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The Wrath of God Part 1
The Furnace of Refining Fire
Introduction
This article is a transcribed sermon given to a local fellowship group in April 2005 as part one of a five part series on a subject I’ve entitled; "The Wrath of God". I have decided to reformat these sermons into booklet form, but they can also be obtained on CD’s or audio cassettes. To all believers that take the Bible seriously and are interested in studying the meanings of the words of God this subject of the "wrath of God", in my opinion, explains a special character of God that we need to be aware of. As we all know, the Bible makes reference to the anger, jealousy, indignation, vengeance, and wrath of God in many scriptures. If we proclaim as Christians to love the words of God (as we should); it then behooves us and it becomes our duty to trace the meanings of these terms that are biblically used to express what is called the "wrath of God". It is my intention to show the meanings of these terms, and then we should all BELIEVE the meanings in spite of what we personally happen to believe as doctrine. But I want to clarify that our salvation is secure even if we do not understand this subject as we should. We are ONLY saved by the works and faith of Jesus Christ, therefore our salvation does not depend on our own personal works of study; or on any works done on our part, for that matter. Good works of study and good works of charity only come naturally on their own by loving God as the Spirit of God inspires us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). We only respond in loving God and His inspired words of scripture because He first loved us (Romans 5:8). Part one of the wrath of God addresses what I’ve called the "furnace of refining fire". Please read the following transcribed sermon very carefully…….
Today I want to talk about a subject called the wrath of God. Last night we remembered Christ’s death in ceremonial and symbolic fashion. We symbolically ate and drank of Christ’s body and shed blood. We become what we eat and drink. That is a physical law that most health experts will tell you when they want to sell you their health products.
So spiritually speaking, when we eat and drink what represents Christ’s body and shed blood then His death becomes a part of us. Again, we become what we eat and drink. We are showing His death at communion, and did we not spiritually die with Christ, as the Bible explains? But what about His resurrection and His life? We not only do the symbols once a year in remembrance of his death, but if we eat and drink of Him daily we become a part of the resurrected life of Jesus Christ. Is not Christ living His life spiritually in us daily? It is the resurrected Jesus Christ that is in us, not the body He had at His death. Jesus Christ is alive!
The Bible says repeatedly that Christ would rise from the dead on the third day. Friday would be the first day, and Saturday would be the second day, and since the days started at sundown sometime on the hours we would call Saturday night Christ rose from the dead. Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week and today is the resurrection morning. The women that prepared the spices for the body of Christ rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment (Luke23:56). The Sabbath the woman rested on was the first day of unleavened bread and was also the seventh day of the week; which is why I believe it was called a high day (John19:31). The Jews of Christ’s day called the entire feast of unleavened bread the Passover.
Luke 22:1 KJV Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
It was called the Passover according to the Jews when in fact by the Law of Moses the Passover was killed on the 14th day of Abib, and the feast of unleavened bread started on the 15th. But the Jews called the whole feast the Passover; which is why Christ could be killed on the correct day and still prepare and eat with His apostles the night before what the Jews called the Passover. It was called the Jew’s Passover (John11:55); not God’s Passover. That is why Christ could eat the Passover meal before His own death when He himself was the Passover.
Last night we symbolically ate and drank the Passover meal showing Christ’s death, but Christ is resurrected and is alive. What does that mean to us and how do we symbolically show His resurrection? Christ said He is the resurrection and the life (John11:25), and if Christ is in us we are also symbolically and spiritually resurrected with Him, are we not?
Colossians2:12 KJV Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
But were we literally buried with Christ when we were baptized, and are we literally resurrected with Christ? No, we are not; but we have that living hope in us which is the faith that we must live by day by day. That is the living faith that the early saints had, and it was a faith that was very active in their lives. They totally and completely believed with their whole being on the resurrection of their Savior Jesus Christ, and they lived by that faith hoping to also have glorified resurrected bodies just like Christ has. We must also believe and have that faith, brothers and sisters. What about those that do not have that living hope and faith, and they only live by what this world offers and what they love in this life?
John3:36 KJV He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Believers have everlasting life which means they are symbolically (not literally) resurrected with Christ. For people to not believe or to causally consider the sufferings of Christ as just another religion is it any wonder why the wrath of God would abide on this type of people? There are millions that confess they believe on the resurrection but generally do not live by the power of the resurrection, and that makes them unbelievers in God’s eyes.
