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Fire, and the Redeemed (Their perfect exemption, protection and standing in Christ).
Let us take the illustration found in Dan. 3:
The overweening pride of
Nebuchadnezzar left the three friends of Daniel no alternative but to disobey his
commands, even though the consequence of disobedience was to be cast into a "burning
fiery furnace". To ensure their destruction Nebuchadnezzar commanded that the furnace
be heated seven times more than was wont, and so vehement was its flame that the men
who took up the faithful three were themselves instantly slain, but Shadrach, Meshach
and Abed-nego, though they "fell down bound" in the midst of such a fiery furnace, were
seen walking unscathed together with one like unto the Son of God, and, as
Nebuchadnezzar admitted, "they have no hurt". What is meant by having "no hurt" is
made clear in Dan. 3: 27:
"These men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head
singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them."
That is what we meant when we used the word asbestos for the perfect immunity of
the believer "in Christ". They are an anticipation of those who shall not be "hurt" of the
second death. Isaiah assured the "redeemed" of this immunity when he wrote:
"When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame
kindle upon thee" (Isa. 43: 2).
Just as we find Daniel pondering over the writings of Jeremiah (Dan. 9: 2) so we can
readily believe that the three friends found all the encouragement they needed in the
precious words of Isa. 43:, when facing the ordeal of fire set by Nebuchadnezzar.
Again, as space is limited, we have no need to "prove" to the Spirit taught believer
this blessed position of complete immunity demonstrated by Dan. 3: and prominent in
Isa. 43: as being equally true of all believers. We therefore turn our attention to the
second division of this aspect of truth.
Fire, and the Redeemed (The test of faith and of works).
"The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though
it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 1: 7).
Here, it is not salvation that is under the test, it is the "trial of faith". The Greek word
dokimion "trial" and dokimazo "tried" have reference to the testing of metals; indeed the
LXX of Prov. 27: 21 uses dokimion to translate the word "a fining pot" or "crucible"
and Job said "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23: 10). Peter
again speaks of "the fiery trial" that was about to try some of his readers (I Pet. 4: 12).
Paul writing to the Corinthians makes it very clear, that those who are building upon the
One Foundation, namely Christ, while never in danger of "being lost", might "suffer
loss" as over against "receiving a reward", and uses the trial by fire to illustrate his
teaching:
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it
shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any