Sovereign Grace Church

…He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness

(Malachi 3:3)

What blessed words are here contained in this verse. May God grant both the writer and the reader of this article, grace to see and understand the gospel of our Salvation declared in this verse, and be comforted in Christ.

“…He shall sit…”

The prophet sets forth here in these words that our Sovereign Redeemer will finish the saving work of His people. The prophet declares “He shall sit”. Paul writes, in fulfillment of this gospel promise, that our God and King, Christ the Lord “sat down” (Hebrews 1:3, 10:12).
Perhaps you’ve heard the expression ‘stop sitting on the job’, it carries with it the idea that someone has unfinished work to do, and rather than finish it, lazily sits around. Beloved, when Paul tells us that our blessed Lord “sat down”, he is declaring the gospel of our salvation. Everything a sinner like me, and a sinner like you, desperately needs to be saved before our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus has accomplished! A full and complete pardon of sins, and a perfect spotless righteousness that lacks nothing. Our Lord declared “It is finished” (John 19:30). Beloved “ye are complete in HIM”! (Colossians 2:10)

“…He shall purify…”

Throughout this verse the prophet sets forth our salvation, by telling us plainly that “He shall purify”! What gospel comfort is here contained for you beloved. Do you remember what the angel of the Lord declared to Joseph? “[Mary] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Beloved, the Holy Spirit, tells us through His servant Paul that our Lord Jesus (The brightness of the Father’s glory, the express image of the Father’s person, the One who upholds everything) “by Himself purged our sins” (Hebrews 1:3). Beloved, “All things were made by [Christ]; and without Him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Our God, Christ Jesus the Lord, whom the prophet declared “SHALL SIT” and “SHALL PURIFY” — has “SAT DOWN”! Beloved, He has by Himself “PURIFIED” us from all our sins. Ye sons of Levi, rejoice! He has “by himself purged our sins.”