in this battle.

What an assurance it  is to know that we are not alone in this fight! Paragraph 3. When Jehovah created the first man  and woman, he wanted them to be happy.

He gave them a beautiful home, the gift of marriage, and  a fascinating assignment. They were to fill the earth with their descendants, making the whole  planet a paradise like the garden of Eden. He gave them only one simple restriction.

And he  warned them that if they broke that command by deliberately rebelling against him, their sin  would lead to death. We know what happened. An invisible spirit, one who had no love for God or  for them, entered the picture and tempted them to commit that sin.

Adam and Eve gave in to that bad  influence. Failing to trust their loving Father, they sinned. As we know, Jehovah’s  words proved true.

From that day onward, they had to face the consequences: they  began to grow old, and finally, they died. Question 3. How did our first  parents come to be sinners?

Our Response: Jehovah lovingly provided everything Adam and Eve needed, yet  they chose to disobey. Their failure to trust Jehovah opened the door to sin and death,  affecting all their descendants. This helps us understand the far-reaching consequences of  disobedience to Jehovah’s instructions.

However, reflecting on Genesis 3 verses 1 through 6  reminds us that despite their actions, Jehovah’s purpose for humanity has not changed—he still  desires us to live forever in a paradise earth. Paragraph 4. Jehovah had that sad  account recorded for our benefit.

It helps us to understand why he hates sin  so much. Sin separates us from our Father, and it leads to death. That is why Satan, the  rebel spirit who instigated all this trouble, loves sin and seeks to promote it.

He  might have thought that he won a great victory in Eden. But he did not understand how  loving Jehovah is. God never changed his purpose for the descendants of Adam and Eve.

He loves the  human family, so he immediately offered hope to all. Romans 8:20, 21 reads: ``For the creation  was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but through the one who subjected it, on the  basis of hope that the creation itself will also be set free from enslavement to corruption  and have the glorious freedom of the children of God. `` Jehovah knew that some of those descendants  would choose to love him and would seek his help in fighting against sin.

And as their Father  and Creator, he would give them a way to be set free from sin and draw close to him. What  would Jehovah do to make all that possible? Question 4.

Why does Jehovah hate  sin and help us fight against it? Our Response: Jehovah’s hatred of sin stems from its destructive  impact on our relationship with Him. Isaiah 59:2 emphasizes that sin creates a separation between  us and God, but Jehovah’s love moves Him to help us overcome it.

The hope expressed in Romans 8:20,  21 is deeply reassuring, showing that Jehovah is eager to rescue us and restore our relationship  with Him. It’s comforting to know that despite our imperfections, Jehovah’s love for us is constant,  and He provides a way for us to return to Him. Paragraph 5.

Genesis 3:15 reads: And I will put  enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will crush  your head, and you will strike him in the heel. ” The first glimmer of hope came when Jehovah  pronounced his sentence on Satan.

God foretold that an “offspring” would be the key to hope.  This offspring would eventually crush Satan, undoing all the evil that he had  caused in Eden. (1 John 3:8).

However, that offspring would suffer in the  process. Satan would strike him, causing his death. That would hurt Jehovah  most deeply.

But the pain would all be worth it in the end because countless humans  would be saved from sin and death. Question 5. When did Jehovah offer a  first glimmer of hope to sinful mankind?

Our Response: Genesis 3:15 provides the very first promise of hope for humanity. Although Satan succeeded  in leading Adam and Eve into sin, Jehovah’s declaration of the coming “offspring” assured the  eventual defeat of Satan and the undoing of his works. 1 John 3:8 confirms that Jesus, as the  promised offspring, came to destroy the works of the Devil.

Jehovah’s willingness to sacrifice  His Son for our sake is the ultimate expression of love, giving us the assurance that through  Jesus, we can be rescued from sin and death. Paragraph 6. Through the centuries that  followed, Jehovah gradually made it clearer and clearer how sinful humans could draw close  to him.

Abel, the second son of Adam and Eve, was the first human to put faith in Jehovah after  the tragedy in Eden. Because Abel loved Jehovah and sought to please Him and draw close to Him,  he offered up a sacrifice. Abel was a shepherd, so he took some of his young lambs and slaughtered  them, offering them up to Jehovah.

How did Jehovah respond? He “looked with favor on Abel and on his  offering. ” Jehovah expressed approval of similar sacrifices offered up by people who loved him and  trusted in him—such as Noah.

By accepting such sacrifices, Jehovah showed that sinful humans  could gain his favor and draw close to him. Question 6. What did men of faith, such as Abel  and Noah, do in order to draw close to Jehovah?

Our Response: Just like Abel and Noah, we can draw close to Jehovah by demonstrating  our faith through acts of obedience and love. By offering our best to Jehovah, we  show that we trust in Him, and in turn, we can expect His favor, as Genesis 4:4 reveals.  Jehovah’s approval of their sacrifices assures us that despite our sinful nature, we can  still gain His favor by seeking to please Him.

Paragraph 7. Jehovah asked  Abraham, a remarkable man of faith, to do something extremely difficult—to  offer up his own son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham surely found this to be the most  painful task imaginable.

