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The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem The Jew’s complaint against God

Messianic blessings promised through Zechariah had not yet materialized

Instead of getting better, they saw things as getting worse

A corrupt priesthood 2:4-8

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem The Jew’s complaint against God

Messianic blessings promised through Zechariah had not yet materialized

Instead of getting better, they saw things as getting worse

God’s moral control questioned 2:17

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem The Divine answer 3:1-6

He would send His messenger to prepare the way v. 1a Mt 11:7-10

He would also send another Messenger

The Messiah vv. 1b-3

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem The Divine answer 3:1-6

The Messiah vv. 1b-3 Bring a new covenant Heb 8:6-

13 A Refiner with fire…a Fuller with

soap His purpose will be to purify,

cleanse

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem The Divine answer 3:1-6

Messiah’s actions would make things right again vv. 4-6 Offerings, sacrifices acceptable

again Violators of the Law would be

judged Refining, cleansing…not consuming

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For N.T. Saints Today References to John the Baptist

& the Messiah make this passage for us…not just post-exilic Jerusalem in 430 B.C.

It is the imagery of the refiner & his fire that will our focus

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For N.T. Saints Today The nature of refining metal

It seems a destructive process…it is not

A cleansing…necessary to remove impurities that renders precious metals unusable

The value of metal is seen in 3 stages…

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For N.T. Saints Today The nature of refining

In The Ore Unclean…mixed with impurities Gold is in man Gen 1:27 Dross is also in man Gal 5:17 Even in the worst of men is gold

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For N.T. Saints Today The nature of refining

In The Fire The gold is not thrown away

because of the dross It is subjected to the fire to

remove all the impurities

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For N.T. Saints Today The nature of refining

In The Fire Only when in the fire can the

good be brought out…accomplished when the Refiner puts in the fire 1 Cor 3:13

1 Pet 1:6-7, 22 Jas 4:7-8

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For N.T. Saints Today The nature of refining

In The Fire One might rebel against this

“extreme” Some pray for purity, then

murmur when the Refiner applies the fire

It won’t destroy…it will purify

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For N.T. Saints Today The nature of refining

In Its Purity How bright, beautiful after

being refined!! Job 23:10-11 So different from the previous

mixture with the dross

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

For N.T. Saints Today The nature of refining

In Its Purity The refined one is at last

“fit”…able to be used for the Master 2 Tim 2:20-21

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

Conclusion Anything contrary to the gospel

of Christ must be thrown in the Refiner’s fire It must be subjected to the

power of His cleansing heat Drastic, destructive?? NO…cleansing, helpful

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

Conclusion No dross if we have any

eternal hopes Mt 5:29-30 1 Cor 6:9-10 Gal 5:19-21 Rev 21:27

The Refiner beckons you for your good Mal 3:4, 6

The Refiner’s FireMal 3:1-3

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