The cross has and offers:- - Redeem you, to be ‘redeemed’ means to be purchased from one owner to another, or to be brought out of one situation and into another. - Ransom (e.g. Mark 10:45, Hebrews 9:15) – a ‘ransom’ price is some payment that must be paid in order to redeem a person or an object. - Forgive (e.g. Romans 4:7, Hebrews 8:12) – to ‘forgive’ is to have an action condemned and covered over, such that the person responsible no longer has to bear the consequences of that action.1 The goal of forgiveness is reconciliation. - Reconcile (e.g. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Ephesians 2:16) – ‘Reconciliation’ is what occurs when two or more persons/groups who were previously separated or opposed to each other are brought back together. - Sanctify (e.g. John 17:19, 1 Corinthians 6:11) – to be ‘sanctified’ means to be cleansed and set apart for a special purpose. - Justify (e.g. Romans 3:30, Titus 3:7) – to be ‘justified’ is to be declared righteous. - Atonement (e.g. Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 2:2) – ‘Atonement’ is a sacrifice that brings humanity and God back together. It comes from the Old Testament sacrificial system that foreshadowed the ultimate act of Jesus’ death that would bring humanity and God back to a state of ‘at-one-ment’ (i.e. to being united as one).

You might be asking yourself why such a cruel thing of the crucifixion. Crucifixion was intended to be a gruesome spectacle: the most painful and humiliating death imaginable. Our own efforts fell short always despite the fact that there were righteous, God-fearing people throughout history, none of them were blameless, and none of them could “stand in the gap” between God and mankind. So then God sent His own Son to carry out this greatest work in history.

The Expert/Specialist Last time we said that sin infested our lives and this world and separated us from God who is holy blocking our entrance to heaven. God had a perfect relation and communion with Adam and Eve. There was no barrier just peace, tranquil and harmony. Everything was right with it but then things went pear-shaped. God always gives his best, the world and creation speaks of a creator who did not hold back in his creation. So there is no doubt that he will hold back sending his best to help us.

The only way to mend this was to do something to restore this relationship.

We have been designed by God to reflect His own image. God loves what He created, He especially loves us because we are the most like Him.  Remember that I said that free will is a blessing and a curse.

God created you. No matter what anyone else says you and I are fearfully and wonderfully made by a supernatural God. There is no one else in the world like you and I. Even the hair on our heads are numbered. Much care and concern was spent to create you. We are designer original. God's DNA is part of who we are. God is love and the basis of his creation shows love for us. Perfect. Peace, Joy, Tranquil.