Article March 8, 1969 Issue

The True Ransom

EDGAR F. WRIGHT

Christ Jesus told his disciples that he came "to give his life a ransom for many."^{Matt. 20:28;} This statement has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At no time did Jesus say or imply that his crucifixion was a sacrifice or ransom for all mortals who would merely acknowledge him as their Saviour. Yet that is what many sincere religious leaders imply today.

Jesus told an apparently repentant woman to "go, and sin no more."^{John 8:11;} This showed clearly that the Master placed a continuing obligation upon her. Otherwise, the gate would have been left wide open for a repetition of the offense. The sinner had to provide her own ransom, which was the uncovering and giving up of her sin.

Mrs. Eddy explains Jesus' policy in these words: "He did life's work aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to mortals,—to show them how to do theirs, but not to do it for them nor to relieve them of a single responsibility."^{Science and Health, p. 18;}

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