THE QUESTION: Do we need to be rescued?
WE BELIEVE: God sent His Son to buy us back after we had been stolen.

A STORY: The old violin maker took great pride in the instruments that he fashioned. One night, a thief broke into his shop and stole his masterpiece. Months later, he was passing by a store and saw his instrument in the window. He had no way of proving that the violin belonged to him. The old man decided to go back home and dig into his savings to buy back his instrument.

ANSWER THIS: What would you do if something of value was stolen from you? Would you give up a lot to get it back?



GOD SPEAKS: When our perfect God made the universe, He made all of it without sin, just like Himself. He gave us a body and a soul that should have lived forever. (Genesis 2:7)
It was not long before our original ancestors sinned. That is, they went against God's will. Listening to the devil, an evil spirit that had rebelled against God, they fell into temptation and did what they wanted. When humanity rejected God, the robber that we know as the devil stole the perfect joy, peace and tranquility that existed in God's created world. No longer would people be happy. No longer would they live forever. The universe was filled with the misery and death that we still see. (Romans 5:12)
Like our violin maker, God was saddened to lose humanity, His most prized possession. Although God's justice decreed sinful humans had to be punished for their rebellion, God decided to buy us back. To redeem us from the devil and an eternity of punishment in the eternal fire of hell, He decided to send His only Son, Jesus, to take our place. (Galatians 3:13) This may be the first time you have ever heard the name of Jesus, whose name means Savior, so let us tell you about Him:
Jesus, just like His Father, is God. (John 1:1)
Jesus, although He remained God, also became human and was able to live His entire life, without sin, for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 2:5)
When we should have been punished, Jesus was punished; when we should have died, He died in our place. (Isaiah 53:4-9)
Because Jesus lived and died for us, all who believe in Him as their substitute, will have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Because Jesus took our place and carried our sins, God now looks at those who believe in Jesus as their Savior and sees them as His children. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Three days after Jesus died, He rose from the dead -- alive and glorified. Now He promises that all who believe in Him as Savior will also live forever. (John 11: 25,26)
The idea of someone rising from the dead, even God's Son, seems impossible. But there were hundreds of eyewitnesses, over many months, who saw Him -- not as a ghost, but as a living, breathing, glorified Savior.

THIS PART OF OUR LESSON ASKS:
You to write down how much love for us it took for God to give up His Son to buy us back after we sinned and, as a result, deserved eternal punishment.



Appreciating God, Who has given you the greatest gift you will ever receive, continue on with the lesson. Remember to write down your questions at the end.