Refined Silver

Isn't social media just wonderful?

So many people spreading so many "Gospels" ...

... and we pass them on!

Someone posted the post below from a site a while ago and I just had to react to this kind of sick, twisted message.

As if the truth doesn't matter

The post reads as follows:

The SILVERSMITH
-Author Unknown.

There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of
Malachi.  As they were studying chapter three they came across
verse three which says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what
this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining
silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That
week the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment
to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the
reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the
process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held
a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that,
in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of
the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the
impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot -
then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner
and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that
he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver
was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had
to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on
the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was
left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the
silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part --
when I see my image reflected in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God
has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch
over you until He sees His image in you.

... to which I then was moved to respond ...

This kind of message is interesting, but dangerous

I have a huge problem with these kind of messages. It depicts our loving Father as the One Who puts us through trials and tribulations - fire, that we might emerge on the other side refined and a better person. It is the message of the legalistic church blatantly ignoring the finished work of Jesus on the cross and disregarding the fact that He has already justified us, made us holy and declared the innocence of His children being without spot or blemish.

Some just read and write without discernment 

We must remember that Malachi is in the old covenant. The situation changes completely after the cross.

I am always concerned when we read the Bible to find ourselves and make verses applicable to ourselves in a legalistic manner. The Bible is about Jesus! This chapter in Malachi is about Jesus. It is He Who is the purified Silver (silver always being the metal symbolizing purity). He is the Silver! 

And if He purifies the other silver, how does He do it? 

Rightly divide the Word of God

Look carefully. The message here is clearly aimed towards the Levites.

He purges with fire.

How?

He purges all the works of the devil right out of the lives of the priests (the ministers and pastors who keep proclaiming all these evil things about Abba) so they can likewise be clean. The fire was never intended for God's children, but for the devil and his demons and their works! Check for yourself by reading the scripture again.

But the law-preacher always has a different take on things

Typically, the reaction by the deceived follower of the law-preacher will argue that you have been purged, but now you must live like Christ in order to make it. You must daily bear His cross and aim to live holy ... 

My question is: Which verse? And do you interpret your verse based on the finished work of Christ ... or by the law?

Stay clear of perverts 

I am deeply saddened by this kind of distortion and perversion of the Gospel that is being used by the institutional 'church' to persuade God’s children (we know where fear comes from), rather than focusing on Abba's love-heart, His Grace. 

A message like this makes everyone who is going through a difficult time to embrace and accept their hardship and adverse circumstances instead of standing up by their restored authority, rebuking and resisting the devil. They play perfectly into the hand of the enemy.

Someone always gives some perspective, though

Someone else joined into the conversation and responded:

Hebrews 10:14 tells me that:

"for by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" (NKJV)

"for by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy" (AMP).

With or without Grace ...

... and so we can talk about the issue ... with Grace as our departure point ... or without ...

Let's read this passage again with the focus on Jesus (Grace Himself), instead. I promise ... it's going to lift you, remind you of the finished work of Jesus, who you are (already) in Him and empower you in the Holy Spirit to resist the devil!

HalleluYAH!