A Call to Holiness - Wednesday Evening Class
Teachers
Lesson Summary
Richard Sutton taught on the book of Malachi and its messianic prophecies, emphasizing the comfort and assurance God provides to His faithful people regarding His justice and the coming of the Messiah. The teacher highlighted that over 300 Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus Christ, with at least 44 significant messianic prophecies documented. To illustrate the statistical impossibility of human manipulation of these prophecies, Sutton cited Peter Stoner and Robert Newman's mathematical analysis showing that the probability of one man fulfilling just eight prophecies is 10 to the 17th power—comparable to finding a single marked silver dollar among enough silver dollars to cover the entire state of Texas two feet deep. The class explored Malachi's prediction of a forerunner who would prepare the way for the Lord's coming. This forerunner was identified as John the Baptist, who came in the spirit of Elijah to remove barriers impeding the Messiah's arrival. Sutton emphasized that Jesus, as the "messenger of the covenant," came to fulfill God's covenant promises, particularly the promise made to Abraham that through his seed, all nations would be blessed. The teacher examined key passages from Hebrews demonstrating Jesus as the mediator of a better, new covenant. The overarching message conveyed that Malachi's words, written 400 years before Jesus's earthly ministry, were designed to bring comfort and assurance to Israel concerning God's presence and justice, encouraging believers to look forward to Christ's promised return with confidence in God's faithfulness.
Key Scriptures
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; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will surely come, says the Lord of hosts.
These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.