Homilist Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: I. WHAT DID THEY IMPLY? 1. A false security. Jews thought they were ready for Messiah. The prophet sees them to be self willed, dreaming of their own notions rather than desiring God's truth. Religion only nominal. 2. The coming judgment. 3. A call to prepare. II. THEY CONVINCE US OF — Indifference, worldliness, indolence, self-indulgence. We need God's call, the prophet's appeal. Christ is coming: are we ready to meet Him? to be examined and tested by Him? III. HOW ARE WE TO REPLY? We are at first struck dumb. None can stand. So says conscience, experience, observation, Scripture. Then the Gospel message of forgiveness and salvation comes to us in the person of Him who was " presented in the temple" in our nature unto God, and is the Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. In Jesus we find our refuge, our hope, our holiness, our home. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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: |
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