Saturday, July 26, 2008

Bless You

Acts 3:26 KJV
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
This passage tells us expressly how God desires to bless us; "...in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."
We may speak of a number of things we think would be blessings from God
Good health
Good job
Happy family
Nice weather
A fun experience
Plenty to eat


We could go on with things we consider to be blessings, some fairly frivolous, others quite significant. But God's Word says that God sent Jesus to bless people in a specific fashion.....
In turning away... his iniquities.

My first observation
This is truly a blessing; to have our iniquities forgiven. To be turned away from them. To no longer be under the guilt of iniquity. This is a blessing

My second observation
"Every one of you" So there is no one that God would not bless in this fashion, should they receive it. Not that everyone is forgiven.
John 1:11-12 KJV
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:


The offer is available to all, but not all will receive it.

My third observation
Not just forgive our iniquities but turn away our iniquities. The one is a momentary event. When God opens our heart to Jesus Christ; when we see our sin condition and recognize Christ's Gospel as the remedy and we flee to Him, at that moment we are washed, we are redeemed, we are saved from our sin. But the other, the turning away from our iniquities, is a lifetime proposition.

And I submit that it is the greatest of blessings that God does not let us go, but that God pursues after us all our life to turn us away from sin
By the teaching and preaching of God's Word
By The chastening hand in whatever fashion He brings it
By the accountability and exhortation of the church He places us within.

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