The Book of Malachi (5) The Lord is coming to execute Justice 03/20/2022

And I think because of the time this morning, we will Not have that new testament reading but pastor. Jason will come and pray for us. And also at the end of the service before we're dismissed maybe. You five who are baptized could go back in the narthex so we can greet you as the folks depart.

Pastor jason. Thank you. All right, let's pray.

Gracious father we thank you for a wonderful morning thus far. We thank you for your great grace. For the salvation that we have in christ. Jesus and the tremendous blessings that that means. And lord, we ask now that you would help us as we study your word.

We pray that we would be mindful of what it says. We pray that the spirit would convict us. That the spirit would change us. We pray lord that we would walk in obedience to the truth. That we hear this morning to your praise glory and grace.

Help us now father. Thank you in jesus name. Amen.

Israel’s Covenant Unfaithfulness and the Weariness of God

Well, let's Return to the second chapter. Malachi. This morning in our study of the prophecy of malachi we read of god's enunciation of israel. For having broken his covenant relationship with him. We've seen it in a number of places.

Set forth in a number of different ways in our study.

Malachi.

God had condemned various groups of the nation. We of course had Considered his condemnation of the priests For their corrupt practices in the temple. And then he broadened his condemnation to include the entire tribe of levi.

Levi, of course was one of the 12 tribes of israel. And levi was the tribe that was dedicated to the service of the temple. Not all levites were priests, but all priests were from the tribe of levi. Who were the descendants of aaron?

And of course we read of the condemnation of the priests. And then last time last week we read of god proclaiming his condemnation of the entire nation of israel. And so the entire country the nation.

All israel had broken their covenant relationship with their god. They had been disloyal and unfaithful to their covenant and this was uh Evident as we saw last week in the manner that so many jewish men were divorcing their first wives their jewish wives and then remarrying marrying uh pagan women women of who were still worshiping pagan gods.

And so as a result God refused to receive them or accept their worship. That uh that they offered to the lord because they themselves the jewish people were polluted. And so god rejected Them for they had violated the terms of the covenant.

And so they also in divorcing their jewish wives and having married pagan wives annulled god's purpose for marriage. His intention and desire was to bring forth a holy seed children who would of course follow him and would be holy and dedicated to the lord, but these jewish men marrying these gentile pagan Wives these second marriages Would result in the children no longer being holy before the lord.

And so their behavior condemned them in so many different ways. But it was their failure to acknowledge wrongdoing and their refusal to respond humbly before the lord and repentance that sealed their fate and stealed the Lord in his purpose and intention to judge them.

And so god purpose To condemn them and judge them for their failure and refusal to acknowledge him in truth. And in the passage before us today We read that god purposed to send the messiah to them Who would administer justice upon them.

And in so doing the messiah would both purify some of them but overthrow the rest of them. And so in this prophet's words We have the same challenge that had been leveled to the jewish people long before by another prophet that being the prophet amos.

And here is a portion of his prophecy that was given in the 8th century bc whereas malachi was Giving his prophecy in the 5th century bc so long before a similar kind of denouncement came. Woe to you who desire the day of the lord.

For what good is the day of the lord to you? It will be darkness and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion. And a bear met him. Or as though he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him.

Is not the day of the lord darkness and not light? Is it not very dark with no brightness in it? I hate I despise your feast days. I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer me burnt offerings in your grain offerings.

I will not accept them nor will I regard your fat and peace offerings. Take away from me the noise of your songs. For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. Will let justice run down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Well in examining the prophetic message before us today beginning with malachi 2 17. We will not only see a prophecy of the first coming of jesus as the messiah to his people which was preceded by john the baptist.

John the baptist is Is prophesied here in this passage it will consider. But we'll also look forward to the parisia, which is the greek word for coming. The second coming of the lord at the end of history.

When he comes forth to deliver his people and judge the world. And so in both comings of the lord jesus he brings judgment Upon his enemies and he brings salvation for his people. Many think that he only came to bring salvation in his first coming.

