Question 12 – Since, according to God's righteous judgment we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how can we escape this punishment and be again received into favour?

Answer – God demands that His justice be satisfied.¹ Therefore full apayment must be made either by ourselves or by another.²

¹ Ex. 20:5; 23:7; Rom. 2:1-11. ² Is. 53:11; Rom. 8:3, 4.

Question 13 – Can we ourselves make this payment?

Answer – Certainly not. On the contrary, we daily increase our debt.¹

¹ Ps. 130:3; Matt. 6:12; Rom. 2:4, 5.

Question 14 – Can any mere creature pay for us?

Answer – No. In the first place, God will not punish another creature for the sin which man has committed.¹ Furthermore, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin and deliver others from it.²

¹ Ezek. 18:4, 20; Heb. 2:14-18. ² Ps. 130:3; Nah. 1:6.

Question 15 – What kind of mediator and deliverer must we seek?

Answer – One who is a true¹ and righteous² man, and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is at the same time true God.³

¹ I Cor. 15:21; Heb. 2:17. ² Is. 53:9; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:26. ³ Is. 7:14; 9:6; Jer. 23:6; John 1:1; Rom. 8:3, 4.