Unbelievers in this life have the wrath of God abiding on them, but they have no clue, and they are totally unaware of what is called the wrath of God. They do not physically experience an angry God taking His anger and wrath out on them. That is, not at this time, but they will experience in a major way the wrath of God later on judgment day. But that type of wrath on judgment day is on a spiritual level. Today we will look into this subject of the wrath of God and how God made His wrath known on a physical level several times in the Old Testament. The physical always represents the spiritual, therefore we must look beyond the physical actions of an angry God during the time of the Old Testament. According to the meaning of the original words of God, as we will see, the divine PURPOSE of the wrath of God is ONLY done in love from a God who IS love (1 John4:8 and 16). Therefore God's wrath is only temporally and only experienced during the time of the ages. It is not "forever and ever", as we will see.
Speaking from a human viewpoint, when the creator of the universe makes an agreement, contract, and a covenant with a people called Israel and they verbally agree to it, and then very causally break that agreement in total disrespect and rebellion toward God; well, I want to tell you, the creator of the universe will react to that type of rebellion as we will see.
Exodus19:4-6 KJV Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
The Bible talks a lot about the history of a people called Israel. Israel was called a special people to God, a holy people, a peculiar treasure. Israel was also called a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. But notice as we read in verse 5, Israel would only be a special people, a valued treasure, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation if (there is that word if) if they obeyed God’s voice and kept His covenant. The history of Israel is almost totally taken up in explaining the failure of Israel in not obeying God’s voice and keeping the covenant. I know there were a few Godly men such as David that took God very serious in keeping with the covenant, but Israel as a nation did not do what they said they would do. How did God deal with Israel as a nation since they totally disregarded what they promised to do at Mount Sinai?
What I want to do today is simply go through some of the scriptures that talk about the wrath of God. The question I have; does God change regarding His wrath and anger? As we know God does not change; His anger and wrath is just as real today as it was in the days of ancient Israel. But for the most part the wrath of God has been appeased by the sacrifice of Christ as a sin offering. But appeased in this evil age only means it is delayed and it does not mean the wrath of God is done away, and it does not mean it will not be experienced in a future age to come. The OT talks a lot about the anger and wrath of God, and so does the NT. We all know about a man called Korah, and how God displayed His wrath in a physical way so all Israel would fear in seeing God’s wrath in action.
Numbers16:24-35 KJV Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. Notice the word consumed. 27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; [then] the LORD hath not sent me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that [appertain] unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. Notice the word pit. 31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that [was] under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that [appertained] unto Korah, and all [their] goods. 33 They, and all that [appertained] to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. Again notice the word pit and also the word perished. 34 And all Israel that [were] round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up [also]. 35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Korah really believed he was right; he really thought Moses did not speak the words of God. Is there any doubt that God will destroy and kill people out of His wrath including all their goods; even wives and little children? Here was one example of God displaying His wrath on a physical level by the spoken words of Moses. Korah and his group suddenly got buried alive in the pit and keep in mind, their wives and little children were included. All these bodies and souls were suddenly snuffed out by God’s wrath, but all the spirits returned back to God, as we will see. All these spirits were not affected by God’s wrath, but the bodies and souls obviously were. The bodies and souls stayed in the pit or in the earth.
Do we all believe Korah and his rebels that God killed in His wrath will come up in a resurrection to face their judgment? God will again resurrect Korah and his rebels and He will again put all the spirits in the bodies of Korah and his group with all their wives and children, and they will again be conscious and alive before the white throne judgment. That is what the book of Revelation says when all the dead will be raised to face judgment. God does not change and He still has wrath, but His wrath during the white throne judgment will have different results, and they are not displayed as opening the earth to kill and destroy people. God’s wrath under the old covenant was generally on a national basis such as the punishments of the captivity of Israel. But the wrath of God on Korah was personal and was designed to strike fear in the hearts of Israelites. The new covenant is individual and personal, and God’s wrath will be very personal on the day of vengeance.
I want you to notice some words that are used in describing God’s wrath. We saw that the word "pit" was used in verses 30 and 33. The Hebrew word is "sheol" and was translated as grave or hell in the OT, and as pit three times, and it means hades; the unseen world of the dead. But it is NOT the type of "hell" that is generally believed and taught in many of today's Churches. What went into the pit, or the unseen world of the dead, were the bodies and souls of Korah and his group with all their wives, all their children, and all their belongings. This all happened because of the wrath of God. Also notice the word "consumed" when the fire of the Lord consumed two hundred fifty men. What was consumed about these men were their bodies and souls; not their spirits. The resurrection for the white throne judgment is only possible because the spirits of the people that God killed went back to God, as we will see, but first turn to Exodus32:8-13.
