PONDERING... Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought into God’s favor?

NOTE: This is part of a catechism study we are doing on Sunday mornings.


Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought into God’s favor?Yes, to satisfy His justice, God Himself, out of mere mercy, reconciles us to Himself and delivers us from sin and from the punishment for sin, by a Redeemer. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting alone to His blood and righteousness. This faith is attended by repentance for the past, and leads to holiness in the future.

• Isaiah 53:10-11 ESV - "10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities." 
• John 3:16 ESV - "16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." 
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV - "13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." 
• Romans 5:20-21 ESV - "20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

Yes,
Great news!

to satisfy His justice,
He is just, doing what is right is His nature. To satisfy means to fulfill or meet the need for.

God Himself,
I wanted to emphasize this because there are modern misconceptions about who Jesus is and how salvation happened. Jesus is God. God Himself saved us.

out of mere mercy,
No obligation. Just mercy. We didn't deserve this.

reconciles us to Himself
Brings us back into the right relationship. Heals the wounds. Bridges the separation.

and delivers us from sin and from the punishment for sin,
Saves us from Hell and gives a way of escape from temptation on earth.

by a Redeemer.
One who redeems, pays for. Redeem per Webster 1828: To purchase back; to ransom; to liberate or rescue from captivity or bondage, or from any obligation or liability to suffer or to be forfeited, by paying an equivalent; as, to redeem prisoners or captured goods; to redeem a pledge.

To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin,
For this salvation to happen.

we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Not just that He exist, but that He is God and our salvation

trusting alone to His blood and righteousness.
Alone. In nothing else.

This faith is attended by repentance for the past,
Turning from sin

and leads to holiness in the future.There IS a change