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The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem 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

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem 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 God’s moral control questioned 2:17

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem The Refiner’s Fire Mal 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

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem The Refiner’s Fire Mal 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

For Post-Exilic Jerusalem The Refiner’s Fire Mal 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

For N.T. Saints Today The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

For N.T. Saints Today The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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…

For N.T. Saints Today The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

For N.T. Saints Today The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

For N.T. Saints Today The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

For N.T. Saints Today The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

For N.T. Saints Today The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

For N.T. Saints Today The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

Conclusion The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

Conclusion The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3 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

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