KJV They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it [is] a stiffnecked people: 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. 11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit [it] for ever.
Notice God’s wrath waxed hot and God wanted to do some consuming. He wanted to destroy Israel in a complete destruction. The word "consume" has the meanings of to end, perish, and utterly destroy. God consumed, ended, and utterly destroyed Korah and his rebels with their wives and children and all their physical belongings, and they all perished in the pit or unseen world of the dead in sheol, but not their spirits. Sheol could be called a place of utter destruction, the ending, the perishing of the body and soul. But it is not the ending, the utter destruction, and the perishing of the spirit.
Ecclesiastes3:21 KJV Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? {of man: Heb. of the sons of man}
The spirit of man is Adam or the sons of Adam, as it should be translated.
Ecclesiastes12:7 KJV Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Notice that the dust which the bodies of the sons of Adam were made of returns to the earth simply because that is where the dust came from. In the same manner the word "return" was also used for the spirit to go back where it came from. All the spirits that God created for the sons of Adam are His, and they all go back to God at the death of the body. All the souls of the sons of Adam are His too, but Ezekiel18:4 says; "the soul that sinneth it shall die". I believe all souls that are imputed as righteous through Jesus Christ will also return to God along with the spirit. But all the souls of Korah and his group of rebels sinned and they died and were snuffed out with the body, but understand, the spirits returned back to God where they came from. The wrath of God judged the souls of Korah and his rebels along with the wives and children by the judgment of sheol. But the judgment of the spirits of the sons of Adam will be different.
Hebrews12:9 KJV Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
The term Father of spirits carries a much more profound and deeper meaning than just as a creator of spirits. I could be wrong, but I believe all the spirits of the family of God were all in existence in the beginning; before the ages started. God gives the spirit to every physical conception of the sons of Adam. I do not believe God is creating any new spirits every time a conception occurs with the sons and daughters of Adam kind. God does not just give A spirit, but He gives THE spirit that belongs to every conception of his children. He does not just give a spirit at random, if you know what I mean. I believe the Father of spirits knows all the spirits of the members of His family before conception. He gives us OUR spirit which identifies us and belongs to us. I believe God knows the billions of spirits of the members of His whole family and He, as the Father of spirits, knows them all by name just like He knows the billions of stars by name.
Psalm147:4 KJV He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by [their] names.
God told Abraham I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven. He multiplies Abraham’s seed; not the spirits. The billions upon billions of stars were all created in the beginning before the ages by the spoken word of God. As we all know, God’s family is biblically identified with the stars of heaven in several scriptures.
Daniel12:3 KJV And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Ephesians3:14-15 KJV For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Does it say family, or does it say the whole family, or does it say the whole Church? The whole family means the complete family taking in every spirit of every member, and some are on the earth and the rest are in heaven. You can add to the Church but you cannot add to the family if it is talking about the whole family. Some spirits have returned back to God in heavenly Jerusalem at the death of the body, and some spirits are waiting to be born in the earthy. The whole family of God is named after the Father, and if God is the Father of the spirits of His whole family; then it has to be Him that has named all the members of His whole family.
If God knows the exact number and calls all the billions of stars by name, then most certainly God knows the exact number of His whole family and calls them all by name. If God indeed is our Father, which He truly is, then it becomes His right to name the members of His whole family. Your parents did not name you; you were already named by your Father in heaven, and that name was put in the minds of your earthy parents. That is how the Father of spirits knows us before our conception and birth, and again; He does not just give us A spirit; He gives us OUR spirit. You cannot have the whole complete family of God already named if some spirits did not even exist until they were created at conception.
Again, God is identified as Father of spirits; not necessarily as creator of spirits. We are talking about the whole family which is why I believe there cannot be any new spirits created at every conception. If God has to create a new spirit for every conception of the sons of Adam then only an incomplete family (not a whole family) can be named after the Father. We are so very limited in our carnal understanding that we do not comprehend how our heavenly Father knows us even before our fleshy birth. The reality of our Heavenly Father is much too awesome for us to fully understand.
Most of God’s family will experience His wrath and punishment because He loves His family. The severity of His wrath and punishments can only be in direct proportion on how much he loves every member of His family. That is a love we also cannot comprehend. The members of the whole family have always existed either on the earth or in heaven. Nothing of God’s creation comes by chance, accident, or at random; especially the spirits of His whole family. God’s Spirit is able to witness with our spirit that we are His children.