But judgment will not occur until his second coming. And that's not really accurate. In the infancy narrative of luke's gospel. We read of the aged simeon taking the baby jesus in his arms. And then he as a prophet uttered a prophecy concerning this child this baby jesus.

And this is what he said of the child. Then simeon blessed them and said to maria's mother behold this child is destined and notice for the fall and the rise. There's judgment and salvation for the fall and the rise of many in israel.

And for a sign which shall be spoken against yes. Then he says to mary a sword will pierce through your own so also So that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And so even when jesus was an infant This inspired man declared that this Child would bring about both the fall and the rise of many in israel both judgment and salvation.

He didn't come to judge directly. Of course, he indicated that but the result of his coming their refusal to embrace him as their messiah resulted In god's judgment upon them in the fullest. We will consider that not only were there many at his first coming On whom he had brought forth judgment who professed to know god and anticipated the coming of the messiah.

We'll also say that this will be so at the end of the age with the second coming. There will be many who claim to believe on jesus christ to look for his coming and presume they will be saved by him at his coming.

But will only then become aware Of his condemnation of them for their unrepentant sinful lives. And their refusal to submit humbly to him as lord and savior. When the lord returns he's going to find many sleeping not watching And unprepared for him.

And great will be their overthrow and their sorrow these ones who thought that they were safe In their faith in him. Here's the passage we desire to examine this morning malachi 2 17 through verse 5 of chapter 3.

You have wearied the lord with your words, but you say how have we wearied him? By asking Or saying everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the lord and he delights in them. Or by asking Where is the god of justice?

Behold I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. And the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight behold. He is coming says the lord of hosts.

But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap. He will sit as a refiner purifier of silver and he will purify the sons of levi and refine them like gold and silver and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the lord.

And then the offering of judah and jerusalem will be pleasing to the lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers against the adulterers against those who swear falsely against those who Oppress the hired worker in his wages the widow and the fatherless against those who thrust aside the sojourner.

And do not fear me says the lord of hosts. It's a single prophecy again beginning with The 17th verse of chapter 2 and continuing through verse 5 of chapter 3. Let's first consider how the people wearied god with their speech.

Which is set forth in malachi 2 17. The prophet declared you have wearied the lord with your words. But you say how have we wearied him? By saying everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the lord and he that's the lord delights in them.

Or by asking where is the god of justice. We have considered the speech interchange between the lord and his people in the previous two chapters. Of this book of prophecy god would charge his people with sin and their response was one of questioning or challenging god's accusation whereby they were justifying themselves in their behavior and so god had Previously charged the priest with despising his name back in verse 6 of chapter 1.

But their response to god's charge was this how have we despised your name? They were clueless. God had accused them of having polluted their sacrificial offerings to him verse 7a. The response was denial.

How have we polluted you? Then god announced to them that he no longer accepted their sacrifices to him. Chapter 2 verse 13. Their response was to challenge his judgment. Why does he not? Why doesn't he accept them?

And then here in verse 17 it said to them you have wearied the lord with your words, but their response was one of Incredulity, how have we wearied him? And so the lord denounced them declared to them their sin and yet in every instance They denied it.

They didn't see it. They justified themselves. These people were clueless Of god's true opinion of them even as they vainly thought that he was quite pleased with them. Worship was going on as usual in the temple.

They thought that he should at least be favorable toward them. Would god charge him with flagrant sin? Well, they were in blatant ignorance of their sin. And this is but one more case in scripture that shows forth the deadening blinding influence of sin upon the thoughts and opinions of people they say if Drinking alcohol.

The first thing that goes is your perception of how much you have drunk and how it's affected you. Well, that's the nature of sin in general. When people sin, they don't realize just how grievous their sin is.

And the adverse effects that it's had upon their soul and particularly before god they're clueless. They have a propensity. People have a propensity to think quite well of themselves and presume that god must be Of the same mind toward them as they have of themselves.

Well, why wouldn't god be in favor of us? And then when confronted with the truth of god's true evaluation of them They question god's veracity or his capability to make such judgments. How can you say that god?

This spiritual error, however. And ignorance is not only the result of sin, but it's also a manifestation of the righteous judgment of god. God not only opens eyes to understand his truth, but he closes eyes blinds eyes so they don't see the truth.

