47.4 The Lord Will Defend My Cause

Psalm 43

O God, declare me innocent,
and defend my cause against the ungodly;
deliver me from lying and evil men!
You are my protector;
why have you abandoned me?
Why must I go on suffering from the cruelty of my enemies?

Send your light and your truth;
may they lead me and bring me back to Zion,
your sacred hill,
and to your Temple, where you live.
Then I will go to your altar, O God;
you are the source of my happiness.
I will play my harp and sing praise to you,
O God, my God.

Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled?
I will put my hope in God,
and once again I will praise him,
my savior and my God.

47.3 God Will Judge Through Jesus Christ

Romans 2:12-16

The Gentiles do not have the Law of Moses; they sin and are lost apart from the Law.  The Jews have the Law; they sin and are judged by the Law.  For it is not by hearing the Law that people are put right with God, but by doing what the Law commands.  The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law.  Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts.  Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them.  And so, according to the Good News I preach, this is how it will be on that Day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all.

47.2 He Is The Judge Of The Living And The Dead

Acts 10:34-43

Peter began to speak:  "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.  Whoever fears in him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what race he belongs to.  You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.  You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, for God was with him.  We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, not to everyone but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets spoke about him, saying that everyone who believes in him will have his sins forgiven through the power of his name." 

47.1 He Will Come To Judge

Malachi 3:1-5

The Lord Almighty answers, "I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me.  Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his Temple.  The messenger you long to see will come and proclaim my covenant."

But who will be able to endure the day when he comes? Who will be able to survive when he appears? He will be like strong soap, like a fire that refines metal. He will come to judge like one who refines and purifies silver. As a metal-worker refines silver and gold, so the Lord's messenger will purify the priests, so that they will bring to the Lord the right kind of offerings.  Then the offerings which the people of Judah and Jerusalem bring to the Lord will be pleasing to him, as they used to be in the past.

The Lord Almighty says, "I will appear among you to judge, and I will testify at once against those who practice magic, against adulterers, against those who give false testimony, those who cheat employees out of their wages, and those take advantage of widows, orphans, and foreigners--against all who do not respect me.