“But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”
Acts 3:18-21 ESV
Refreshing is a word that we sometimes hear in regards to a cold drink on a hot day. In its essence it makes us think of a renewing or more literally a re fresh, it becomes new and a live once again.
Peter is encouraging people to turn back to God and away from their sins. Our sins become like a spoiled spot or mould on our souls. Peter is reminding his listens who were Jewish of God’s grace throughHis Messiah which is Jesus. Peter does not blame his listeners for the crucifixion of Jesus but encourages them not to stop in a state of ignorance but to move to the blessing of God’s grace through Jesus.
In this movement from sin to grace we see a similar freedom like the person who was crippled being able to walk. The weight of sin holds us back from the fullness of God’s love and life for us. When we turn back to God He promises us to to wash away our sins, in doing this God is re freshing us and restoring us to be the people that He intended us to be, to be free to live and thrive.
