447. MAL 3:3. CHRIST THE REFINER

Mal_3:3. Christ The Refiner

"And he shall sit as a refiner."’97Mal_3:3.

Christ is obviously intended in this prophecy, and it quite accords with the apostle’s description of the end of Christ’s coming: "Who gave himself that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works," Tit_2:14. Christ’s refining is the purifying of his people, the removal of all dross and alloy, and imparting unto hem those holy qualities which will render them fit for the most honorable purposes on earth, and finally meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. The gold of Christ’s church is not pure, until he hath sat, and brought it through the refining process.

I. How then does he do this, in what Way does he act as the Refiner of his People?

1. His truth is refining.

The words of his mouth are pure words, and they enlighten the eyes, and exert a cleansing power over the heart and life. Hence he prayed to his Father, and said, "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth."

2. His Spirit is refining.

Hence that blessed agent is called the Holy Spirit, not only because he is essentially holy, but also because all holiness is the result of his influences. The Spin refines by leading the mind into all truth, and by applying the blood of Jesus to the conscience, which cleanseth from all sin. Hence in reference both to the truth and the Spirit conjointly, the apostle says, "Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit," 1Pe_1:22.

3. Christ refines by affliction.

He brings his people into the furnace, and by causing them to pass through the fires, he makes them to lose the dross and tin of sin. He himself is said to have been made perfect through sufferings, and though no chastening for the present is joyous, but grievous, yet afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them who are exercised thereby. It is by afflictions, that many of the graces are matured, and that the soul is conformed to the suffering Redeemer. Hence it is written, "Tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed." And again, "If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

II. The Qualifications of Christ as a Refiner.

As the refiner, Christ possesses every qualification necessary for the work.

1. His skill is infinite.

He knows the nature of his materials. What they should lose, in what they are deficient, and what is requisite for their complete salvation.

2. Then his experience is extensive.

He has suffered, and knows the nature of every variety of affliction to which we are exposed. Poverty, reproach, tribulation, anguish, and death itself, were all endured by himself.

3. Then his tenderness is unbounded.

He not only knows the true nature of our sorrows, but he is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." The attack of Saul upon the primitive Christians was felt by Jesus, when he said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" His tenderness being such, he will not allow our sufferings to be injurious, nor our temptations to be stronger than we are able to bear, nor will he ever leave us to the scorching influences of the fires, but when we are tried, bring us forth as gold. It is said, "he shall sit as a refiner;" that is, he shall watch the whole process; he shall heat or cool the furnace as circumstances require, and when he beholdeth the design accomplished, and his own image clearly reflected, he will then bestow the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS