Acts 3:19-21 Reminds Us Of The Good News Of Jesus’ Return
The Good News of Jesus’ Return
We often celebrate the good news of the gospel as the fact that Jesus lived, died, was buried, and was raised to life, yet we seldom celebrate Jesus’ return. Many times people, even Christians, look on the return of Christ as something to fear. As believers in Christ, we have nothing to fear, but much to look forward to.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8
Not only can we look forward to receiving the crown of righteousness, but Scripture tells us our salvation affords us an imperishable crown in 1 Corinthians 9:25; a crown of rejoicing in 1 Thessalonians 2:19; the crown of life in James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10; and the crown of glory in 1 Peter 5:4.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 Peter 5:4
We strive for all kinds of crowns, awards, and rewards in this life, but the good news of the Gospel assures us that for those who trust and hope in Jesus, in the truth of the Gospel, we will receive the ultimate reward when Jesus returns.
While reading and studying in Acts this past couple of months I saw a succinct passage of the Gospel message yet it went beyond the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Acts 3:19-21
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Acts 3:19-21
First, we see the call to respond to the Gospel. Repent therefore and be converted.
The Gospel demands a response and we do respond no matter what. We either believe or we don’t. There is no gray area. We are either believers filled with the Holy Spirit or we are not believers filled with other things. While reading in Acts, I noted every time I saw the term, filled. I listed them below and divided them between an affirmative response to the Gospel and a negative response.
Filled: An Affirmative Response
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 3:10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts 5:28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Filled: A Negative Response:
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.
Acts 19:29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions.
Take notice that filled reflected cause and effect based on a response to the Gospel message. The Jesus believing heart was filled with the Holy Spirit. If we look back at the context of those filled with the Holy Spirit, we see God’s demonstrated power working in and through those believers. And those who rejected the Gospel message were filled with lies, indignation, envy, contradicting, blaspheming, and confusion. No gray area existed then or now.
However, I think we all wish for some space in between where we could be okay with being okay. But God’s call is not for us to be okay. It is for us to be filled. His call is not to do good and be good. Instead, He calls us to bank every hope we have on His goodness and His sacrifice for us. The true hope of the Gospel is not that we will do right and do good things so that we can get to heaven. Instead, it is freedom to fully embrace His gift and live life fully and completely with Him, for Him, in Him, and through Him.
Acts 3:19
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Acts 3:19
Repent and be converted means to change one’s mind and turn oneself toward the only one who can blot out all our sins once and for all.
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:10
So That
So that points to the purpose of repentance, conversion, and sins blotted out bringing about times of refreshing. My Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament says, In Acts 3:19, “We have the times of refreshing, relating to the blessings of Christ’s first coming and His kingdom of grace.” The Greek word for refreshing means cooling or refreshing. Where does refreshing come from? The presence of the Lord.
Studying about the term refreshing made me think of yard work in the heat of summer in Louisiana. I enjoy working in my yard, but the hotter it gets the harder it gets to enjoy yard work. But when I’m blazing hot, aching, and miserable from the hard work, there is something so refreshing when a cloud comes and a breeze passes through to cool me down. I am always so thankful for those moments.
Remember that Acts 2:2 shows us that the Holy Spirit came as a wind and remember that the refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:20 gives us the rest of the “so that.”
And that He may send Jesus Christ who was preached to you before.
Acts 3:20
What does it mean that He may send Jesus Christ to you? Look at what Jesus told His disciples in John 14:26 and 15:26.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 14:26
But when the Helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
John 15:26
So far in Act 3:19-20, we see repentance, conversion, remission of sins, and refreshing from the Holy Spirit.
Acts 3:21
Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Acts 3:21
And now we see the rest of the story, the good news of future restoration of all things. Surely, we all look around the craziness of the world and long for something better and hope for brighter days. In Christ, the good news His Gospel message assures us of exactly that, better and brighter days.
As believers we are given the magnificent gift of the Holy Spirit to refresh us in hard and difficult seasons, in a world that opposes God and all things godly. When our bodies tire from toil and our hearts break from tragedies of this life, we have the Helper, also translated as the Comforter, to refresh us. But one day in the future, unfulfilled prophecies will be fulfilled and we will experience the restoration of all things.
The King James Version translates restoration as restitution. My online lexicon, biblestudytools.com says this is the restoration of the perfect state before the fall. My Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament defines restoration as, “A restitution of a thing to its former condition.” It further states that it, “Occurs only in Acts 3:21 where the restitution of all things is to be understood as the day of judgment and of the consummation of the age when the Lord will return.”
The Good News
And there it is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus’ return. Not only did Jesus live, die, was buried, raised to life, and ascended to heaven, but He is coming again to make all things perfect as He originally created and intended them to be.
No more pain and evil. Children will not be abused. Our hearts will not be broken. Death will be eliminated. Unrighteous government will be once and for all replaced. Beauty will flourish and last. Peace and joy will reign in every heart. What a world that will be! What a hope we have in Jesus!
Be encouraged, dear Sister in Christ, by the words of Jesus.
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption draws near!
Luke 21:28
Jesus is coming back!
If you want more detail about receiving the Holy Spirit, read my past blog post, Through Faith In Jesus, We Receive The Promise Of The Holy Spirit.
