Our God is a Consuming Fire, Holiness

[sontrans]

Our God is a consuming fire. Fire consumes. It comsumes the fuel used to kindle it. In the OT, the sacrifices made in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness had to be done in a very certain way, carefully, without error. If one thing done was not done exactly as the Lord commanded it to be done then the one offering it was killed by the Lord Himself. But if all were done correctly, FIRE would come down from heaven and consume the sacrifice. Today, in the NT era, WE as Christians are the living sacrifice, wholly, completely, and the guidelines for such sacrifice is likewise ordered by the Lord. If our sacrifice, is not done according to scripture, God's way (not mans) then the result of that sacrifice will be the death of one's soul in judgment. But also lilkewise to the OT sacrifice, if our NT sacrifice is done in accordance with NT guidelines, God will send fire from heaven (the baptism of the Holy Ghost) and consume our sacrifice (will consume US). We become consumed with zeal, with Holiness, with deep love of God and intense desire to serve Him through obedience to His word. We have cast off the desires and carnal lusts of this world and our minds and hearts are fixed on Him. We are consumed. And what happens, is that which is being consumed by fire, becomes the fire itself!
Just as wood eventually becomes the flame, so are we to become more and more 'God-like' in the process of consumption. Truly becoming 'ONE' with the flame.

[Bondslavenchrist]

Amen Steve.

We could generate many ideas from what you have posted. A couple that come to mind are.

The very same fire that destroys and burns up also brings light and warth and comfort. To those who try to make God 2 different kinds of fire are not wise nor do they truly understand His nature and ways.

He brings comfort to those who are in agreement with Himself, who have come over to His way of doing things and He utterly destroys those who oppose Him.



The fuel does NOT burn forever, nor does the sacrifice. It does burn and is destroyed BUT it comes to its end and does NOT continue. This relates to Sanctification. He does bring it about and it does consume everything that is not in agreement with God. BUT it does not last forever, nor does it even last our lifetimes. We can, if we choose to be in agreement with Himself. end the brung quickly, coming into Oneness with Him NOW, and not waiting until the end of our lives.

The Cross actually does kill! It does NOT keep the victim alive for many years until they die of natural causes. It kills relatively quickly as long as we truly remain on that Cross!

a bondslave in Christ Jesus, Dirk