4. How can the just and holy God who has threatened to punish all who transgress His commandments forgive sins and declare sinners righteous? He does so _for Christ's sake. In Christ_ we have the forgiveness of sins. _"In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."_ Eph. 1,7 Christ fulfilled the Law of God in our stead, He suffered the punishment for our sins, and so made good for us. _He has earned full forgiveness for us; for His sake all our sins are forgiven._ 5. Who _receives_ forgiveness of sins? We confess that God forgives all sins _to me and all believers._ It is true, Christ has _procured_ forgiveness _for all men_--Christ died for every sinner. God, in His grace, _offers_ this forgiveness by the Gospel _to all who hear it._ We read: _"God was in Christ, reconciling the world_ [all men] _unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation."_ 2 Cor. 5,19. Yet not all receive forgiveness, but only those _who believe in Christ and thus accept the forgiveness_ which Christ has earned for all men. Without faith in Christ there is no forgiveness of sins. _We are justified by faith alone._ 6. We receive forgiveness of sins, we are justified before God, _without the deeds of the Law, by grace alone, for Christ's sake, through faith in our Lord._ This is the _chief article of our Christian faith._ This doctrine is taught only by the Christian Church. _It gives all the glory for our salvation to God and affords true comfort to all sinners._ REMEMBER:-- 1. _God has promised in His Word to forgive us all our sins daily and richly. Come to Him every day and with true penitence, with a contrite heart, ask His forgiveness for Christ's sake. He will graciously grant it._ 2. _We are justified in the sight of God without the deeds of the Law, by His grace, for Christ's sake, through faith in Him. This is the chief doctrine of the Christian Church and the only one that gives lasting comfort to all sinners._ MEMORIZE:-- _Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases._ Ps. 103,2.3. _In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace._ Eph. 1,7. _God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and has committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation._ 2 Cor. 5,19. QUESTIONS.