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: These words of the prophet relate immediately to the first advent. They naturally lead our thoughts to the second advent. I. LAY BEFORE YOU SOME OF THE SOLEMNITIES OF THAT GREAT DAY. 1. The actual coming of the Lord, or His appearance in His human nature. (1) This revelation of Jesus Christ will be visible to the universal assembly of the human race. (2) It will be unspeakably glorious. 2. The resurrection of the dead. The bodies of the unnumbered millions, who through succeeding ages have inhabited the globe, wherever laid, or however consumed, will be restored to life, and reunited to their immortal souls; that, with them, they may participate their happiness or misery. 3. The general judgment. "The books shall be opened." The book of the Divine law: of God's omniscience; the book of life. 4. The assignment of an endless doom. Our departure into everlasting punishment, or our admission into life eternal. II. CONSIDER THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OF THE TEXT. 1. The profane scoffer will not be able to abide that day. 2. Neither will that numerous class of persons, who live in the habitual practice of open and flagrant sin, be able to stand before the Judge. 3. Nor that more respectable class who, nevertheless, are wholly devoted to the world. 4. Nor those who pay attention to the duties of religion in a proud and self-complacent spirit. 5. Nor those who acknowledge that salvation is of. grace, but forget that we are created in Christ Jesus "unto good works." They insist much on faith, but are lamentably deficient in its fruits. Who then may abide the day of His coming? Only the Christian who is worthy of the name. The man absolved by the Judge is one who, condemned by himself for his transgressions, has deeply repented and sought pardon on the ground of Christ's meritorious obedience unto the death of the Cross, and works out his salvation with fear and trembling. (John Natt, B. D.) 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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