The Lord cleanses with water and with FIRE

[StewardoftheMystery]

Numbers 31:23
Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.

Malachi 3:1-3

King James Version

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3 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:.”

1 Peter 4:12-13

King James Version

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12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

Job 23:10
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Zechariah 13:9
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The faith “of” Jesus Christ is the gold that has already been tried by fire.

Revelation 3:18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

The faith “of” Jesus Christ

When “we truly believe in” God’s Word and what Jesus Christ did for us, by going to the cross to die for our past sins, and to also make us free from the power of future sin and death. Then we, by the grace of God are born again; and we receive the Righteousness “of” God, which is by the faith “of” Jesus Christ.

Notice this “gift” of imputed righteousness is by the faith “of”Christ, and is not given to us because of our own works, but by the works “of” Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith “of”Jesus Christ, even we have believed “in” Jesus Christ, that we might be justified bythe faith “of” Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Again notice the imputed righteousness “OF” God is given because of the faith “OF” Jesus Christ, when “we believe in” what Jesus did for us.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness “of”God which is by faith “of” Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that “believe”:for there is no difference:

We being born again of the Spirit now live, because of the faith “of” the Son of God.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith “of” the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Notice, it is not “our own righteousness”that saves us, but the righteousness “of”God, through the faith “of” Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having “mine own righteousness”, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith “of” Christ, the righteousness which is “of” God by faith:

This faith “of” Christ is “the gift of faith”we receive by the grace of God. (not of ourselves)

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that “not of yourselves”: it is “the gift of God:”

God foretold of how his servants would have “His righteousness” imputed to them.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and “their righteousness is of me”, saith the Lord.

We receive this righteousness “of” God by the faith “of “Jesus Christ, when “we believe in” Him.

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through “the righteousness of God” and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Galatians 3:22
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith “of” Jesus Christ might be “given to them” that believe. (gift of faith)

So in order to receive this gift, we must believe in (by faith in) the words of God concerning His Son, and in the power of the cross, in the cleansing power of the blood of Christ; and in the power of God’s resurrection through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For this is “the work of God”, that you “believe” on Him whom He has sent.

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by “faith in” Christ Jesus.

So “believe” the words of Jesus Christ, and seek God’s righteousness by “faith in” Jesus Christ.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and “his righteousness”; and all these things shall be added unto you.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might “be made” the righteousness of God “in him.”

This gift of grace and of the righteousness of God, and of the faith “of” Christ cannot be “earned by your own works”, it is a gift given to those who truly believe.

Romans 3:21
But now the righteousness of God “without the law” is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Romans 3:22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith “of” Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them “that believe”: for there is no difference:

Romans 4:6 “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness “without works”,

Romans 10:3 “For they being ignorant of “God's righteousness”, and going about to establish “their own righteousness”, have not submitted themselves unto “the righteousness of God”.

Galatians 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

James 2:23 “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham “believed God”, and it was “imputed unto him for righteousness”: and he was called the Friend of God.

We cannot save ourselves or work off our own sin debt, neither can we make ourselves righteous.

Romans 4:2-5 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.3 For what saith the scripture? “Abraham believed God”, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.5 But to him that worketh not, but “believeth on him” that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

So believe in the power of the Lord that can make you righteous

Genesis 15:6 “And he “believed in” the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time“his righteousness”: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which “believeth in” Jesus.”

Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but “believeth on him” that justifieth the ungodly, “his faith” is counted for righteousness.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law “for righteousness” to every one that “believeth”.

Romans 10:9-10 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt “believe in thine heart” that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt besaved. 10 For with the heart man “believeth unto righteousness”; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”​

So believe “in” the Word of God, and receive the imputed righteousness “of” God, being justified by the faith “of” Jesus Christ.

We need to have faith in His faith.

Can you hear me now?

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

Proverbs 25:4
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.”

The “dross” is like the waste material that is in unpurified silver, it can also be the lessor metals that are separated from silver after it is purified by fire.

Notice what the Lord says below…

Psalm 119:119
Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

Proverbs 26:23
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

So you could say wickedness is like dross to God.

Isaiah 1:21-26

King James Version

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21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
24 Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.”

Ezekiel 22:17-22

King James Version

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17 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.
19 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
20 As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.
21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst therof.
22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured out my fury upon you.”

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

In light of the above scriptures, let us look at the image of the Son of God John saw in the Revelation.

Revelation 1:12-15

King James Version

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12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.”

Confirmed as the Son of God here…

Revelation 2:18
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;”

To me this indicates that the last portion of the body of Christ, which are the feet, is to be tried and purified by fire.