A Promise, A Choice, and a Savior

A Promise, A Choice, and A Savior

Malachi 4

I. Introduction

II. A Promise (1)

A. Explanation

1. There is a promise of Judgement coming

2. The day is coming

a. The day of the Lord in the OT – A time of God’s great judgment on the wicked

i. Isaiah 13:6-13

ii.Amos 5:18-20

b. Burning like an oven – A reference to burning and destruction

i. For the arrogant and evildoers

ii.In the book of Malachi this judgment is for those who may go through the motions, but they are not changed and do not have a reverence for the holiness of God

iii. They see themselves as above the judgment of God – They are righteous in themselves, not dependent on God’s mercy

3. That day shall set them ablaze leaving them neither root nor branch – they will be completely consumed and there will be no remnant of them

a. What John the Baptist Referenced in Matthew 3:11-12

b. After Jesus there is nothing left of a system whereby, they perform acts and like sacrifice and assume that that act leaves them righteous without any change of heart

c. Much like what Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 when she asks about where to worship and he tells here that the time has now come when they will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth

B. Application

1. IN our sin we try to develop systems to prove our righteousness, but our hearts are unchanged

2. Yet, God demands true righteousness from people, apart from which we will be judged based on who we really are

3. What is the answer? Jesus who changes our heart

4. The promise is that He will come in Judgment and it will not be good for the arrogant and the evildoers (us)

III. A Choice (2-3)

A. Explanation

1. But for you who fear my name - This contrasts with the arrogant and evil doers – Notice they are not perfectly righteous, but they recognize their need for God and His fix for our sin

2. The sun of righteousness shall rise

a. Not to be confused with “son” – He is talking about the effects of righteousness that will come over his people

b. The sun covers everything it sees as the righteousness will come over all of those who fear His name

c. It is also in contrast to the oven that consumes. The sun brings life and comfort instead of destruction

3. With healing it its wings – This righteousness will heal the people of God and bring them back into true fellowship with God – He will fix the brokenness in His people

4. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall

B. Application

1. The distinction between those who are judged and those have healing and leap, like calves from the stall is simply faith – Those who fear His name

2. People in denial do one of two things:

a. They deny the need for forgiveness due to their sin – “I am not that bad.”  “I am better than most”

b. Or they become legalistic thinking that they are being righteous enough to be forgiven

c. Neither are true!

3. We are sinner in need of forgiveness, and we find it when we fear (reverence) His name

4. You will tread down the wicked

a. This is not a passage of vendetta, but of vindication. It is the answer to the question, “Why do the evil always prosper?” in the end, they will not. The righteous will

b. They will be ashes under the soles of your feet – You will have eternal life, and they will have eternal consequence.

c. On the day when I cat says the Lord – It is not immediate, but it is assured

5. You have a choice to trust in yourself or to fear the Lord

IV. A Savior

A. Explanation

1. Remember the law of my servant, Moses – This is the reminder of our need for righteousness that we do not possess

2. I will send you Elijah – This will be a sign of that coming day

a. This fulfilled in John the Baptist – Matthew 17:9-13

b. What is John’s message – Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world – John 1:29

3. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their sons and vice versa – He will make their hearts right

4. And for those who choose not to receive Him He will strike the land with a decree of utter destruction!

5. From this point there is 400 years of silence from God broken only when that day comes, when Jesus comes

B. Application

1. We live on the other side of this pronouncement. We know that Jesus has come and is the fulfillment of these truths

2. We have only one response – To fear the Lord and place our trust in the Savior whom He has sent.

V. Conclusion

A. As we have studied this book of Malachi, what have we learned?

1. God wants a holiness of heart not just actions

2. We have all failed in that pursuit

3. God has sent a Savior in whom we can find healing and forgiveness

B. What is your response to Him?

1. Will you continue to assume you are righteous enough?

2. Will you put on the air of holiness through legalism?

3. Will you repent and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin that you may find new life in Him

C. He will come again for a final judgement

D. Illustration - When the author walks onto the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right; but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else comes crashing in? This time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. That will not be the time for choosing; It will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side.  C.S. Lewis.

E. The choice is yours!