People often portray Christ as a kind of hippy, love everyone type of "good guy" in order to fit Him into their idea of what God should be. This is a dangerous and untrue thought process.
In my Bible study this morning, this was brought home. I have been slowly going through the book of Malachi, and today I was focusing on Malachi 2:17-3:5. In the first part of Malachi, God has been letting Israel have it for their lack of faith, and their deceitful ways. He has pointed out how they have turned from God and are practicing a kind of false worship. Then in chapter 3, He reminds Israel of the coming Messiah. He then asks: "But who can endure the day of His coming?" Mal. 3:2. It goes on to describe Christ's return as a refiner's fire, one that purifies. It will weed out all evil so that only a pure offering will remain. That offering is Christ's church.
Many try to say that the Old Testament God and the New Testament God don't match up. They point out things like Malachi talking of God's wrath, and then try to portray Jesus in the New Testament as only love and accepting of all. But look at Matthew 23:1-39. Here you see a similar display of anger and wrath, and words of judgment. He is still the refining God of the Old Testament. He is still angry about false worship and idolatry.
"For I am the Lord, I do not change..." Malachi 3:6
Thankfully, although we are all worthy of His anger, He has provided salvation to ALL who will seek it. That salvation is through faith in Christ and His work on the cross, and that alone. (John 10:1-30)
"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:9-10
"I and My Father are one" John 10:30
Christ is love. But you cannot define that love by our frail, human terms. His is a righteous, timeless love. One that demands refinement in His holy flame.
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