This Life Group season runs from April 7-May 26, 2024
There are many ways that the atonement is imaged throughout the New Testament. (The list from Romans is below.)
Let’s take a look at three images right now.
- Sacrifice/Holiness/Cleansing. Read 1 John 1:7-9. Why is it important that we are honest with ourselves about the problem of sin?
- The metaphors seems mixed (or are they): What is the relationship between darkness/light and blood/cleansing?
- What is it like to experience forgiveness and be purified?
- Change in Loyalty. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. How easy is it to believe that you have been bought at a price?
- What relationship to God should we have because we have been bought at a price?
- Redemption/Legal. Read 1 Peter 1:18-21. Many people underestimate the power of sin. These people do good things without Jesus. Is their life still “empty” as Peter suggests? Why or why not? How does the sacrifice of Jesus address the meaning of our lives?
- What is the importance of Jesus’ blood being the purchase price vs. silver and gold?
- Which of these three images to you think is most relatable to you? Which do you think would make sense to someone you love who is far from God? Pray for that person.
Images of Atonement (only from Romans)
- Access to God. Romans 5:1-2.
- Reconciliation. Romans 5:1-11.
- Liberation from sin. Romans 6:6-7; 8:21
- Change in loyalty. Romans 6:15-23.
- Metamorphosis. Romans 6:3-11.
- Victory. Romans 6:4-11.
- Adoption. Romans 8:14-17.
- Heirs of God. Romans 8:14-17.
- Justification. Romans 3:21-26; 5:8-9; 6:23; 8:1-4.