Now, this is a benediction, y’all. Keep your eyes open and your chins up. This is not a prayer, it’s a blessing from God.
Does that sound familiar to you? If your answer is yes, in all likelihood, you are attending Centennial ARP Church, because I say this almost every Sunday (or at least something like it). It’s a truth worth repeating. From generation to generation, God has done this (see part a). It culminated in Jesus (see part b). Now it is carried on as an ordinary part of God’s blessing to his people in public worship (see part c).
Dear Christian, when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit’s work in your life, God has an “official declaration” for you “to grant you blessing.” The Benediction is not a throwaway, “let’s get it done, so I can leave” part of the service. Today, ponder on the God who blesses.
CHAPTER 5.B.9 (Ordinary Parts): BENEDICTIONS
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
a. From ancient times it has been the practice of priests, prophets, and patriarchs to pronounce blessing upon people in the name of the Lord. Melchizedek blessed Abraham in the name of the Lord (Gen. 14:19-20). Isaac blessed Jacob (Gen. 27:27-29). Jacob blessed his sons (Gen. 49:1-27) and the sons of Joseph (Gen. 48:1-22). At Sinai God appointed His priests to bless the whole people of God, putting His name upon them (Numbers 6:22-27).
b. The New Testament continues this practice. At His ascension, our Lord Himself lifted His hands to bless His people (Luke 24:50-51). Several New Testament epistles close with such pronouncements of blessing (2 Cor. 13:14, Heb. 13:20-21, 1 Pet. 5:14b).
c. Therefore it is fitting that ministers of the Word conclude public worship with a benediction. The priestly benediction of the Old Testament (Numbers 6:23-24), the apostolic Trinitarian benediction of the New Testament (2 Cor. 13:14), or other Scriptural benedictions may be used.
d. Benedictions, which are words of blessing from God to His people, should not be confused with ascriptions, which are words of praise and blessing for God offered by His people (Rom. 16:25-27, Jude 24-25). Ascriptions may be offered by any and by all, as praise and adoration to God. Some benedictions are framed as prayers (Rom. 15:5-6, 13, 33), and as prayers, they may be prayed by any and all, as our words spoken to God. But benedictions are official declarations from God Himself, given through His appointed messengers, to His people, to grant them blessing. Only duly ordained ministers of the Word may pronounce benedictions.