This is often the case. When god is determined to overthrow an individual or a collective group of people he'll often cause confusion of their thinking. Or persuade them to believe a lie respecting him and his ways with them.

And so we read of god's dealing in this way in second thesalonians 2. When paul warned this church about the arise the arising in christendom of the man of sin Paul wrote the coming of the lawless one.

The antichrist is according to the working of satan. With all power signs and lying wonders with all unrighteous deception among those who perish. Because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this reason.

Because they didn't receive the love of the truth for this reason god will send them strong delusion. That they should believe the lie. That they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

It's his judicial action. This action that god takes is not his judgment upon the ignorant who are teachable and desire to know the truth regarding god and his ways. And how he would have them think and believe and act he's merciful to them.

But this is judicial hardening and blinding. In the manner that god deals with those who refuse to hear. Who refuse to embrace the truth of his word? One's who are moved to reject what they hear the word of god say because they insist to persist in their unrighteous thinking and living.

And the lord will confirm them in their error and their sin to their just certain judgment. The lord jesus thanked his father in this manner of his dealings with people. After jesus denounced the cities of chrism and bethsaida for refusing to believe on him.

He prayed to his father these words. I thank you father lord of heaven and earth that you've hidden these things. The ways of salvation from the wise and prudent. They would be the self-righteous and you've revealed them to babes even so father for so it seemed good in your sight.

God reveals the way of salvation to people who are humble. Who truly want to know him and know the truth and respond to it. But he hides the truth from those who are indifferent. Or resistant or defiant with regard to who he is.

So thank god that he has the power to restore sight to the blind. But here jesus christ thanked his father for causing spiritual blindness to those who continue to believe. That they saw and understood matters quite clearly and quite rightly.

Self-confidence is a sure sign of god. Self-confidence is not a sure sign of god's favor. And self-confidence may be an indication of god's judicial dealings with impenitent sinners. Matthew henry wrote it is a wearisome thing even to god himself to hear people insist upon their own justification in their corrupt and wicked practices and plead their atheistical principles in vindication of them.

And god says in malachi 2 17. You know, the prophet says you have wearied god with your words. And he then again identified precisely what words. They were a cause of great distress to god. Let's reflect on the implication of that statement.

You've wearied the lord with your words. Isaiah had denounced wicked king ahaz. Here now o house of david. Is it a small thing for you to weary men? Will you weary my god also? And later in isaiah god spoke of all the people of israel wearing god.

He denounced them for their neglect and failure to seek him and worship him, but you have not called upon me. Oh jacob. You bet you have been weary of me. Oh israel. They were weary of him and he's going to declare he's weary of them.

You have not brought me the sheep for your burnt offerings nor have you honored me with your sacrifices. I've not called you to serve with rain offerings nor wearied you with incense. You have bought me brought me no sweet cane with Money or bought me no sweet cane with money nor have you satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.

But you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities. And again here in malachi 2 17 god declared that these people had wearied him with their words. In their failure to worship him rightly.

God was weary with these people because of what they were saying. The lord is an ever present ever hearing and listening god it matters to him what you say and how you say it. The wise man once wrote do not be rash with your mouth.

Let not your heart utter anything hastily before god for god is in heaven you on earth and therefore let your words be few everything we say. We'll give an account of in the day of judgment. We should always be mindful that god is in every place in his fullness present everywhere we are.

And he's observing and hearing with interest and concern what we're saying. And again, this is not only what we speak with our lips, but What we're pondering in our hearts. Proverbs 15 11. Hell and destruction before the lord.

How much more the hearts of the sons of men. And so ask has answered the question is god wearied with your words. Is he weary with my words? As one wrote sinful words are more offensive to the god of heaven than they are commonly thought to be.

We tend to be quite careless With regard to our speech. We might ask the question. What kind of words wearies god? Well, he told us in malachi 2 17 again, the prophet wrote you've wearied the lord with your words.

May you say how we wearied him? And then he says by saying. Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the lord and he delights in them. Or by asking where is the god of justice? And so there are two kinds of speech set forth here that wearies god and calls forth for his judgment.

