Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Mal. 3. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- To be sharply criticized and chastised is a painful thing – and no one really enjoys it. The old saying about sticks and stones versus words is simply not true.
- In that we have inherited the sinful condition that is common to all of mankind following the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, there is plenty in our thoughts, words, and deeds that warrant criticism and chastening! If God speaks a Word to us, and if God remains truthful in His speaking, then His Word is going to have some of this unpleasant condemnation and admonition.
- At the same time, His Word is only a Word – of warning and of promise. The consequence of sin – punishment and destruction – is not the same as the Word of warning. The Word is given so that we can avoid the consequences of our sin – and so, even though the Word is painful it is a merciful, gracious, and loving Word, intended for our blessedness.
- Just the same, when God speaks a Word – whether of promise or of warning – His Word is true, and will be fulfilled with absolute precision. In this regard His Word is not like that spoken by mere men. When they warn and promise we must take into consideration whether or not they have the ability to fulfill their word. With God there should never be any doubt!
- So we see in our text that by means of His Word, God seeks to “purify” people. This is His purpose in sending His “messenger” with His Word – whether the prophet Malachi, the Lord Jesus Himself, or the servants of His Word that He calls and sends to people to this very day. And He assures us that He is never far from His Word, but “draws near” for judgment.
- So our prayer today – as we consider God’s Word in our text and apply it to ourselves, is that we also will be “PURIFIED BY GOD’S WORD.” May His Spirit grant it to each of us. But it is clear from our text that:
I. No One Can Stand Uncondemned By God’s Word – It Condemns Us All For Our Sin
Text: “But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.”
Text: “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them.”
Is. 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.”
Rom. 3:23 “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Statement: This should not be surprising to anyone. From little on up we have been aware of our own sin as well as the sin of others around us – even that of our parents and other authorities. This is a basic consideration about our relationship with the church – and attending services and Bible classes. If we insist that the pastor, the servant of God’s Word, speak His Word faithfully and truly, then our experience in worship and Bible class is going to include some discomfort – perhaps even grievous discomfort. So we have two options – if we wish to avoid this unpleasantness and discomfort: 1] insist that the pastor change his message, and assuage us rather than condemn and admonish us; or 2] simply stay away from church and Bible class, and stay as comfortable as we can.
Application: Obviously, either of these latter options is contrary to God’s good and gracious will that we be “PURIFIED BY GOD’S WORD.” In the first case we have no access to His Word, for we have corrupted and perverted the preachers; in the second case we denude ourselves of this gracious work of God by absenting ourselves from His Word and excluding ourselves from His influence. To these people God still speaks a Word – and it shall be fulfilled despite our objections: “I will draw near to you for judgment.” And that judgment will not be pleasant, for “he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him.” [Jn. 3:36] Further, the Scripture assures us: “For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” [Heb. 2:2,3]
Transition: But this is not God’s will – He has provided us with a great salvation, and “God wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” His goal is to refine us, to save us – and so:
II. The Intent Of God’s Word – Though It Is Painful – Is To Purify Us: By Repentance, Faith, And Finally Offerings Of Love
Text: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.”
Statement: The Law of God condemns us all – and calls us all to repentance and confession of our sin. “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us; if we say we have not sinned we are calling God a liar, and His Word is not in us.” [1 Jn. 1:8,10] There is no escaping this process of honest acknowledgment and confession that there is much wrong with us. This is painful – but God does not leave us in this pain: “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 Jn. 1:9] “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” [Eph. 1:7] So we are also called to faith – in the assurances of His gracious mercy and forgiveness. And in this way – as we come to know and believe His love for us, we also come to love Him – and to make our offerings to Him in love and righteousness, and not to merely appease Him and atone for our wrongs [which can never be done].
Application: This is the message of Scripture from cover to cover – that God is a swift witness against our sins – whether dark and black sins of commission – sorcery, adultery, slander, or oppression of others, or serious sins of omission – denying love and care to others in need, or with the terrible sin of not fearing God. But though His Law condemns us He does not leave us condemned – but sent His Son to be our Savior, so that whoever “believes the Son shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” And through this ministry of God’s Word – if it has its effect of condemnation and also of bringing us to the peace, joy, and comfort of faith – we are renewed in spirit and prepared to please Him with acts of love and kindness, offerings in righteousness. This is the effect finally upon those who are “PURIFIED BY HIS WORD.”
Transition: And though this is a lengthy and somewhat halting process of renewal within us, we are assured in our text that:
III. God’s Patience And Faithfulness Preserve Us – He Will Not Change His Mind [So We Are Encouraged Not To Test Him]
Text: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
Statement: This is the great hope and comfort that God’s Word provides to us – that as we continue to hear His Word, continue to be purified by His Word, in a life of repentance and faith and love, we shall surely be preserved from condemnation, death, and hell. Indeed, not only will we be saved, but we will also be “purified” – renewed in soul, heart, mind, and body, as “He works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
Application: So let us allow Him to do so. The worst pain of being corrected is having to acknowledge that someone can “see” our sin and point it out to us. It is our pride and arrogance that is most deeply affected – we want to be the ones who are most highly competent and “right,” who point out the sins and errors of others. We don’t even want God to correct us – which is the shameful sin of self-idolatry. But it is not truly humiliating to be corrected by God – it’s not like anyone else is avoiding His correction. And His correction is not intended to abase and demolish us – but rather to bring us to repentance, and into the knowledge of His forgiveness and love, and to repair us – to “PURIFY US BY HIS WORD.” Though painful, this is all good for us – as we are able to come to acknowledge as we are increasingly purified.
Conclusion: The great tragedy among human beings is those who ultimately reject this interaction with God through His Word – and who refuse to allow Him to treat them graciously and save them. Even within the church, this sometimes occurs – when people reject the ministry of God’s Word, staying away from church, or raising their eyebrows in rebellion when His Word is preached and applied to them, refusing to repent and to even consider changing their ways.
Sadly, this includes a tacit rejection of His forgiveness and mercy, and cuts them off from the nourishment of God’s gracious and renewing love. And at times we see people going away – often with the complaint that they have been mistreated. But God’s Word of purification never “mistreats” us, even when it causes discomfort and pain; so this is in reality pure rebellion and rejection of God, a refusing of His “purification.”
The question is asked: “But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears?” The answer is – the one who is “PURIFIED BY GOD’S WORD.” The Lord Jesus has appeared the first time – to bring us salvation. He will appear again to usher in judgment – eternal life to those purified by repentance and faith, and eternal torment to those who reject His purifying Word. Either way let us beware, for as our text asserts: “I the Lord do not change.” He is truthful and faithful to His Word – both of warning and of gracious promise. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.