Bible League: Living His Word God gave Jesus as a way to forgive people's sins through their faith in him. God can forgive them because the blood sacrifice of Jesus pays for their sins. God gave Jesus to show that he always does what is right and fair.— Romans 3:25 ERV In this season of greetings, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, know that His precious blood speaks of redemption for your soul, to reconcile men with God our Creator! In The Prison Bible (a Bible version designed specifically for prisoners and distributed by the Bible League), Lesson 45 says "Remember, no church is perfect." These words are profound because of the story of a pastor's son, who decided to marry a former prostitute. She was known in the community; however, she was now a born-again child of God! Church leadership and members were against the decision; they opposed the marriage of the son who loved the ex-prostitute who is now blood-washed, whose name is in the Lamb's Book of Life! How sad I was when I read the story. The pastor had to preach on the power of the blood of Jesus, which removes, restores, revives, renews, and completely recreates anyone who believes in what Christ has done. Beloved, we can never cast a stone because of past sins. We all have sinned and come short of God's glory (Romans 3:23); Jesus is our only hope of redemption! His Blood does not segregate; it cleanses from every sin, every addiction, and every disease—purifying even the worst criminal. Jesus Himself declares in the parable of the two sons, "The truth is, you are worse than the tax collectors and the prostitutes. In fact, they will enter God's Kingdom before you enter. John came to show you the right way to live, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes believed John. You saw that happening, but you would not change. You still refused to believe him" (Matthew 21:31-32). Beloved, let us carry the cross and follow and focus on Jesus (Matthew 16:24). Jesus Himself declares in John 14:6 that He is the only way to the Father. His blood speaks salvation, grace, and mercy upon humanity. In today's verse, it says "God gave Jesus as a way to forgive people's sins through faith in Him." Jesus is our propitiation, the Greek word "hilasterion" denotes Jesus being an atoning victim, on our behalf! Hallelujah! He took all the sins we ever committed on Himself, because the blood sacrifice (our atonement, our payment in exchange for our souls) pays for our sins! Beloved family in Christ, Jesus' blood has atoned your sins! If you have not yet accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, come to Him and be part of the family of God through faith in Jesus! Beloved, as you celebrate this Christmas season, keep in mind that Jesus wants to have a covenant with you and redeem you from all sinfulness to be his daughter or son. Romans 5:9 says "We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So, through Christ, we will surely be saved from God's anger." By Christopher Thetswe, Bible League International staff, South Africa Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 45, 46 Ezekiel 45 -- Portion of Land for the Sanctuary, the City, and for the Prince NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 46 -- Ordinances for the Prince in His Worship NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Peter 3 2 Peter 3 -- The Day of the Lord; A New Heaven and Earth NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.Insight Jesus was in great agony as he prepared to face death. Although Jesus cried out to God, asking to be delivered, he was prepared to suffer humiliation, separation from his Father, and death in order to do God's will. Challenge At times we will undergo trials, not because we want to suffer, but because we want to obey God. Let Jesus' obedience sustain and encourage you in times of trial. You will be able to face anything if you know that Jesus Christ is with you. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 107:8 O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified. Let us daily praise God for common mercies--common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear. Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed. But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God's redeeming acts towards his chosen are forever the favorite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ--our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name." Let the new month begin with new songs. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.Isaiah 66:22 "For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure. 2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. • And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. • And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, • and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." • And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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