Nonetheless, he prepared to follow through with it. But  God stopped him at the last moment. Still, that example teaches all people of  faith a vital truth—Jehovah would be willing to offer his own beloved Son as a  sacrifice.

Jehovah loves humans that much. Question 7. What do we learn from Abraham’s  willingness to sacrifice his own son?

Our Response: Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac shows us  the depth of faith and trust that Jehovah desires from us. His action also foreshadows Jehovah’s  love in offering His only-begotten Son, Jesus, for our salvation. Genesis 22:1-18 reminds  us of the ultimate sacrifice Jehovah made, showing the profound depth of His love  for humanity.

We, too, can demonstrate our faith by trusting in Jehovah's purpose,  even when it requires great personal sacrifice. Paragraph 8. Centuries later, the Law given to  the nation of Israel called for many sacrifices to atone for the sins of God’s people.

(Leviticus  4:27-29 reads: “‘If any one of the people of the land sins unintentionally and becomes guilty by  doing one of the things that Jehovah commands should not be done, or if he becomes aware of a  sin that he has committed, then he should bring a sound young female goat as his offering for the  sin he has committed. He will lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter the sin  offering in the same place as the burnt offering. Leviticus 17:11 reads: For the life of the flesh  is in the blood, and I myself have given it on the altar for you to make atonement for yourselves,  because it is the blood that makes atonement by means of the life in it.

) Such sacrifices pointed  to a greater sacrifice, one that would completely save mankind from sin. God’s prophets were  inspired to explain that the promised offspring, who turned out to be a special Son of God, would  have to suffer and be put to death. He would be slaughtered like a sacrificial sheep.

(Isaiah 53  verses 1 through 12 Imagine: Jehovah would arrange for his own beloved Son to be sacrificed in order  to save mankind—including you—from sin and death! Question 8. What did the many sacrifices under the Law point to?

(Leviticus 4:27  through 29; Leviticus 17:11). Our Response: The sacrifices under the Law were a foreshadowing  of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. As Leviticus 4:27 through 29 and 17:11 explain, these sacrifices  symbolized the future atonement that Jesus would provide for all mankind.

Reflecting on this  reminds us of the tremendous love Jehovah has for us, as He allowed His beloved Son to be  sacrificed to give us the hope of salvation. Paragraph 9. In the first century C.

E. ,  God’s servant John the Baptist pointed to Jesus of Nazareth and said: “See, the Lamb  of God who takes away the sin of the world! ” These inspired words identified Jesus as the  long-foretold offspring.

He would offer up the promised sacrifice. Now more than ever  before, there was a solid hope for sinful mankind—a complete victory over sin. —Read Hebrews  9:22.

Yes, according to the Law nearly all things are cleansed with blood, and unless blood  is poured out no forgiveness takes place. Question 9. What did John the Baptist  indicate about Jesus?

(Hebrews 9:22; Hebrews 10:1 through 4 and 12). Our Response: John the Baptist’s identification of Jesus as "the Lamb of God" in John 1:29  points to the fulfillment of Jehovah’s promise to rescue mankind from sin. Jesus' sacrifice  provides complete atonement, as explained in Hebrews 9:22.

This gives us solid hope, knowing  that through Jesus, we can attain victory over sin and death. Our gratitude for this provision  should motivate us to remain close to Jehovah. Paragraph 10.

Jesus focused special attention on  people who felt weighed down by sin and invited them to become his followers. He knew that  sin was the root cause of mankind’s ills. So he reached out to men and women who were known to  be sinners.

Using an illustration, he explained: “Healthy people do not need a physician, but  those who are ill do. ” He added: “I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners. ” Jesus lived  up to those words.

He gently forgave the sins of the woman who washed his feet with her tears. He  taught vital truths to the Samaritan woman at the well, though he knew of her immoral lifestyle.  God even empowered Jesus to undo the end result of all sin—death.

How? Jesus resurrected  people—male and female, children and adults. Question 10.

How did Jesus show  that he “came to call” sinners? Our Response: Jesus’ mission to call sinners, as shown in Matthew 9:12, 13, highlights his  compassion and desire to help those burdened by sin. His loving actions, such as forgiving  the woman and teaching the Samaritan woman, demonstrate that no one is beyond the reach of  Jehovah’s mercy.

Through Jesus’ resurrection of the dead, we see Jehovah’s power to undo the  ultimate consequence of sin—death. This reassures us that Jehovah and Jesus deeply care for us and  are eager to help us overcome our weaknesses. Paragraph 11.

It is no wonder that even people  deeply caught up in sin were drawn to Jesus. He showed them compassion and empathy.  They felt comfortable approaching him.

And Jesus commended and rewarded such ones for  showing faith in him. He provided a perfect, living picture of his Father’s mercy. By word  and deed, he showed that his compassionate, merciful Father loves people and wants to  help each of them to win the fight against sin.

Jesus helped sinful people to want  to change their ways and to follow him. Question 11. What drew sinners to Jesus,  and how did he help them change their ways?

Our Response: Jesus' compassion and empathy made him  approachable even to those who felt deeply burdened by sin. His loving manner demonstrated  Jehovah’s mercy and helped sinners feel valued and hopeful. Luke 15 verses 1 and 2 shows  how Jesus attracted those seeking change, and by helping them, he illustrated the love  of his Father.

