Refined by fire?

During the week someone posted a message on social media about a Malachi 3 message that seems to imply that we are being refined in the fire … God places us in situations that burn away the muck so that we can become more like Him!

Huh?

Really? After what Jesus did? Still?

It is always a good idea to get the context when reading, and especially when quoting verses in the Bible.

But here is the soppy social media story first:

[soppy social media story starts] There was once a group of women studying the book of Malachi in the Old Testament. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

Rejecting the poo-message - now what? The poo-free Gospel part 2

The subject question of this post is somewhat ambiguous, but follow through to the the end if you already know the answer.

Between rejecting the corrupted, mixed-Gospel and accepting the Gift Gospel-message of unconditional love, there is a part that Paul explains so beautifully to the Galatians (and us). In this post we continue from where we left in the previous post. (see the previous post here)

You'll remember that Paul was referring to the undiluted word of Truth (2 Corinthians 2:17, James 1:21), mixed with nothing but Faith (Hebrews 4:2).

In the previous post we caught up with Paul explaining how that there is an accursed Gospel preached by trouble-makers, mixing the pure Good-News Gospel with poo (law, rules and doctrine), the latter being a toxic, deadly mixture that should be discarded immediately. We were reading what he said in The Message Translation.

In this post we look at Paul’s explanation on what to do once we’ve decided to reject the poo-induced Gospel to receive the pure Good-News-Gospel. This time we’ll read from both The Message and the KJV.

It is more dangerous than ignorance ... (unpublished post from 2019 ... until now)

What is more dangerous than ignorance?

False knowledge!

False knowledge is simply a lie. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge or information and careless attitude about it.

They are both dangerous, but according to Bernard Shaw false knowledge supersedes.

Where does all this come from?

Some time ago my youngest daughter prepared a speech for their English orators. The subject came from quotes made by well know public figures and hers was George Bernard Shaw and his famous quote "Beware of false knowledge ... it is more dangerous than ignorance."

Since I greatly assisted in the writing of her speech, I am taking liberty in using some of the elements thereof.

Why?

Jesus, the dog and the children

In most cultures calling someone a dog is the ultimate insult.

Similarly, calling someone a child or childish, offends that person maximally. 

However, in the economy of Jesus this is not true and we may even find that the exact opposite is appropriate.

There is this cool, prophetic history in the book of Numbers (13 and 14) which resulted in Joshua and Caleb being the only ones from their generation to enter the promised land - Joshua and the dog ... and the children from the younger generation.

How is this significant?

The poo-free Gospel - part 1

There is a wavering Gospel that says whatever Christ has done on the cross, is not enough - you have to be good and earn it!

It mixes poo with the good …

It modifies the Good News into something man-made.

The Good-News-Message becomes the Message of Doom.

That is why Paul reprimanded the Galatians. 

I can’t believe how you waver—how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing an alternative message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head. Let me be blunt: If one of us—even if an angel from heaven!—were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed. I said it once; I’ll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed. Galatians 1:6-9 MSG

What does it mean to waver?

Stay poo-free!

This might come as a surprise to some, but there is not even a tiny bit of bad news in the Good News (Gospel).

The Finished Work of Jesus is the All-Good-News-once-and-for-all.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It only makes sense in terms of the Finished Work of Christ.

The Gospel is the exclusive Good News! It is Jesus. If you try to fit another word in there somehow, it becomes something entirely different.

Think about it.

If the news you are getting has a hint of bad news, it is not God’s News anymore and the origin should immediately be questioned. I must be discarded immediately!

Even the slightest addition of dog poo will corrupt and make the best Swiss chocolate vulgar.

Be ready to check out the next post on the poo-free-Gospel.

God has perfect timing, never early never late

Have you ever heard the expression “God has perfect timing, never early, never late”?

Have you tried googling it? Or look for that exact expression in the Bible?

Have you taken the time to look into when and how it is usually used by those who use it?

Have you applied your mind to something like this said?

Have you questioned it?

Well, in this post we’ll practice some logic discernment and investigate the matter.

Luck and chance

I am always surprised when good Christian people testify how God gave them a second chance …

Sickly people will tell you how that the doctors by chance became aware of a certain condition and how, through this, God gave them a second chance.

Others will testify how they miraculously escaped near death and through this, God gives them a second chance.

Some will tell you that God created some incident in their lives to give them a second chance.

Yet, others will tell you how God gave them three, four or any number of chances in life.

Phew!

I have serious concerns with these kinds of testimony.

Shall we consider our sin?

I have discovered that many Christians still struggle with the issue of sin.

The problem is that we have been brainwashed through the years by the institutional church to believe that sin is a verb and only a verb, speaking to our actions or lack thereof.

In contrast the Greek word used in the New Testament is much more explicit, using it as a noun. Sin is a condition rather than an action.

The problem is our understanding of sin

Sin is a condition, a sickness, a state … (see this post)

Whosoever shall call

Whilst running my afternoon run, The Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart Romans 10:13.

I usually do not quote single verses out of context, but during my run I developed this deep desire to look at what the original words communicate.

This is the verse: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Simple! 

But loaded.

Yet, easily corruptible by the law-preacher.