Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
COMING OF THE SAVIOR
Acts 3: 19-26
Verse: 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
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Chapter 3 of the book of Acts, is the second exhortation of Peter to the Jews, to repent and turn to God, so that they can also be part of the Kingdom. Greek word translated as refreshing in 3:19 , means a revival. cooling, renewing through the blessings that the spirit of God will provide. This involved salvation and renewing of their minds via the truth of the gospel that holy spirit would reveal and confirm.
Although the refreshing had begun in some, lot many had not begun refreshed, because they had not allowed the spirit to work in them through the word of God. In v:21, we see that for the last 2000 years the great Physician ,Lord Jesus has been trying to restore man back to a righteous state of spiritual health, reconciling man to God. God wants things to go back to the way before man fell spiritually, and alienated from God. However the restoration will not be complete until the end of the time, when all who are restored, will be resurrected to immortality, and will be going to the realm of heaven where righteous one dwells.
There seems to be a connection between Acts 3 , and I Corinthians 15 regarding the return of Christ, where Paul speaks of subduing all things to Christ. The gospel of Christ is going spread until the restoration of all men are completed, then those who rejected Christ and the gospel will be destroyed on the judgement day.
If you obey Christ, and the completion of repenting sinners be restored to God, Christ will be sent, to be your savior. Christians today can still be restored to spiritual health through the word of God and through the holy spirit. If we are converted and faithful
God will send his son Jesus to be our redeemer, instead of our condemner.
God's promise to Abraham reminds us that through his offspring(singular)
which is Lord Jesus, through him all believers will be blessed. Jesus preached” Repent ,for the Kingdom is at hand, a Kingdom for Israel. John the Baptist also preached,” Repent , the Kingdom of God is here.” Now in acts 3,Peter is also saying, Repent, be converted, and your sins will be blotted out. Even though the long awaited Messiah came to Israel, they did not recognize Him, rejected Him, and crucified Him. But God's mercy and grace is still extended to Israel and continued to offer the joy of the Kingdom of God.
Let us therefore strive to be faithful servants of God, repented, converted, revived and refreshed, so that we will also be able to partake in his second coming joyfully.
Although the refreshing had begun in some, lot many had not begun refreshed, because they had not allowed the spirit to work in them through the word of God. In v:21, we see that for the last 2000 years the great Physician ,Lord Jesus has been trying to restore man back to a righteous state of spiritual health, reconciling man to God. God wants things to go back to the way before man fell spiritually, and alienated from God. However the restoration will not be complete until the end of the time, when all who are restored, will be resurrected to immortality, and will be going to the realm of heaven where righteous one dwells.
There seems to be a connection between Acts 3 , and I Corinthians 15 regarding the return of Christ, where Paul speaks of subduing all things to Christ. The gospel of Christ is going spread until the restoration of all men are completed, then those who rejected Christ and the gospel will be destroyed on the judgement day.
If you obey Christ, and the completion of repenting sinners be restored to God, Christ will be sent, to be your savior. Christians today can still be restored to spiritual health through the word of God and through the holy spirit. If we are converted and faithful
God will send his son Jesus to be our redeemer, instead of our condemner.
God's promise to Abraham reminds us that through his offspring(singular)
which is Lord Jesus, through him all believers will be blessed. Jesus preached” Repent ,for the Kingdom is at hand, a Kingdom for Israel. John the Baptist also preached,” Repent , the Kingdom of God is here.” Now in acts 3,Peter is also saying, Repent, be converted, and your sins will be blotted out. Even though the long awaited Messiah came to Israel, they did not recognize Him, rejected Him, and crucified Him. But God's mercy and grace is still extended to Israel and continued to offer the joy of the Kingdom of God.
Let us therefore strive to be faithful servants of God, repented, converted, revived and refreshed, so that we will also be able to partake in his second coming joyfully.
Prayer
Lord , thank you for your long suffering, compassion and grace you extended to all of us sinners, cleanse us, heal us, help us to be restored , renewed and refreshed , to be worthy enough to receive you at your second coming. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Repent, receive, revive, and rejoice - that's the messianic Kingdom.
Dr.John K.Thomas Tabor MTC