The first is when people say that those who are doing evil are nevertheless good in the sight of the lord. That he approves of them. That god delights in them irrespective of their behavior. This week I watched several youtube videos of vaadi bachem, he's a sharp guy.

He's a solid forthright reformed baptist preacher who happens to be black also and that's pretty unusual for reformed baptists. But he was exposing popular television preachers both men and women. Who gave forth this same corrupt message?

They were on record as refusing to denounce what the holy scriptures declared to be sin. While continuing to tell these very people. That god regarded them with favor. That they were good in the sight of the lord to quote malachi's words.

Their message is that god delights in everyone no matter who you are. No matter how you live that he disregard that he disregards what you think and say for god delights in you. It doesn't matter Why god loves you?

It's often declared. But this is a misrepresentation of the god of the bible. When people teach this and it's very popular from pulpits and the radio and television. When when people teach this message you can be living in evil yet.

God is favorable toward you you stand in In in good stead with god. They are wearing god with their words is what? God reveals through the prophet malachi here. Their message is that god delights in everyone no matter who you are no matter how you live.

He delights in you. This is the precise kind of speaking that wearies god and calls forth god to bring forth his judgment. And then a second type of words or speech that wearies. God is the voice of skepticism.

That god's going to administer just that god. Voices get skepticism that god somehow is going to exercise his judgment. You've wearied the lord with your words. But you say how have we wearied him by saying everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the lord He delights him.

Or by saying where is the god of justice? They deny that god was even going to engage them or Intervene in his judgment upon them. Where's the god of justice? It doesn't matter What we say how we say it what we do what we don't do.

Because god is not going to administer justice. They were skeptical of that this reminds us of peter's warnings of scoffers in the last days. Beloved I now write to you this second epistle. That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before.

By the holy prophets and the commandment of us the apostles of the lord and savior knowing this first scoffers will come in the last day walking according to their own lusts. And saying where is the promise of his coming?

For since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. And for this they willfully forget that by the word of god. The heavens were of old the earth standing out of water and in the water by which the world that then exists Existed perished being flooded with water.

But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire. Until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The world doesn't believe that anymore. Where's the god of justice?

Fact is these people were having their day in the days of malachi. And basically the lord said There's an end to that coming. And the lord himself will have his day the day of the lord. These people were presuming of god's love and favor upon them.

Even while they had no basis of hope before god. They showed forth a mocking disregarded denial of god ever exercising a judgment upon the wicked. It has been said the prophet makes his charge. The faithless multitude have as it were worn out god's patience by their murmuring and discontent.

Because of their expectations of prosperity and glory were not at once fulfilled. They called in question god's justice and holiness and even the future judgment. Observe. God hears the words of men. Every syllable enters his ears.

He understands our thoughts so far off. Skeptical words are offensive to him. He had wearied the lord with your words. Wearied him with their ignorance their falseness their impiety. The creating and supporting of a universe does not weary god for he fainteth not.

Neither is weary, but the endless chatterings of skeptical and discontented souls weary him. And yet these ones are ignorant and indifferent To the multitude of offenses before god before whom they must give account of every idle word spoken As the lord jesus himself taught but I say to you that every idle word That men may speak they will give an account of it in the day of judgment.

Think about that. We ought to be very careful about what we say. And not just in public but in private and even to ourselves. Unless we find ourselves we're in god. Well after this indictment We see god is Responding.

He is the god of justice. And so he promises to send his messiah to execute justice. And this is what we have in the first five verses of malachi chapter 3. God's response to the wickedness of these people was his announcement that he would send forth his messenger.

Who would both purify his people and bring forth his judgment upon his enemies. Now there are two paragraphs in this portion of prophecy. The first is verses one through four In which the self-effect work of the messiah set forth he saves his people.

And the second paragraph verses five verse five speaks of the messiah executing justice upon the wicked people. Both of these paragraphs speak of the mission of the messiah here identified as god's messenger.

