In 2nd. Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 3, the Apostle Paul says; blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.

For many years now I have read and studied about how that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. How that he has made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. How that we have been positioned in him and how that every blessing that we have, denotes the fact that we are in a blessed condition, or position.

But our text says; blessed be God. This is not telling us that we have been placed in a blessed state, but rather that because of the blessed state or condition that we have been placed in; God is worthy of Praise, Honour, and Glory. It very well could have read; Praise is to God, Glory is to God, or Honour is to God. Paul had just established in verse 2, Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is saying; this grace is to you, this peace is to you and both of these come from God. Not only does this Grace and Peace come from God, but that it comes from God that is supreme deity, one that has all power, one that speaks and it comes to past.

This God that has all this power is our Father, but he is also the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I remember reading about Mary standing at the sepulchre of Jesus weeping because she thought that someone had taken the body of her Lord. At that time, she did not know that Christ had risen from the grave, but as she was weeping Christ appeared unto her and said, why weepest thou? She turned to him and called him Master. Jesus said to her, touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: But go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and to your God.

This God is not only our God; he is also the God of Jesus Christ. He is not only the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but he is also our Father. So not only does grace and peace come from God our Father, it also came from and through Jesus Christ.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies. This God of ours, this God of Jesus Christ, this Father of ours and this Father of Jesus Christ is the Father of mercies. This Father is full of pity and compassion. Our God and our Father looked down from heaven and saw the sinful state of his precious family and did not give us what we rightfully deserved. We deserved to be eternally separated from God our Father, we deserved to be cast into the lake of fire and be tormented night and day forever and forever, but God is the Father of mercies. Oh! How we ought to rejoice and be thankful for all the mercy that he has shown toward his people.

In verse 10, the Apostle Paul says, who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. Oh! What mercy, no wonder Paul says, that he is the Father of mercies. No other father in the world could have this kind of compassion and pity upon their children. Not only is he the Father of mercies, but also he is the God of all comfort.

Did you notice that Paul not only said that God is a God of comfort, but that God is the God of ALL comfort? This comfort carries the thought of solace or consolation as being relieved of your misery or distress of mind. It is an inward consolation that is far reaching; it reaches so far that it touches the soul of man and gives him a peace that passeth all understanding. There is no mercy, no comfort, no peace, no solace or consolation that can reach the heart of man, except it comes from the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.

No wonder the Apostle Paul says; blessed be God. Oh! How we ought to rejoice in God. Oh! How we ought to shout praises, glory and honour to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Not only did God put away our sins by the blood of his Son Jesus Christ. He put them away from us, as far as the east is from the west and remembered them against us no more. Blessed be God. AMEN!