Saved from the Judgment of God
[To listen to the podcast, go to this link: Podcast: Saved from the Judgment of God
[To download a pdf copy of this post, go to this link: Saved from the Judgment of God pdf
"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2)
In yesterday's post, I shared with you what I believe should be a greater concern in the church, with regards to its understanding, teaching and response. You can read the post HERE.
The bottom line is that God, out of love, warns us of the judgment to come in light of His holy nature and our disobedience to His commandments. In Malachi 4:1, it is described as a day, "burning like an oven." And the day will "set them ablaze" who deny Jesus Christ and who break His commandments.
Consequently, God warns everyone to repent and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)
It is indeed an ominous day, a day of regret, sorrow and suffering. And this day exists not because God is a harsh taskmaster, but because He is holy and because we are sinful.
It is impossible for us to fully realize the gulf that exists between God and us, but on that day it will be made clear. In the meantime, He warns us to repent and believe the gospel.
In light of yesterday's post, I thought it would be appropriate to remind the saints that we have been spared from the day of judgment. We will not experience God's wrath. We will not know His rejection. As the psalmist writes in Psalm 91:7-8, "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked."
As we move into verse two of Malachi Chapter Four, we see the gulf that exists between those who will be judged and those who will not.
"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2)
The contrast between verses 1 and 2 is striking. The two realities are separated by one of the smallest but most important words in the Bible, "but..." This little word separates the two verses (and the two conditions).
All of the awful things from verse 1 will occur with this exception. It is a large one. The day that burns like an oven, that will set ablaze the wicked, will not touch those who fear God's name.
The phrase, "fear God's name," simply (but profoundly) means to have reverence and awe for Him. In other words, those who truly believe in Him. The day will be much different for believers.
Believers in Jesus Christ will not be stubble and will not be set ablaze. The reason?
The "sun of righteousness," which is none other than Jesus Christ, will rise with healing in His wings. And what does He heal? No doubt he heals our sin and the judgment that results from it.
But because of the sun of righteousness, we are healed. That, which would have condemned us, has been removed and with it the condemnation. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) He has removed our sin as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12)
Having taken on our sin and having been judged for our sin, God's justice now being satisfied, there no longer remains any guilt or penalty to lay upon us. We have been found guilty, tried and the sentence already paid. God would be unjust if He tried us again in light of Christ's payment for sin. God is not unjust and neither will He make us pay.
And if that is not enough, not only are we not going to be set ablaze, we will "...go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2) We will be leaping for joy as calves who are set free to roam in complete safety in an abundant field. The danger of God's judgment, having been removed and replaced with the graciousness and goodness of God, to be enjoyed forever and ever, will fill our hearts with joy that can neither be contained nor measured.
This is what is in store for us. Not fear. Not dread. Not judgment. But joy unspeakable. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)
We will have and be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. We will have peace with the one with whom we once were at war. And we will have joy - unspeakable, immeasurable and eternal joy.
That is what is awaiting us on the judgment day. A day when Christ will be our protector from God's wrath. A day where He will set us free to run in the green pastures of His grace and presence. A day where He will fill our hearts with joy.
He won't move us from judgment to some neutral ground. Instead, He will move us from judgment to an ever-blessed position in His presence.
For many, it will be a horrible day. For those of us who believe, it will be the salvation of our souls. Amen.
[To listen to the podcast, go to this link: Podcast: Saved from the Judgment of God
[To download a pdf copy of this post, go to this link: Saved from the Judgment of God pdf
[To download a pdf copy of this post, go to this link: Saved from the Judgment of God pdf
"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2)
The bottom line is that God, out of love, warns us of the judgment to come in light of His holy nature and our disobedience to His commandments. In Malachi 4:1, it is described as a day, "burning like an oven." And the day will "set them ablaze" who deny Jesus Christ and who break His commandments.
Consequently, God warns everyone to repent and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)
It is indeed an ominous day, a day of regret, sorrow and suffering. And this day exists not because God is a harsh taskmaster, but because He is holy and because we are sinful.
It is impossible for us to fully realize the gulf that exists between God and us, but on that day it will be made clear. In the meantime, He warns us to repent and believe the gospel.
In light of yesterday's post, I thought it would be appropriate to remind the saints that we have been spared from the day of judgment. We will not experience God's wrath. We will not know His rejection. As the psalmist writes in Psalm 91:7-8, "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked."
As we move into verse two of Malachi Chapter Four, we see the gulf that exists between those who will be judged and those who will not.
"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2)
The contrast between verses 1 and 2 is striking. The two realities are separated by one of the smallest but most important words in the Bible, "but..." This little word separates the two verses (and the two conditions).
All of the awful things from verse 1 will occur with this exception. It is a large one. The day that burns like an oven, that will set ablaze the wicked, will not touch those who fear God's name.
The phrase, "fear God's name," simply (but profoundly) means to have reverence and awe for Him. In other words, those who truly believe in Him. The day will be much different for believers.
Believers in Jesus Christ will not be stubble and will not be set ablaze. The reason?
The "sun of righteousness," which is none other than Jesus Christ, will rise with healing in His wings. And what does He heal? No doubt he heals our sin and the judgment that results from it.
But because of the sun of righteousness, we are healed. That, which would have condemned us, has been removed and with it the condemnation. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) He has removed our sin as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12)
Having taken on our sin and having been judged for our sin, God's justice now being satisfied, there no longer remains any guilt or penalty to lay upon us. We have been found guilty, tried and the sentence already paid. God would be unjust if He tried us again in light of Christ's payment for sin. God is not unjust and neither will He make us pay.
And if that is not enough, not only are we not going to be set ablaze, we will "...go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2) We will be leaping for joy as calves who are set free to roam in complete safety in an abundant field. The danger of God's judgment, having been removed and replaced with the graciousness and goodness of God, to be enjoyed forever and ever, will fill our hearts with joy that can neither be contained nor measured.
This is what is in store for us. Not fear. Not dread. Not judgment. But joy unspeakable. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)
We will have and be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. We will have peace with the one with whom we once were at war. And we will have joy - unspeakable, immeasurable and eternal joy.
That is what is awaiting us on the judgment day. A day when Christ will be our protector from God's wrath. A day where He will set us free to run in the green pastures of His grace and presence. A day where He will fill our hearts with joy.
He won't move us from judgment to some neutral ground. Instead, He will move us from judgment to an ever-blessed position in His presence.
For many, it will be a horrible day. For those of us who believe, it will be the salvation of our souls. Amen.
[To listen to the podcast, go to this link: Podcast: Saved from the Judgment of God
[To download a pdf copy of this post, go to this link: Saved from the Judgment of God pdf
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