His mission was to execute judgment upon the wicked and to purify his people. Now it would be wrong to attribute one of these actions to christ's first coming in other words salvation. And the other to his second coming in other words judgment.

For actually jesus christ administered justice in saving his people and Executing his judgment in his first coming and he'll fully and finally do so at his second coming. And so let's consider these two paragraphs.

The Messenger Who Prepares the Way for Christ

First the messenger who purifies his people verses one through four. Behold I send my messenger. And he will prepare the way before me. And the lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. And the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight.

Behold, he is coming says the lord of hosts, but who can endure the day of his coming who can stand when he appears? For he's like a refiner's fire and like fuller soap. He will sit as a refiner purifier of silver.

And he will purify the sons of levi and refine them like gold and silver. And they will bring offerings in righteousness to the lord. And then the offering of judah and jerusalem will be pleasing to the lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

We'd mentioned in an earlier week. I don't know how long ago That there are two messengers identified in these verses. The first is the forerunner of the second. The first messenger is the forerunner of the second the first messenger.

And notice probably in your english Translation you have a lower case m for messenger. He's the preparer for the second messenger. The second messenger you notice has a capital m. Which is the lord jesus.

The prophecy of the coming first messenger is that of john the baptist. He was born six months before jesus. And john prepared the way for jesus. Who of course was his relative by family relation? Even when john was in the womb.

With the arrival of mary who was with child to the home of elizabeth who was buried john in her womb the baby leaped in Her womb by which he the messenger lowercase m testified of the coming messenger capital m the messiah.

And then later john was called and commissioned to his baptizing ministry perhaps six months before jesus was baptized. Which signaled the onset of his messianic ministry? And so here we have a prophecy.

God was going to send first A messenger to prepare the way for the messenger being jesus christ. Interestingly Malachi 3 verses 1 and 2 is quoted by the lord. Jesus referring to john the baptist in luke 7 24 and following.

When the messengers of john had departed he began to speak to the multitude concerning john. What did you go out in the wilderness to see a reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see a man clothed in sovereign garments?

Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in king's courts. But what did you go out to see a prophet? Yes, I say to you more than a prophet. That was john the baptist more than a prophet because he was prophesied to come.

This is he of whom it is written and here it is behold I will send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way before you. For I say to you among those born of women. Is not there's not a greater prophet than john the baptist.

But he who is least in the kingdom of god is greater than he. By the way, I included that last statement to reinforce what we've been saying here recently. We've emphasized the high status and dignity of every true christian because of who we are and what we've been given in jesus christ.

This statement of our lord affirms this truth. There was never one born greater than john. But he lived and ministered before the promised kingdom of god had been inaugurated through the life death resurrection and enthronement of jesus christ and so.

What some might regard as the least citizen in the kingdom of god that is He or she knows jesus christ is lord and savior. Anyone even the lowest newest believer? Is in position higher In god's regard than even john the baptist.

Before the onset of the kingdom of jesus christ the least in the kingdom of god is greater than john. Greater than john was john's in the kingdom of god now, too.

Of course.

But as to john who he was as great a man as he was no other no greater man born of woman than john. If you're a christian. In the eyes of god positionally. You were more privileged and blessed. More favored than even john the baptist as a citizen of the kingdom.

And if god regards us that way we ought to regard one another that way and treat one another that way. With with a sense of dignity and royalty in spite of all of our flaws and difficulties and sins. Uh, the gospel of mark opens with the quotation of malachi 3 1 The beginning of the gospel of jesus christ son of god.

And then verse 2 of mark 1 as it's written in the prophets. Behold, I send my messenger before your face. Who will prepare your way before you? Quoting malachi 3 verses 1 and 2. The first messenger prepares the way for the arrival of the lord who is the messenger of the covenant.

That is the messenger and bringer of the promised new covenant. By which his people are brought to enjoy their relationship with god. This covenant is based upon and secured by the life death and death of jesus christ on behalf of his people.

He is the messenger of the covenant in that he makes known and brings the good news of salvation unto god through the new covenant. I appreciated matthew henry's words here. He speaking of jesus christ as a messenger of the covenant.

