BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

********** ADVERTISEMENT ********** YOUTH GRADES 6-12 GROW 14forty spring retreat 2019 March 10-13 Waxahachie, Texas 14forty.com/grow2019 Lakeview Campground & Retreat Center Registration & deposit deadline: Feb. 10 ******************************************* * * * * article from p. 19 continues * * * * Now, according to those scriptures, there are only two requirements for being made the righteousness of God. No. 1, is to have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, which we’ve all done; and No. 2, is to have faith in the blood of Jesus. Verse 26 goes on to say, “...that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Considering our sin, it would be just for God to say to us, “Get out of My sight. What are you doing walking in here wanting to be a part of My family? Look at your mean, ugly self! Who do you think you are wanting to come into My heaven?” But, praise God, He doesn’t consider our sin. He considers the blood of Jesus. He administers justice based on His blood-sworn oath of forgiveness and, because He honors that blood, He justifies us by wiping out all our sin. The Bible says He remembers our sins no more! Once those past sins are wiped away, if we miss it and sin again, all we have to do is repent and confess our sin. When we do, the Bible says God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Why does He do that? Is it because now that we’re saved and we’re acting better, we deserve to be forgiven? No! Let me tell you, when I sin there is no way in this world I’m going to go before the throne of grace asking God to forgive me on the basis of how many years I’ve been in the ministry. I’m not going to pull a dumb stunt like that. I’m just going to go in and plead the blood of Jesus, because I know God honors the blood. I know His blood is even now in the heavenly holy of holies, along with a copy of the New Testament. The blood that came out of Jesus’ veins is contained in that place ever reminding all of heaven this New Covenant—every word of it, including God’s promise of forgiveness—was made in the blood of God’s Lamb. That’s where my faith rests. I don’t have to wonder what God is going to do. I don’t have to wonder if He’s going to forgive me. I know He will because He swore it in the blood of His own Son.. Serious Business Now, with all that in mind, I want you to think again about the fact that we are to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Can you see what that means? It means that we’re to forgive on the same basis that God forgives—the basis of the blood of Jesus. My forgiving someone doesn’t have anything to do with what that person did or didn’t do to me. I forgive them because of the blood. God honored the blood and forgave me in the face of my sin, so even as He has forgiven me, I forgive you. For me not to forgive would be to dishonor that blood. This is serious business we’re talking about here! When you dishonor the blood of Jesus, you’re stepping out from under its protective covering into the devil’s territory. You’re stepping out into darkness where he can get a shot at you. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go out there. I don’t care what anyone may do to me, I’m not going to let their mistreatment of me push me out into darkness. No, I’m just going to honor the blood, forgive them and keep right on walking in the light. If someone hits me on one cheek, I’m just going to do what Jesus said, forgive and turn the other cheek. Some people think if you do that, you’ll get the daylights beaten out of you. But they’re wrong. If you keep your faith up, when you turn the other cheek, God will protect you from the one who’s trying to hit you. 20 : BVOV

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