For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

Bogus  

bo.gus - adjective, not real or genuine; fake or false

Despite receiving a life sentence for a first-degree murder of an Orlando man in 1998, convicted murderer Joseph Jenkins was released from a Florida prison on Sep 27th. 

A week later, Charles Walker, another inmate serving a life sentence for a 2nd degree murder in 1999, was also released.

Investigations have revealed that the documents ordering their release were bogus. 

It is not yet clear as to who worked up the fake documents.  The paperwork includes forged signatures from the same prosecutor's office and Chief Circuit Judge Belvin Perry.  In both cases, the forged paperwork included motions from prosecutors to correct "illegal" sentences, accompanied by orders allegedly filed by Judge Perry, reducing the life sentences to 15 years.

Authorities are on the hunt for the two men to apprehend them and send them back to prison. *

These escape attempts remind us of some bogus ways of which we may be guilty of trying to remove the guilt of our sins.

Yes, we're ALL guilty.  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

Some try to remove the pain of guilt by trying to do enough good deeds to "make up" for past mistakes.  But as Paul Faulkner has written in Making Things Right When Things Go Wrong, "You cannot do enough good deeds to deliver yourself from the guilt of even a single misdeed. It is similar to a man without funds writing a worthless check to satisfy the demands of a $10 million loan" (104).  We cannot earn our salvation:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Others wrongly try to "pass the buck" and deny responsibility for their actions.  This type of behavior goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve tried to blame their sins on others (see Genesis 3:1-13).  Each of us bears the responsibility for his or her actions (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Others wrongly assume that "time heals all wounds" - even the wounds caused by guilt.  Time only sears the conscience and hardens the heart (cf. Hebrews 3:13).  Ignoring our sin won't make it go away!

The ONLY thing that can remove the guilt of sin from our hearts is the blood of Jesus!

God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price for our redemption from sin (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7).  Only "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot," could satisfy the justice of God and cleanse us from our sins (1 Peter 1:18-19).

"What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

-- Robert Lowry

The blood that Jesus shed in His death on the cross cleanses our sins when we place our faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Him for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  The blood of Jesus will continually cleanse those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

The ONLY thing that can remove the guilt of sin from our hearts is the blood of Jesus!  All other attempts are bogus.

Won't YOU submit your life to the Savior so that your sins can be washed away by His blood?

David Sargent,