Sovereign Grace Doctrine - Grounded In Biblical Truth
	Concerning 'The Gospel' - Lord Jesus Christ
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Christ Manifested in "A Flame of Fire"
Exodus 3:2
Good News From The Redeemer

Sermon by Pastor Daniel Parks
Radio Message #306 - February 12, 2000

In the well-known account of Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-4:17) we read: "And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush" (3:1f). We previously observed that this "Angel of Jehovah" was Christ. Our present focus of attention is on the fact that this Angel "appeared to [Moses] in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush."

I. Fire is rightly associated with an appearance of Christ.

1. Fire provides light. Christ is "the brightness of [God's] glory" (Hebrews 1:3). Those who "beheld His glory" described it as "the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of truth and grace" (John 1:14). And He declares "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12; cp. 9:5; John 1:9).

2. Fire provides warmth. Those who have heard Christ with understanding acknowledge, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us …, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32). Spiritual coldness is dispersed by the heart-warming words of Christ

3. Fire purifies. Christ is the "Sun of Righteousness … with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4:2). Through faith in Him, sinners are cleansed of all their spiritual defilement and receive His imputed righteousness (Romans 3:21ff).

4. Fire consumes. Whereas Christ in His grace provides light and warmth and purification to His people, He in wrath consumes the wicked. His people are therefore assured that when they are confronted by the wicked "that the LORD your God is He who goes before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you" (Deuteronomy 9:3; cp. 4:24; Hebrews 12:29). And the wicked shall be burned as chaff by Christ at the final judgment (Matthew 3:12). "[W]hen the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels," He is described as "in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:7f).

II. This fire in particular is rightly associated with Christ. Why? Although this fire engulfed the bush, it miraculously did not harm even its tenderest twig or most delicate bud! The same divine fire which consumes the wicked blesses the righteous.

III. Christ therefore often manifested Himself with fire. (Note well that every appearance of God in the Old Testament is in the person of the second member of the Trinity, God the Son.)

1. When He led Israel through the wilderness, "the LORD went before them … by night in a pillar of fire to give them light" (Exodus 13:21). Christ will not leave His people in darkness.

2. When He entered into a covenant with Israel, "Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire" (Exodus 19:18; 24:17). Christ hereby teaches us to treat sacred things with great respect, lest we suffer His burning wrath (19:11-13).

3. When Manoah and his wife made a sacrifice to Him, "the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar" (Judges 13:20f). Similarly, the intercessions of Christ ascend to heaven with the prayers of His people from their altar (Revelation 8:3f).

4. When Solomon dedicated the temple, "fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple" (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). Christ hereby shows His acceptance of sacrifices - including those of our bodies (Romans 12:1) and our praise (Hebrews 13:15).

5. When He revealed Himself in His initial vision to Ezekiel, He had "the appearance of fire all around" (Ezekiel 1:27). Christ reveals Himself in light and glory (John 1:14).

6. As He presently walks in the midst of His churches, He has "eyes like a flame of fire" (Revelation 1:14; 2:18). He hereby manifests the light, warmth, and purification He has for believers.

7. When He returns to earth, "His eyes [will be] like a flame of fire" (Revelation 19:12). He hereby will manifest His consuming wrath upon the ungodly.

Does Christ's fire enlighten and warm and purify you? Or will it consume you because of your unbelief?

Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205

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