Only those who believe in Jesus Christ can have their sins forgiven and enjoy eternal life with God in his presence (John 3:15–16). This forgiveness can happen because the wrath that our sins deserve have been satisfied by Jesus Christ. The fires of judgment have passed us by and fallen upon him instead of upon us. As a result, those who have faith in Jesus Christ will be able to stand in the assembly of the righteous (Psalm 1:5). They will stand not because they trust in privilege but because they trust in Jesus Christ.
3 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron.