Acts 3:14-26 |
Countryside Bible Church 11-6-99 |
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Times
of
Refreshing
Times of Refreshing Repent In Heaven Until... To the Jews First Conclusion
Intro: Peter tells those who have just rejected and
crucified their Lord, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your
sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…”
“Times of refreshing”. “Refreshing” is from a word that literally means “recovery of
breath”.
I
never cease to be amazed at the similarities of though and expressions with
people and civilizations of centuries ago.
Today we have the expression, “catch my breath”. After we have been excising or working hard
or just plain busy with so many tasks we may say, I just have to stop, get
something to drink and catch my breath.
A time of refreshing!
In so many ways, it reveals that we are like them and
they are like us.
So then, are these times of refreshing speaking of
the present times or of the times that come with the return of our Lord. Let’s consider this phrase for a moment.
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A.
Phillips Paraphrase give it as presently 1.
“Now you must repent and turn to God so that
your sins may be wiped out, that time after time your souls may know the
refreshment that comes from the presence of God”. B.
Occasion is great conviction of sin. 1.
Fits
the present need. 2.
“sins
wiped out (blotted, KJV. Practice of creditors removing debtor from the list) 3.
God
will forgive your great wrong 4.
God
will lift your oppression 5.
God
will refresh your soul 6.
Rejoicing
was the first great response of salvation C.
“times” of Refreshing 1.
“from
the presence of the Lord” ...
from the presence of the
Lord; Acts
3:19 (Left out by NIV) 2.
This
makes one think these “times” may be reserved for the time when Jesus returns,
his “coming”, parousia, par-oo-see'-ah,
Greek 3952; . . . physical aspect :-
coming, presence. 3.
This
“presence” is most often rendered “face” and sometimes “countenance” Hebrews 9:24 ...
appear in the presence of God for us: 1 Peter 3:12 ...
the face of the
Lord is against them that do evil. 4.
“Refreshing”
comes directly from God Himself, as you
appear before His face. Numbers 6:24-26 ... his face shine upon you a) Do not have to hide from God or feel guilty before Him (as Adam and Eve “hid”) |
II.
“Repent”
A.
AND “turn to God”
1.
Repent
more than confessing a wrong or remorse for an act of sin. 2.
Saying
the Jews, Away with your disbelief,
your cherished, but mistaken views,
your bitterness and pride, your dependence upon your efforts of
righteousness. 3.
Repentance
is a life-long renouncing of the old, self-styled ways 4.
“Turn
to God” is a new direction of believing
God, attention to God and the interests
of God. B.
“Appointed for you” v. 20
1.
Jesus
is God’s answer for you. 2.
As in Romans 8:32
He
who did not spare his own Son,
...
3.
Romans 2:4 ...
that God's kindness
leads you toward repentance? C.
Reason to repent?
1.
“That
he (God) may send Christ” 2.
God
does not want to send Jesus until you’re ready
2 Peter 3:4 ... "Where is this 'coming' he promised?...
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,... 3.
Jesus
does not want to come and find us not ready. Matthew 24:42 "Therefore
keep watch,...
D.
“I know you did it in ignorance”
“Now of course I know, my brothers, that you had no idea what you were
doing any more than your leaders had.
But God had foretold through all his prophets that his Christ must
suffer and this was how his came true”. 1.
Innocent
by reason of ignorance? No but- 2.
Yes,
but. Ignorance did make a difference. 1 Tim. 1:13-14 ...
I was shown
mercy because I acted in ignorance
and unbelief.... 3. As Judge, God takes everything into account. |
III. “IN HEAVEN UNTIL. . . “A.
The “until” of His coming.
1.
Matthew 26:29 ...
I will not drink of this
fruit of the vine from now on until that day...
2.
1 Peter 1:5 ... until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the
last time.
3.
Philip. 1:10 ... and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
4.
1 Tim. 6:14 to keep this command (to fight the good
fight of faith ) without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
B.
“Until” suggests our time of
endurance
1.
Rev. 2:25 Only hold on to what you have until I
come.
2. James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. ...C.
Definition of “Until”
1.
“the
idea of terminus” – Strongs 2.
The
“until” most often used (88 verses 9) meaning a continuance to a certain
point. Like traveling until a certain
city. Not necessarily that they stopped
traveling altogether. 3.
But
“Until” in Acts 3:21 designates a termination 4.
Jesus
is coming back “home” 5.
Parables
teach his time away represents his time in heaven 6.
Some
try to blur any difference between earth and heaven in the future age. 7.
“What’s
the difference”? flies in the face of God revealing 8.
Jesus
coming back is more significance than just taking a little trip 9.
His
place at the “right hand of God” will terminate Matthew 22:44 ... until I put your
enemies under your feet." 10. His ascension into heaven is never spoken of as “returning home” or even “returning” |
IV.
To
the Jew “first” v. 26
A.
Jesus was sent to the “Lost sheep
of the house of Israel
1. The gospel was to first be preached to the Jew Acts. 1:8 2. Acts 3:26 3. Acts 13:46 ... "We had to speak the word of God to you
first. ... 4.
Romans 1:16 ...
first for
the Jew, then for the Gentile. 5. Romans 2:9-10
... first for the Jew,
then for the Gentile;...
first for the Jew, then for
the Gentile. B.
“Bless you BY TURNING EACH OF YOU
FROM HIS WICKED WAYS”
1.
Can
be no blessings from God without “repentance” 2.
“wickedness”
is failing to believe in the one God has given. 3.
“wickedness”
is rejecting the truth for error 4. James 5:19-20 ... if one of you should wander from the truth ... Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death... a) ERROR plane, plan'-ay, Greek 4106; feminine of Greek 4108 (planos) (as abstract); object fraudulence; subject a straying from orthodoxy or piety :- deceit, to deceive, delusion, error. |
Conclusion: God has true “times of refreshment” to offer. Salvation is sharing in God’s blessings now and in the exciting times of restitution of all things.