Malachi 4:2 NIrV
"But here is what will happen for you who have respect for me. The sun that brings life will rise. Its rays will bring healing to my people. You will go out and leap for joy like calves that have just been fed."
I was thinking about how God has blessed us so completely in Jesus Christ that those of us who have trusted in Him for salvation have every reason this day to “leap for joy like calves” in our hearts.
As believers in Jesus Christ we have:
***Forgiveness of sins: Christ has borne the guilt and punishment His people deserved (Isaiah 53:5–6; Romans 8:1).
***Justification before God: The believer is counted righteous solely through faith in Christ, not personal merit (Romans 3:21–26; Philippians 3:9).
***Reconciliation with God: Former enemies of God are brought near and have peace with Him through Christ’s blood (Romans 5:1,10; Ephesians 2:13–18).
***Adoption: God receives believers as His children and gives them the Spirit of adoption (John 1:12–13; Romans 8:15–17).
***Freedom from sin’s dominion: Christians still battle sin, but sin is no longer their master (Romans 6:6–14).
***The presence and help of Christ: The risen Lord does not abandon His people in suffering, temptation, or death (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5–6).
***A guranteed inheritance and resurrection: Christ’s people will be raised bodily and receive an incorruptible inheritance in His kingdom (1 Peter 1:3–5; 1 Corinthians 15:51–57).
***The coming victory of God: Malachi itself looks beyond present trouble to the day when God will judge evil and vindicate His saints (Malachi 4:1–3).
We can leap with joy because Jesus Christ has rescued us from God’s wrath, made us God’s children, freed us for holiness, and guaranteed our everlasting future.
***Justification before God: The believer is counted righteous solely through faith in Christ, not personal merit (Romans 3:21–26; Philippians 3:9).
***Reconciliation with God: Former enemies of God are brought near and have peace with Him through Christ’s blood (Romans 5:1,10; Ephesians 2:13–18).
***Adoption: God receives believers as His children and gives them the Spirit of adoption (John 1:12–13; Romans 8:15–17).
***Freedom from sin’s dominion: Christians still battle sin, but sin is no longer their master (Romans 6:6–14).
***The presence and help of Christ: The risen Lord does not abandon His people in suffering, temptation, or death (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5–6).
***A guranteed inheritance and resurrection: Christ’s people will be raised bodily and receive an incorruptible inheritance in His kingdom (1 Peter 1:3–5; 1 Corinthians 15:51–57).
***The coming victory of God: Malachi itself looks beyond present trouble to the day when God will judge evil and vindicate His saints (Malachi 4:1–3).
We can leap with joy because Jesus Christ has rescued us from God’s wrath, made us God’s children, freed us for holiness, and guaranteed our everlasting future.
What a blessing! What a gift!