The Believer's Benefits

By Sylvan Lapp

May 1, 2019

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Ps. 103:1–5)

The word benefit is defined as “something that promotes well-being; or as an employer who gives in addition to wages or salary. We see here in Psalm 103 the benefits are almost endless for the born-again believer—the person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and has trusted in His shed blood at the cross for his salvation. We see here that God forgives our sins, redeems us from destruction, and heals our diseases. He crowns us with lovingkindness and mercy, fills our mouth with good things, and renews us.

In Psalm 1, we read how blessed is the person whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on it day and night. The law of the Lord is the love we have toward God and our fellow human beings. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).

In Romans 4 we read about a huge benefit, imputed righteousness—that divine exchange where Christ takes our sins and gives us His righteousness, giving us a righteous standing with God. John 5:24 says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Romans 5:1–2 says, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. (Col. 1:12–14)

We as believers are the most fortunate people on earth. We have a God who loves us and a Savior who died for us. It is God who made us worthy to be a part of the saints and who brought us out of the darkness and into the kingdom of His dear Son. He gives us forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.

I would like to end this article with Colossians 3:16–17: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Praise be to God for all His benefits!