Or the angel of the covenant. Angel is simply another word for messenger. Or witness. That blessed one that was sent from heaven to negotiate a peace and settle a correspondence between god and man. He is the angel the archangel the lord of the angels who received commission from the father to bring man home to god by a covenant of grace.

Who had revolted from him by the violation of the covenant of innocence. Sick speaking of the garden of eden. Christ is the angel of this covenant by whose mediation it is brought about and establishes god's covenant with israel.

Was made by the disposition of angels referring to the mosaic covenant. Christ as a prophet is the messenger mediator of the covenant. Nay. He is given for a covenant. Isaiah 49 8. The servant is the covenant for his people.

Jesus said this is the new covenant in my blood. He is the covenant. The ten commandments was the covenant for the nation of israel. Jesus christ is a covenant. For those under the new covenant in christ.

That covenant which is all our salvation began to be spoken of by the lord according to hebrews 2 3. Though he is the prince of the covenant as some read it yet He condescended to be the messenger of it that we might have full assurance of god's goodwill towards man upon his word.

God sent jesus christ as a messenger to reveal and teach us. Of this covenant of grace that we have with god through christ. Now in this paragraph of verses 1 through 4 malachi was addressing directly.

Only those who are truly looking in faith for the coming of the lord. Who would save them from their sin. Notice against the specificity of the prophet's words. And the lord whom you seek. He's talking about humble broken people now.

They were sinners, but they were seeking salvation. The lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight. See there were people in malachi's day that were looking for the coming of the savior and in him they were Delighting they had their faith.

They were anticipating him. They were ones who acknowledged their sin and looked in faith for the coming savior. That they may be assured that god would send him to secure their salvation through the new covenant.

And yet in his coming even those who embrace him will experience a great purging and cleansing of their sin. Look at verse 3. But who can endure the day of his coming and who can stand when he appears.

It's a rhetorical question saying nobody can. Now, of course, it was the purpose and nature of the preparation work of the first messenger john the baptist. To prepare the people for the coming of the second messenger.

The messenger of the covenant he called forth all israel to repent of their sins and be baptized for the kingdom of heaven was at hand kingdom of god. And the certainty of god's judgment was upon all the people.

John would later declare to them that when some instance Insincere and impenitent men came to be baptized. That the lord would scrutinize Everyone's works and that if repentance from sin was not evident in having forsaken sin.

And submitting to the need of cleansing of sin illustrated by baptism. Immersion in water the wrath of god would be poured out upon them. Who can stand? Even in his coming the first coming. And so we read of john the baptist's ministry in matthew 3.

But when he saw many of the pharisees and sadducees coming to his baptism he said to them you brood of vipers. That's the direct approach. Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance?

And do not think to say to yourselves we have abraham as our father. I challenge our pato baptist friends to deal with this. John refused to baptize anyone because of who their daddy was even abraham.

Just because your dad or mom's a christian doesn't qualify you for baptism. For I say to you that god is able to raise up children to abraham from these stones. But notice verse 10 even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees therefore every tree.

Everyone.

Every tree Which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he who's coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals i'm not worthy to carry.

He will baptize you with the holy spirit and fire. And his winnowing hand is in his hand and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor. Gather his weed into the barn and he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

And he did that at his first coming and he'll do it at his second coming. The lord jesus brought salvation and judgment upon the people in that he either saved them through judgment principally his judgment on the cross.

But also through repentance, which is self-judgment. Acknowledging sin and its guilt need for god's forgiveness. Or he pronounced judgment upon the wicked generation that took place in the overthrow of jerusalem and judah by the roman armies in 1870.

These roman armies were god's instrument of his righteous judgment upon the unbelieving Nation, they had committed the abomination of rejecting and crucifying their king and the judicial consequence Was the desolation of the temple in the city that took place in 80 70.

And so this coming through judgment or conviction of sin that happens to us. In order to experience forgiveness of sins and the promise of everlasting life can be a very difficult and severe experience.

Coming to saving faith can only occur through the grace of god. Sinners resist and resent god's way of salvation. We're like we're like the people in malachi's day. Who challenge god's assertion? That we're sinners.