As we near the end of our walk through Malachi, we come to the final disputation between God and Israel. It seems that God has two different groups of people talking about Him and He has a message for each group…
Scripture Reference
Malachi 3: 13 – 4: 3
Sermon Notes
The people are grumbling about the presence of evil and injustice in the world, and some say it proves something is wrong with God. This is the wrong reaction…
We Must Trust God to Deal with Evil in His Timing
- Our view of God’s handling of evil matters – to us (verses 13-16)
- Evil and injustice existed in the world then, just like today. The arrogant and evil prospered then, just like today.
- This is the Problem of Evil – used by some to argue God doesn’t exist, is weak, is evil, or doesn’t care.
- Our response to this says more about us, the maturity of our faith, than it does about God.
- Scripture is clear – God permits evil to exist for a time, before everything is sorted out at the last judgment
- For those who respond in patient faith, there is reward – God remembers that and honors us by including that in his Book of Remembrance.
- The Problem of Evil Will Be Resolved On the Day of Judgment (verses 3: 18 – 4: 3)
- While God’s treatment of the good and the evil can seem confusing today, it will be crystal clear on judgment day.
- Fiery judgment awaits the arrogant and evil doers
- The problem is we’re all arrogant and evil doers – so we all deserve this judgment!
- Our Problem of Evil is Resolved by Faith in Jesus Christ (verse 17)
- We can’t solve our problem of evil on our own
- God knew this, so Jesus came
- Faith in Christ enables us to fear the Lord and esteem His name – it is Christ who enables us to be written in God’s book of remembrance. What joy that is!