NT Promise 41: Times of Refreshing

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord,

After Peter and John heal a lame man, Peter has another opportunity to preach the Gospel. He calls for repentance and faith to be turned to God, and to have sins forgiven. Then he gives this promise: “times of refreshing” shall come. This promise is meant both for the community as a whole, the church of the NT age, and for the individual convert.

We are living in the times of refreshing, the NT age of the Messiah, when repentance and faith brings the blotting out of sins. When sins are forgiven the Spirit of God may enter into a clean heart and dwell there. When the Holy Spirit indwells the heart it is a promised ”time of refreshing.” This promise of a time of refreshing can come to us every day. The Christian life is one of daily repentance, renewed forgiveness, reinforced indwelling, and daily refreshment in newness of life. Like the body needs the refreshment of food and drink every day, so also the soul needs the refreshment of spiritual food and drink every day.

Since we are still sinners who sin we need constant forgiveness. Since we die daily we are always in need of new life. Since we get weary and heavy laden we seek rest and refreshment. It comes from ”the presence of the Lord” The times of refreshing come every Sunday and every day.