The Consuming FIRE of GOD

[William Wilbur]

The Consuming FIRE of GOD

We are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8)

However, that does not purge us
from all our filthy thoughts and deeds

No, there is more

There is also a consuming FIRE that God uses on us:

"For other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST
Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones,
WOOD, HAY, STUBBLE;

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

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon,
he shall receive a reward
If any man’s work shall be BURNED,
he shall SUFFER LOSS;

but...

[pay close attention to this BIG BUT]
BUT HE HIMSELF
[the one who had his works burned
and consumed in God’s consuming fire]
SHALL BE SAVED
[What will save him?],
yet so AS BY FIRE" (1Cor 3:11-15)!!!

Ah dear readers,
can we begin to understand the workings of God?

God consumes with fire, the wood, hay and stubble in our lives
The things that don’t deserve to continue

But he REFINES the gold, silver, and precious stones
(those doctrines and godly character traits
of God’s spirit that abide the fire)

It is figurative language, it is an analogy,
it is a parable, it is metaphorical
(where one thing is called another thing)

Our lives have either qualities of character
(which are likened to gold and precious stones,
things of value to refine and retain),

or gross lacks in character
(which are likened to wood, hay, and stubble
and which are not worthy to retain or preserve)

And just as real literal fire
is used to refine and purify gold and precious metals,
so God’s SPIRITUAL FIRE refines and purifies us
from our sinful and carnal nature

And likewise, as real literal fire
is used to burn up wood and stubble,
so God’s all consuming SPIRITUAL FIRE
will consume and burn up all the impurities in our life

These things MUST DIE
This purging is the SECOND DEATH

And whether the person God subjects
to His consuming fire has many good qualities or none,
the person himself shall be purged, purified, and
SAVED BY GOD’S ALL-CONSUMING SPIRITUAL FIRE!!!

We just read it in God’s Holy Word

How can any deny it?

Every person who has ever lived
will be subjected to the cleaning fire of God’s spirit

God is the JUDGE (Rev 20;12) ...NOT Satan
This judgment throne is "WHITE" not black!

God judges in righteousness

"He shall judge the world with RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Psalm 96:13)

"Because He [God] hath appointed a day,
in which He will judge the world in RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Acts 17:31)

Next I present a Scripture that many Christians hate

I’ll bet you have never heard a sermon on this verse

We read that God has appointed a day (a period of time)
in which He will "JUDGE" the whole world

Revelation 20:10-15 IS THAT DAY OF JUDGMENT!

Now we know that those not found in the book of life
will be put into FIRE, and they will be TORMENTED

This is certainly part of this judgment

But it is not literal fire

Literal fire burns up physical things
and literal fire cannot harm spiritual things

So what does the fire do or accomplish? ...MUCH!

This judgment in Revelation 20
IS that worldwide judgment spoken of in many prophecies

But is the purpose of this worldwide judgment
to torture people by burning their flesh in real fire for all eternity?

Is that HOW God judges in "righteousness"?

Absolutely not

We just read where God burns up our fleshly WORKS,
and this is "tormenting" for sure

But God does not torture our flesh for all eternity

Don’t get me wrong,
there will be severe chastisements
on those who despise God and His Savior and His Gospel

But out of their ashes will come salvation!!

Here is another marvelous Scripture
which answers what happens to sinning humanity
when God JUDGES THE WORLD in righteousness

"For he [GOD] bringeth down them that dwell on high;
the lofty city, he layeth it low, HE LAYETH IT LOW,
even to the ground, he bringeth it even to the dust" (Isa 26:5)

Make no mistake, God will judge the wicked with great severity

However, ALWAYS FOR A BENEVOLENT PURPOSE:

"With my soul have I desired thee in the night;
yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early:
for when Thy judgments are in the earth,
THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD
WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Isaiah 26:9)!!

There will come a time
when those who only knew
how to blaspheme the name of God,
will come to LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS

They will not just "hear" of righteousness,
no, they will actually "LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS"!

The whole book of Isaiah
speaks of judgments on Israel and on the nations

But the end of all these judgments
is SALVATION TO ALL

Notice Isa 45:22-23,

"Look unto me,
and BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH:
for I am God, and there is none else
I have sworn by Myself,
the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness
[as in, ‘For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;
Who WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth,’ I Tim. 2:3-4] ,
and shall not return,
That unto me EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW,
EVERY TONGUE SHALL SWEAR"
(See also: Phil 2: 9-11 & 1Cor 12:3)

God’s words will NOT return empty or void

When God speaks, it will be done
When God wills, it will be done
When God desires, His desires WILL BE DONE:

"Declaring the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
saying,
MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND,
and I WILL DO ALL MY PLEASURE ...
I have spoken it,
I WILL ALSO BRING IT TO PASS;
I HAVE PURPOSED IT, I WILL ALSO DO IT" (Isa 46:10-11)

Oh the blasphemy of those who teach
that God’s most heartfelt desires
WILL NOT COME TO PASS,
but will utterly fail!!!

Jesus Christ is not the "potential" Saviour of the world;

HE IS THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD!!!
HE WILL SAVE THE WORLD!!!

How many self-appointed, bible-thumping,
doomsday, fire and brimstone, eternal torture in hell preachers
believe these verses in Isaiah?

Not one that I know of!

Most Christians have never been taught
the Scriptures that I am giving you

These things are despised by many
who call themselves "Christian"

And yet, God’s Word is FULL
of such statements of God’s salvation to all