Romans8:14-17 KJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And 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.
"Abba" is an Aramaic word that was used to convey the affection of "Daddy" or "Papa". It means more that just the status of Father. To cry "Abba Father" is to loudly proclaim that we know the Father as guardian, provider, helper, and a comforter only as a Father can be to His children that He dearly loves. We are not in bondage again to fear at our conversion; because our Daddy is at our side at all times. If we do fear could it be that we are not close enough to our Daddy, or do we really believe and trust our Daddy? It is our spirit that gives life to our bodies in the same manner as the act of breathing. That is what spirit means; a current of air.
James2:26 KJV For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. {spirit: or, breath}
The Father of spirits gives us our spirit that gives life to our physical bodies. It grieves the Father of spirits very much if members of His family cause a conception to be out of kind that will birth corrupted flesh. We all know about Ezra; how he tore out his hair and beard when he saw how the holy seed had corrupted itself. God will give that type of conception over to an earthy spirit and that spirit will simply return back to the earth the same as the spirit of the beast.
The spirits of the sons of Adam come from heaven and will return back to God at the death of the body. The spirits do not just go to God; the spirits return and they go back to God where they come from. Now remember, this only happens to the spirits of the sons of Adam; it does not happen to the spirits of the beast.
Again I repeat, the word "return" is used in the exact same sense as the dust "returns" back to the earth. All earthy spirits go downward back to the earth where they came from, but not so with the spirits that go upward; they came from the heavens and from God. It is only the spirits that go upward and return back to God that can be resurrected and again be given a body either to face the wrath of God or to receive a glorified body. This is how I happen to believe, but you might not believe it the way I explained. We saw that the words "consume" and "fire" are associated with the wrath of God, and there are other words, as we shall see.
Exodus15:7 KJV And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, [which] consumed them as stubble.
Notice God’s wrath will consume as stubble.
Malachi 4:1-3 KJV For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Notice the term "burn as an oven". 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts.
Notice the proud and the wicked will be as stubble. Only physical material substance such as bodies can be turned into ashes, but can the spirit be turned into ashes and be treaded down? As we know, Christ also used the term "furnace of fire"; but first I want to show other scriptures that talk about a refining furnace and the medals associated with it.
Psalm12:6 KJV The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
These are the original inspired pure words that were refined as silver in a furnace; this is not talking about translated words.
Isaiah48:10 KJV Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Notice that term "furnace of affliction".
Ezekiel22:18-22 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. Dross simply means refuse, waste, or worthless. 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 thereof. 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.
Israel is compared to the worth of medals but became refuse, waste, and worthless as the dross of silver. God will refine Israel in a furnace of fire so Israel will again be of worth and again be precious to God. Notice the term "melted", and that Israel will be melted in this furnace.
Matthew13:41-42 KJV The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Many of the quotes of Jesus Christ and the quotes of the apostles are simply quotes from the prophets. I believe Christ was referring to this refining furnace mentioned in several OT scriptures where the house of Israel will be refined by fire just like precious medals. I could show more OT scriptures that talk about this type of furnace. This melting and refining with fire is all a part of the wrath, anger, and fury of God on a people He loves dearly; and it is called a furnace of affliction where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Fire is simply used to express the wrath of God, and it means any measure that God uses such as tribulation, captivity, desolation, destruction, or any hurtful harm on Israel that God chooses to use to get the desired results from a people called Israel; His valued treasure. This corrective punishment is all represented in how precious medals are refined, and as we will see, the apostle Paul also talked about these precious medals being tried by fire.
The gospel message of the kingdom is that this weeping and gnashing of teeth can be avoided, and believers can escape the effects of that furnace of fire. But they cannot escape the fire; only the effects of the fire. Daniel’s three friends were also tried by the furnace of fire, but as we know the fire did not affect them. Believers are also tried by the furnace of fire but they can escape the effects of that fire just like Daniel’s three friends did; but only if there is that fourth man with them just like He was with Daniel’s three friends. If that fourth man is not there, which is Christ, then the wrath of God abides on them, as we read in John 3:36. Another word used for the wrath of God is the word "stubble". Stubble is used to represent something dry that is easy to burn.
