Start the study with a time of confession and openness.

This is the "bad news" that shows us our need for salvation.

Today we look at the Good News of how God responds to our need.

The Good News (gospel) according to Jesus is the Kingdom of God that Jesus, as king, establishes!

How did He "purchase for God persons . . . to be a kingdom"?

After studying sin, is there any way for us to earn right standing with God?

There are three pictures of grace in this passage.

1. Redemption from Debt Slavery.

2. Temple/Tabernacle Sacrifice of Atonement - Leviticus 4:32-35.

3. Courtroom

How do these pictures make Jesus's death on the cross more personal?

What does being "credited righteousness" mean?

Why is the resurrection important according to this passage?

How does this move you?

Read the account of Jesus's death in Mark 14:32-15:29 with the perspective of Jesus as our sacrifice of atonement (your hand on Jesus's head) and the guilt of your sin transferred to him.

How did that change your experience of reading the account of Jesus's death?

In the next study we will look more closely at this topic but, in this passage, how does God want us to respond to what Jesus did for us on the cross?

-What does it mean to you that Jesus purchased you by His blood?

-How does knowing that Jesus took your sin upon Himself on the cross change your view of sin?

-How do you feel moved to respond to His love?

God loves you SO much and deeply desires reconciliation.

-Prayerfully communicate to God what Jesus's sacrifice means to you.

-Spend time reflecting on the cross and resurrection by reading Isaiah 53, an account of the crucifixion in the gospels or watching the Passion of Christ (link below).

Isaiah 52-53, Acts 2:22-38, Ephesians 2:1-10

Psalm 22, Colossians 2:13-14, John 1:29