benedictions and doxologies (revelation 22:21)

This sermon was preached at New Testament Christian Fellowship in Claremont, NC on March 5, 2023. The focus of this message is the LAST BLESSING found in the Holy Scriptures and its relationship to the Bible’s FIRST BLESSING (Genesis 14:18-20). This relationship behooves us to consider types of blessings found in the Scriptures and some powerful examples thereof.

A BLESSING is a wish or prayer imploring good fruit or benefit upon another. A blessing can be pronounced by God upon men, men upon God, and men upon men. Genesis 14:19 is an example of a BENEDICTION, a type of blessing rendered in response to something, an act of blessing or praise for favor. A benediction in Scripture can be pronounced upon men by God for their acts of faith (e.g. Solomon, Jehu, Josiah, Ebed-melech, etc.), or it can be pronounced upon the LORD by men for the great things He hath done. Genesis 14:20 is an example of another type of blessing, the DOXOLOGY. A doxology is a particular form of blessing or benediction ascribed to God alone. There are many great doxologies in the Bible, from the Song of Moses (Exodus 15) to the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-49) to the most important verse in the Bible (Revelation 4:11), doxologies that give glory to God for such things as only God can do.

There is one last type of blessing that is unique to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Sermon on the Mount, a BEATITUDE. Beatitudes are declarations of blessedness made by Jesus the Saviour upon men of particular virtues.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of the Bible’s first blessing (Genesis 14:18-20) is what immediately follows Abram’s encounter with Melchizedek, God’s exhortation to him in Genesis 15:1: FEAR NOT. Let us so do with the Bible’s last blessing, reflect back upon its first blessing and FEAR NOT. When God’s Word says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,” we can rest in this and “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).