Isaiah33:10-12 KJV Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. 11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, [as] fire, shall devour you. 12 And the people shall be [as] the burnings of lime: [as] thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
Isaiah47:14 KJV Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to sit before it. {themselves: Heb. their souls}
Joel2:5 KJV Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Obadiah17-18 KJV But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be [any] remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken [it].
Notice who is NOW a fire and who is NOW a flame and who is for stubble.
Zechariah13:8-9 KJV And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off [and] die; but the third shall be left therein. 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.
The third part of Israel is to be refined and tried by the furnace of fire and they are NOW God’s fire and flame. I believe this is the first resurrection that the saved and refined firstfruits of Israel will be restored to power; and refined Israel will be God’s fire and flame and the house of Esau will burn like stubble, and will not remain when Israel is in power.
1Corinthians3:12-15 KJV Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. {it shall be: Gr. it is} 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Paul also used the word stubble. Works such as wood, hay, and stubble will be burned and consumed by the wrath of God. But a man that suffers loss will still be saved, but he will have to go through the fire of God’s wrath. But the works that cannot be burned and consumed will be refined by the fire.
1 Corinthians5:4-5 KJV In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Now drop down to verse 13
13 but them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
The destruction of the flesh means exactly that. That is what Satan does in inflicting severe pain and deadly sickness to destroy the flesh. This is the same principle as God turning Satan loose on Job to deliberately inflict severe pain to cause Job to see himself as he really was, and Job repented. But wasn’t Job righteous? Job thought he was righteous by his works and that he could never be wrong. He had a serious thinking problem that had to be exposed and corrected.
Paul pronounced the wrath of God on the wicked fornicator by turning him over to Satan, and then the Church body had to get rid of him (Paul did not say a pastor), and if there was no repentance; the flesh was literally destroyed in death by pain or sickness. I believe Christ gave the apostles special power to use Satan to inflict severe pain and sickness to cause repentance so the spirit may be saved. Peter even killed a man and his wife. God killed Annias and Sapphira in His wrath through the spoken words of Peter.
1 Timothy1:20 KJV Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Paul again used the devil on two men so they would learn not to blaspheme. Satan is a master of blaspheme and lies, so how could these men learn NOT to blaspheme from Satan? By our way of thinking, Satan would be the last resort to deliver these men to. But no doubt, these men learned not to blaspheme if they were suddenly struck with sever pain or sickness. It was an act of punishment to correct these men so the spirit may be saved. Christ cannot use the works of uncontrolled flesh to build His Church. It is the uncontrolled fleshly tongue, a world of iniquity that usually causes the most damage to the Church. Christ simply cannot use destructive works.
But God wants to reward good works of gold, silver, and precious stones, but understand good works of the flesh cannot save you; they only help to build the Church. The spirit will be saved, but it does not mean the spirit will escape the wrath of God and the judgment of works tried by fire, and when the destructive works of the soul are burned up, then the spirit can be saved. But the early Church believed in the salvation of the soul along with the spirit.
Hebrews10:39 KJV But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
James5:20 KJV Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
The spirit is not mentioned in these verses simply because it is a given and a sure thing that the spirit will be saved. But the souls of the firstfruits are also saved along with the spirit. It is the souls captured by Satan that will not be saved, and the unsaved souls along with the bodies will go to hades, the unseen state of the dead, with the spirit going back to God to be judged when all will stand before God in the white throne judgment of works. I am only explaining these things as I understand the scriptures.
In closing, I want to say it is a fearful and dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb10:31). Korah truly believed he was right. He did not believe Moses spoke the words of God. He was very sincere in what he believed, but it was total rebellion, and when he went down into sheol it suddenly hit him that Moses truly spoke the words of God. How do you think God feels when most of His children mix the disgusting pagan sex symbols of Easter with the death and resurrection of Christ? How do you think God feels when His children ignore and refuse to believe the truth and meaning of His words?
We are all deceived to some degree, and we know nothing as we ought to know. We think we know; but it does not matter what we think, or know, or happen to believe. What matters is; are we humble enough to change our beliefs about the things of God if we know that we should? It is not a sin to be deceived; but it becomes a sin if we refuse to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God; which is a form of rebellion. The sins of rebellion and idolatry are God’s breaking point and He will expose His wrath and He will take vengeance one way or the other. Brothers and sisters, we all have to be tried by the fire of God’s wrath, but we can escape the effects of the fire if we show the proper fruits that come from true humility, faith, believing, and trusting the truth of God’s original words.
Questions or comments?... Email: mrwickey7@gmail.com