God’s Justice, Our Neighbouring
Speaker: Pastor Jon Nip
Scripture: Malachi 2:17-3:5
You have wearied the LORD with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask…
—Malachi 2:17a
But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.
—Isaiah 43:24
All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?
—Malachi 2:17b
IDENTIFIES & RESISTS FALSEHOODS
I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
—Malachi 3:1
Malachi: “messenger of God.”
REFINED BY HIS TRUTH
God’s justice is compassionate
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
—Isaiah 30:18
God’s justice refines and restores
For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. —Malachi 3:2-3
God’s justice is for all
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? —Malachi 3:2
So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice. —Malachi 3:5
Devotion and worship to God is INCOMPATIBLE with injustice
WORKING FOR JUSTICE AND AGAINST INJUSTICE
Long for humility, conviction, and correction
Listen and learn from the margins
Live out a holistic gospel
Laying down ourselves
If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.
—Matthew 19:17-19
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.
—Matthew 19:21
