The Full Counsel of Scripture

Malachi 3: 5

“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.”

A wise person always looks at the full counsel of Scripture, Malachi 3:5, is talking about the judgment that is coming to all who have never sought forgiveness of a Holy God and put their trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

Now I believe that many a person who has been sorry for their sins were exposed to others but is anything hidden from God?  It is a fool that thinks he can con God, for He requires a broken and contrite heart when that person is forgiven.

I’ve always found comfort in Psalm 103: 10-13, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”

You may be guilty of every one of these sins listed and a few more like murder and before you think of yourself as pure as snow, whose measurements are you using, yours or a Holy God?  I am fearful for many of us who engage mouth before pondering what Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

My very wise wife often reminds me that as long as you have breath, you have choices.  God at the abundant cost of His only Son, showed the costly requirement of His forgiveness: "Without the shedding of Blood, there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). ... However, Jesus Christ, the Son of God died on a Roman cross and became the ultimate, once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins.

Today it is your turn to make a choice, to receive or reject the gift of forgiveness.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice