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2. The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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…

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 Cor 3: Pet 1:6-7, Jas 4:7-8

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 Tim 2:20-21

16. 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

17. Conclusion The Refiner’s Fire Mal 3:1-3
No dross if we have any eternal hopes Mt 5: Cor 6: Gal 5: Rev 21:27
The Refiner beckons you for your good Mal 3:4, 6

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