At the conclusion of Peter’s sermon on Solomon’s Porch he spoke to his own people, the Jews. He told them that despite all their sin, despite all their failures, despite not living up to the law, and despite crucifying Jesus God still was sending His Son to be a blessing to them first. This is amazing love as we saw in the last couple of days.
There is a key word in there though. Right in the middle, so small we might miss out on it, is the word “first.” All through the Old Testament God made it clear that one day all the nation of the world would be blessed. Galatians 3v8 refers all the way back to Genesis when it say, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, [saying], "In you all the nations shall be blessed..”
It was always God’s plan to bless all men through Christ. Previously He laid out the simple conditions – repent and have your sins forgiven. The Jews had it first and foremost, but God sent Jesus to be a blessing to all as He turns us from our sin.
I am overwhelmed that God would choose to bless us when we hated Him. I just don’t get it. I don’t like people who hate me, do you? It’s a great thing that God isn’t you or me, isn’t it?
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