Tag: Ezekiel

You Can’t Earn Grace

Part Two: Grace Is God’s Gift (Is the Punishment Fair?)

Acts 15: 11

But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are.”

Now, don’t think grace is something you can earn. This is God’s gift, His divine love and protection bestowed freely upon mankind.

Now to flip this over, if you think that because your mother, father, wife, husband, son or daughter is living a Godly life and (because they are part of your family) that their blessing will fall on you, you’re wrong. Remember, we are all accountable for ourselves!

Ezekiel 18: 13

… and charges interest and takes [a percentage of] increase on what he has loaned; will he then live? He will not live! He has done all these disgusting things, he shall surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

In Ezekiel 18: 13, the question is answered. “Will he then live? He will not live!” This is not only a physical death, but a spiritual death of your soul.

God is a God of love, but He is also a God of perfect justice. His perfect love causes Him to be merciful to those who recognize their sin and turn back to Him. But He cannot wink or turn His head at those who willingly sin.

God takes no joy in anyone’s death. He prefers that we turn to Him and have eternal life. Do not rejoice in the misfortune of unbelievers. Do all you can to bring them into God’s house.

Now if you are living on the edge and you think you’ve found a loophole in God’s law, you are wrong. God’s law and ways are only one way. His way is love for one another.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Acts Chapter 15

Ezekiel Chapter 18

Read Part One of the Sermon, Is the Punishment Fair?

Is the Punishment Fair?

Part One: That Isn’t Fair! In Reality, God Is Fair.

Ezekiel 18: 19-20

“Yet do you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s sin?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and has done them, he shall certainly live. 20 The person who sins [is the one that] will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the sin of the father, nor will the father bear the punishment for the sin of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on himself.

We will say “This isn’t fair, why am I being punished?” Some people feel that are bearing someone else’s punishment. This can be true when we follow their ways.

If we are living in sin because we were raised in it, we don’t have to continue when we learn that it’s wrong. Once we put The Bible in our hands and read the Word or listen to a preacher of God’s Word, we begin to know the truth.

Now the people of Judah believed they were being punished for the sins of their ancestors, not their own sin. Now if you do, think, or are living wrong, and you know that you are, who can you blame? No one but yourself!

If you think that someone in your family has been living in sin and you are bearing the punishment for it, you are wrong. God judges each and every person individually!

Psalm 7: 8

The Lord judges the peoples; Judge me, O Lord, and grant me justice according to my righteousness and according to the integrity within me.

God searches our minds and hearts. Nothing is hidden from God. This can be either terrifying or comforting. It can be terrifying because you can’t hide or lie to God when you stand before Him. Likewise, it can be comforting if you know that His grace and mercy is freely given.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Ezekiel Chapter 18

Psalm Chapter 7

Read Other Sermons From The Gospel Mailman:

The Great Shepherd Restores the Soul

Part One: Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd

Part Two: God Is With Me; I Will Fear No Evil

Part Three: Jesus Prepared Your Place At the Table

God Has Committed to Forgiving Your Sin

Scripture: Ezekiel 33: 16-19

None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced that which is just (fair) and right; he will most certainly live. “Yet your people [who are in exile in Babylon] say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right;’ but as for them, it is their own way that is not right. 18 When the righteous turns back from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will also die because of it.  But when a wicked man turns back from his wickedness and practices what is just (fair) and right, he will live because of it. 

Scripture Commentary:

I have lived a foolish, wicked life of sin. And the God who loves me, had mercy on me, and has forgiven me. He has committed to forgiving my sin!

How does that sound to you? Your question is likely how, why, and what have I done for God to do this?

(Answer) Did you turn your sinful life around? You can’t be half-and-half and hope God will only look at the good side. Although good deeds won’t save you (only Jesus’s death and resurrection does that!), your salvation will lead you to rightness.

God sees the totality to who you are.

God expects you to make restitution for the wrongs you commit. If you repent and turn to Him, He will wipe your slate clean. He looks at what you are and what you will become, not what you have been.

God gives you the opportunity to turn to Him. Will you take Him up on it? God is waiting for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Ezekiel Chapter 33

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Ezekiel:

The Lord Will Answer You

Do You Listen To God Or To Yourself?

God Breaks Down Stubborn Pride

Turn to the Lord Who Loves You

Scripture: Ezekiel 18: 30-32

“Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a  new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!

Scripture Commentary: Turn to God for a new direction.

Ezekiel’s solution to the problem of inherited guilt is for each person to change their life and turn to God. We cannot change our lives on our own, but only through God’s work in us. The Holy Spirit changes us, as said in Psalm 51: 10-12.

If we renounce our life’s direction toward sin and rebellion and turn to God, he will give us a new direction. He will love us in a way we’ve never experienced, and he will equip us with the power to change.

You can begin by faith, by trusting in God’s power of love.

His perfect love causes him to be merciful to those who recognize their sin and turn back to him, but he cannot wink at those who willfully sin. Wicked people die both physically and spiritually. God takes no joy in their deaths. He prefers that they turn to him and have eternal life.

