Redemption Arc

<p>One element in storytelling that I enjoy is called a “redemption arc.” It’s where we get to see a character who was evil, hurtful, or just made a lot of mistakes… turned to good and brought into community. This theme in stories has strong ties to Christianity and to God’s own story of redemption.</p><p>.</p><p>In the Bible, Jesus is often called the Redeemer. But how does Jesus redeem us? Ever since humans first went their own way against God, we all became sinful, doing wrong against God and against one another. Our sin separated us from God, but He wanted us to be near Him again. That’s why He took our sins upon Himself on the cross. When Jesus died and rose again, He was the One who paid for our sins and brought us back into the folds of God’s grace. In books and movies, characters often redeem themselves, but for Christians, our redemption is a gift from Jesus, bought at the price of His own blood and suffering (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8).</p><p>.</p><p>One way the Bible explains it is that we were slaves to sin, owned by our sin. But we were bought at the price of Jesus’s death on the cross, and now we are free! We get to be with our resurrected Lord and become part of God’s family, the church. Jesus has brought us back into His light, so we don’t have to hide in the shadows anymore (Colossians 1:13-14). Now, we can live free from the guilt and shame of our own sins, because we have been redeemed. • Naomi Zylstra</p><p>.</p><p>• Can you think of a book or movie character who had a redemption arc? How did they change over the course of the story?</p><p>.</p><p>• Have you ever done something you regret, and then wanted to somehow make up for it? While God does call us to turn away from wrongdoing and work to make things right, we can never earn God’s forgiveness or our place in His family. We are only redeemed by Jesus’s death and resurrection, not by any of our own efforts. In light of these truths, what might it look like for us to follow God out of love and gratitude, not obligation or fear?</p><p>.</p><p>“I kn