We, too, can imitate Jesus’ compassionate approach by showing love and  understanding to those who are struggling. Paragraph 12. Jesus knew what  lay ahead of him.

More than once, he told his followers that he would be  betrayed and executed on a stake. He knew that his sacrifice would take away the  sin of the world, as John had proclaimed, and the prophets had foretold. Jesus  also taught that after offering his life, he would “draw all sorts of men” to himself. 

Sinful humans could please Jehovah by accepting Jesus as their Lord and by following in his  steps. If they did so, they would finally be “set free from sin. ” So, Jesus willingly  and courageously faced his terrible death.

Question 12. What did Jesus  teach about his own death? Our Response: Jesus was fully aware of the suffering he would endure but willingly  faced it out of love for humanity.

His sacrifice, as foretold in Matthew 17:22 and John 12:32,  opened the way for all to be freed from sin if they follow him. His courage in the face of death  encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that through Jesus, we can  be set free from the power of sin. Paragraph 13.

Jesus was betrayed, arrested,  verbally abused, slandered, convicted, and even tortured. Soldiers led him  to the site of execution and nailed him to a stake. As he faithfully endured all  that agony, there was Someone who felt even more pain.

That was Jehovah God. He held  back his infinite power and refrained from intervening. Why?

What could move a loving  Father to act in that way? In a word, love. Jesus said: “God loved the world so much  that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be  destroyed but have everlasting life.

”—John 3:16. Question 13. How did Jesus die, and what  did his death teach us about Jehovah God?

Our Response: Jesus’ death was a profound act of love, not only on his part  but also on Jehovah’s. As John 3:16 highlights, Jehovah’s willingness to let His beloved Son die  shows how deeply He loves humanity. His restraint from intervening during Jesus’ suffering speaks to  the incredible sacrifice made for us.

Reflecting on this should move us to greater appreciation  for Jehovah's love and the ransom provision. Paragraph 14. Jesus’ sacrifice is the  ultimate proof of how much Jehovah loves the descendants of Adam and Eve.

It proves how  much Jehovah loves you. He went to great lengths, subjecting himself to the worst pain imaginable  in order to rescue you from sin and death. Yes, he wants to help each one of us  to fight against sin—and to win!

Question 14. What does Jesus’ sacrifice teach you? Our Response: The sacrifice of Jesus is personal—it is the  ultimate demonstration of Jehovah’s love for each one of us.

1 John 4:9 and 10 reminds us  that this love was shown in the willingness to endure suffering for our sake. This knowledge  should fill us with gratitude and motivate us to continue fighting against sin with the  confidence that Jehovah will help us succeed. Paragraph 15.

God’s gift, the ransom sacrifice of  his only-begotten Son, makes it possible for us to have our sins forgiven. But to receive  God’s forgiveness, we must do something. What is that?

John the Baptist and then Jesus  Christ himself provided the answer: “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near. ”  So, repentance is key if we truly want to fight against sin and draw close to our loving Father.  But what is involved in being repentant, and how does it help us combat our sinful condition? 

The next study article will provide the answer. Question 15. What must we do in order to benefit  from God’s gift of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus?

Our Response: The gift of Jesus’ sacrifice is available to all, but we must  actively repent to benefit from it. Matthew 3:1 and 2 reminds us of the need to recognize our  sins and turn away from them. True repentance is a continual process that helps us draw closer  to Jehovah and maintain our spiritual strength.

This step is essential in our fight against  sin and our efforts to gain everlasting life. How Would You Answer? 1.

How did Jehovah offer hope to sinful humans? Our Response: Jehovah offered hope to sinful humans right  after the rebellion in Eden. He provided a prophecy in Genesis 3:15 that foretold the  coming of an "offspring" who would crush Satan and undo the damage caused by sin.

This  offspring, later revealed to be Jesus Christ, would provide a way for humans to be saved  from sin and death. Jehovah’s immediate promise in Eden showed His love and His desire for  humanity to have hope, even in the face of sin. 2.

What did the animal sacrifices  under the Law point to? Our Response: The animal sacrifices under the Mosaic Law foreshadowed a greater and  perfect sacrifice—Jesus Christ. These sacrifices were a temporary arrangement to atone for  the sins of God’s people but pointed to the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus would make. 

As Leviticus 17:11 and Hebrews 9:22 explain, only the shedding of blood could cover  sin. Jesus’ death fulfilled what those animal sacrifices represented, providing  complete forgiveness for all humankind. 3.

How did Jesus come to the  rescue of sinful humankind? Our Response: Jesus came to the rescue of sinful humankind by willingly offering  his life as a ransom. As John 1:29 indicates, Jesus was “the Lamb of God who takes away the  sin of the world.

” His sacrifice made it possible for humans to have their sins forgiven and to  be set free from the power of sin and death. Jesus’ loving actions, including his  compassionate treatment of sinners and his ultimate death on the torture  stake, demonstrated Jehovah’s desire to rescue humanity from sin and bring them  back into a close relationship with Him.