If the penalty has been paid why do we suffer? An anology for kids

[Sugar_Ray]

I posted this on another thread but didn’t get any feedback.

I’m looking for an effective analogy to explain to 7th graders why we must suffer for our sins (either on earth or in purgatory) if Jesus paid our penalty on the cross

I thought of the analogy below but would love to get some feedback to be sure it is sound before I present it.

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross made available to us an ocean of mercy that was not there before. When we sin we must go to that ocean to be cleansed of our sins and forgiven.

Therefore the sacrifice makes the mercy available but we must still do our part (go to confession) to recieve forgiveness.

However, despite the mercy we have been shown there are still consequences to sin. You can be forgiven but still must serve your pennance in this life or the next (purgatory). Just as when you violate a rule in your home - your parents may forgive you when you apologize but you will still be grounded for a time.

Does this work?

 

[Genesis315]

Yep. In fact, the analogy of a father disciplining his children is what is used in Hebrews chapter 12 (well its more than an analagoy, because it actually is a Father discipling His children)

Heb. 12:4 For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin: 5 And you have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.

6 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct? 8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons. 9 Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live? 10 And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification.

11 Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield, to them that are exercised by it, the most peaceable fruit of justice.

 

[bigdawg]

I posted this on another thread but didn’t get any feedback.

I’m looking for an effective analogy to explain to 7th graders why we must suffer for our sins (either on earth or in purgatory) if Jesus paid our penalty on the cross

I thought of the analogy below but would love to get some feedback to be sure it is sound before I present it.

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross made available to us an ocean of mercy that was not there before. When we sin we must go to that ocean to be cleansed of our sins and forgiven.

Therefore the sacrifice makes the mercy available but we must still do our part (go to confession) to recieve forgiveness.

However, despite the mercy we have been shown there are still consequences to sin. You can be forgiven but still must serve your pennance in this life or the next (purgatory). Just as when you violate a rule in your home - your parents may forgive you when you apologize but you will still be grounded for a time.

Does this work?

I may be wrong but I think it is the protestants that believe Jesus paid the legal debt for our sins. I didn’t think the Catholic Church taught this.

 

[Fidelis]

When explaining complex concepts, it’s always helpful to define some terms and to break things down.

1.) When we sin (and we’re talking about actual mortal sins, i.e., those commited after baptism, there are two consequences: guilt and punishment, both eternal and temporal (that is, earthly, temporary). When we repent and confess our sins, our *guilt *is taken away by the merits of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. That takes away the guilt and the *eternal *consequences (the most important kind), but the *temporal *consequences of our sin remain.

2.) A well-known analogy is this: If a boy breaks the neighbor’s window with a rock, the thing he should do is go to his neighbor apologize, and ask the neighbor’s forgiveness. The neighbor, though she can, by all rights, call the cops and have the boy arrested or fined as a vandal, if she is kind and merciful, may just forgive the boy his infraction. However, if justice is to be served, there is still the matter of the broken window to be dealt with. The boy needs to at least make an attempt to make up for the wrong he has done.

3.) Thus, even though we are forgiven the guilt and eternal punishment due for our sins, there is still the matter of reparation. We must --and should want to, if we are really sorry – make up for the harm done by our sins before we enter into heaven, either in this life, or in Purgatory, which is actually a grace that God gives us to accomplish this.

Hope that helps!