12. 'For He Is Like a Refiner's Fire'

From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part 12 of a series. Read part 11.

What is the meaning of "a refiner's fire"? How is Jesus the Messiah like this? The New Testament gives the answers.

Having asked the prophetic questions of Malachi 3:2, the bass soloist continues Handel's Messiah by giving the reason why these great questions must be asked, and answered:

But who may abide [endure] the day of His coming, and who shall stand [i.e., against Him] when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire.

The Fire of the Smelter

What is the meaning of "a refiner's fire"? We have seen that the force of the original Hebrew is, more directly, "For He is like the purifying fire of the smelter." What function does a smelter perform? Smelting is the process by which the intense heat of a furnace is applied to a raw, mixed substance to extract all impurities from it, leaving behind only a single pure substance that has withstood the fire.

How is Jesus the Messiah "like a refiner's fire"? We find the beginning of the answer in the words of John the Baptist at the beginning of our Lord's public ministry. We find the same words in the Gospel records of Matthew (3:11), Mark (1:8), and Luke (3:16).

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Baptism With Fire

What is the meaning of the word "baptize" as it is used here? The Greek word used here is baptizo. The word in English is merely a transliteration of the word in Greek. When English-speakers think of baptism, the first thing we usually think of is water. But the Greek word baptisma and its derivatives, in and of itself, is not limited to water. Baptisma can mean "immersion" or "submersion" or "a placing into" something, or "an overwhelming" by something. But in the Greek language the word is not limited to "immersion" or "submersion" or "a placing into" physical water. It can also signify an "immersion" or a "submersion" or "a placing into" something other than water, something that need not be physical, such as placement into a state or a situation. The meaning of the word baptisma in the New Testament always depends upon the context in which the word is used. Sound Biblical interpretation demands close attention to context.[1]

With these facts in mind, we can examine the specific ways that the noun baptisma and the verb form baptizo are used in the New Testament. Of course, the Holy Spirit uses baptisma and baptizo many times in the New Testament to mean water baptism, such as John's baptism of preparation for the coming of Messiah. We also find many places where the word refers the Christian baptism of Jesus' Great Commission: "Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

However, there are a number of other uses of baptisma and baptizo in the New Testament that have nothing to do with water baptism. Messiah's baptism of believers with fire is one of these. The passage in the New Testament record that answers to the prophecy of Malachi 3:2, repeated by John the Baptist, is found in the third chapter of First Corinthians:

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Not a False Purgatory, But the Certain Day of Judgment

These words clearly hearken back to Malachi's prophecy of the "refiner's fire." Our Lord will apply the spiritual fire of purification to the raw, mixed substance of our works done in the body of flesh, to extract all impurities from them, leaving behind only the single pure substance of works that are fit for reward and glory. The "wood, hay, stubble" of works done in the power of our own sinful flesh will be purged. The "gold, silver, precious stones" of works done for God's glory in the power of the Holy Spirit will endure the fire.

This passage is not, as Roman Catholicism would have it, a proof-text for their false doctrine of purgatory. There is nothing here of the extraction of a further payment for sin in addition to the full and final atonement of Christ. This is a purging not of ourselves, but of our works. Also, there is no teaching here of long ages - as Rome teaches it, millions of years - spent in the fires of an alleged purgatory. What is described in 1 Corinthians 3 is something that happens on "the Day" - that is, the Day of Judgment:

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28-29)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12)

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." (Matthew 25:31-40)

The Standard of Judgment

By what standard will the Messiah's purifying judgment be made? We find the answer in the Holy Spirit's great commentary on Messianic prophecy, the book of Hebrews. The standard is the written Word of God, on the authority of Jesus the living Word of God:

For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly [literally, with cheerful confidence] to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:12-16)

The Believer's Confidence On That Day

Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the coming Judge, is also Jesus our great High Priest. For the unbelieving on that Day, His throne will be the seat of condemnation. But for the believer, it will be the throne of grace. Believers in Christ need not fear that Day. The works of God in us that emerge from the fire of His refining will be those worthy of His pronouncement,

Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. (Matthew 25:21)

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness [once again, cheerful confidence] in the day of judgment; because as He [Jesus] is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's [each believer's] praise will come from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10)

Matthew Henry made these comments on 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:

The apostle was a wise master-builder; but the grace of God made him such. Spiritual pride is abominable; it is using the greatest favors of God, to feed our own vanity, and make idols of ourselves. But let every man take heed; there may be bad building on a good foundation. Nothing must be laid upon it, but what the foundation will bear, and what is of a piece with it.

Let us not dare to join a merely human or a carnal life with a Divine faith, the corruption of sin with the profession of Christianity. Christ is a firm, abiding, and immovable Rock of ages, every way able to bear all the weight that God himself or the sinner can lay upon him; neither is there salvation in any other. Leave out the doctrine of His atonement, and there is no foundation for our hopes.

But of those who rest on this foundation, there are two sorts. Some hold nothing but the truth as it is in Jesus, and preach nothing else. Others build on the good foundation what will not abide the test, when the day of trial comes. We may be mistaken in ourselves and others; but there is a day coming that will show our actions in the true light, without covering or disguise. Those who spread true and pure religion in all its branches, and whose work will abide in the great day, shall receive a reward. And how great! How much exceeding their deserts!

There are others, whose corrupt opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in the worship of God, shall be made known, disowned, and rejected, in that day. This is plainly meant of a figurative fire, not of a real one; for what real fire can consume religious rites or doctrines? And it is to try every man's works, those of Paul and Apollos, as well as others. Let us consider the tendency of our undertakings, compare them with God's Word, and judge ourselves, that we be not judged of the Lord.

Much of the church today, and many individual professing Christians, are producing not the fruits of heaven that will endure, but the fruits of earth that will perish. Much of the church today is producing "wood, hay, and stubble" instead of "gold, silver, and precious stones." Earth-bound, fleshly works, the works that are "wood, hay, and stubble" in the sight of God, will be burned up. Only "gold, silver, and precious stones" - only heaven-bound works - will endure and be rewarded. Only those works that are the product of seeking those things which are above, where Christ is (Colossians 3:1-4) will endure for eternity.

References:

1. For a more detailed discussion of these occurrences, see our Bible Knowledgebase article, "Does Water Baptism Replace Circumcision" at http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?columnid=8825&articleid=170334

Next: "And He shall purify the sons of Levi"

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12. 'For He Is Like a Refiner's Fire'

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