Likewise, we should not rejoice in the misfortunes of nonbelievers.  We should do all in our power to bring nonbelievers to the faith.

God loves you!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 18

Additional Reading:
Psalms Chapter 51

We Need a New Heart and a New Spirit to Live Right by God

Scripture: Ezekiel 18: 30-32

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. 

Scripture Commentary: Create in me a new heart, O God

God gives everyone a moral compass, a way to distinguish good from evil and right from wrong. When you do something wrong you tell God that you are deviating from his path. The wrong action calls for punishment, and we almost always believe it is unfair. We call God unfair when in reality we need to live up to his ways of fairness and follow the path he has set for us.  We need to take on a new heart and a new spirit according to God’s ways.

Our God is a God of love and perfect justice.

He shows mercy on those who recognize their sin and ask for forgiveness, but he cannot tolerate those who knowingly go against him.

Wicked people die both spiritually and physically.

God takes no joy in these deaths. He would prefer they turn away from their ways and do good. He wants to give them a life of love.

What do you choose?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 18

Additional Reading: 
Psalms Chapter 51

 

What You Do in the Dark Eventually Comes to Light

Scripture: Ezekiel 8: 11-12

And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Ja-az-a-ni’-ah the son of Sha’-phan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth.

Scripture Commentary: God sees all the dirty deeds we do in the dark.

Why do people do in the dark what they conceal from the light? People hide their actions in shame of their wrongdoing. There is no hiding from God. What we do in the light or dark, good or bad, God sees.

Those who recognize their error but continue practicing it embrace idolatry and wickedness. Are you allowing sin to control you?

Identify your weakness and turn to God for strength.

In this chapter, God reveals to Ezekiel the extent to which people embraced idolatry and wickedness. Look at yourself and see where you went wrong. Let God’s spirit work in you to reveal the sin lurking in your life. Learn from the Bible, identify your weakness and turn to God for strength.

The Bible continues telling us how people lost their way and how God, in mercy, accepted them again.

It is not too late to repent.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 8

The Lord Will Answer You

Scripture: Ezekiel 14: 6-7

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself… 

Scripture Commentary: Go to God with a pure heart for the Lord will answer you.

People today behave in a manner similar to the Israelites in the Bible.   We go to the Lord for things instead of worship. Sometimes we seek advice from ministers, but we have ulterior motives.  Of this, God says, “I the Lord will answer him by myself.”  He tells us to repent and turn from our idols.

If you do not go to God with a pure heart, you are placing idols between you and God. Do not go to God until you repent and ask for his mercy and forgiveness. Humble yourself before him, be sincere.

You can’t fool God.

God knows what is in your heart, so you cannot fool him at all. You can’t have idols in your heart when you pursue God. Things like reputation, acceptance, wealth, and sensual pleasure are held in our hearts with the intensity and commitment that should be reserved for serving God.

We are weak and have the potential to fall into idolatry.

Let God replace your sinful wants. He will be your pillar of strength. You are responsible for your own relationship with God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 14

God Breaks Down Stubborn Pride

Scripture: Ezekiel 2: 4-5

The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’  And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Scripture Commentary: A stubborn nature drives us backward, not forward

God gave Ezekiel the difficult responsibility of presenting His message to ungrateful and abusive people.  God called the people “obstinate and stubborn” because they refused to admit their sin.  Even when God pointed out their wrongdoing, the people ignored the truth. Are we turning a blind eye to our sins?

As Christians, we are an example of God’s Word. We must live as He tells us to live. The Lord told Ezekiel not to be afraid, but to speak His words even if the people would not listen.

God will not judge us for how well others respond to our faith, but for how faithful we are

We do not have to fear rejection or ridicule when God’s spirit is within us. He does not give us a task too large to handle, and He is always watching over us when we go onto the battlefield for him. God’s strength is powerful enough to help us live for Him even under the heaviest criticism.

God always gives us the strength to accomplish what He asks us to do. When God talks, we must listen.

Are you ready to hear the Word of God?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel 2

 

Do You Listen to God or to Yourself?

Scripture: Ezekiel 2: 1, 4, 7

He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” (1)  The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ (4)  You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. (7)

Scripture Commentary: Love the Lord your God and listen to his voice and hold fast to Him*

Do you listen to God or to yourself?  Are you rebellious, impudent and hardhearted?  God knows the true answer, so be honest.  If you have an open and obedient attitude, God will fill you with His spirit and power so that you can accomplish the job He has for you.

We’re living in the same times as Ezekiel, with people living in sin and saying that it’s OK.  Men with men, women with women, stealing, lying, and living only for oneself.

We are made from the dust of the ground yet God chooses to place within us His life and breath. And He asks us to serve Him.  How can we serve God and live in sin?  We are weak, but living for God will strengthen us for the purpose He has for us.

The Lord told Ezekiel not to be afraid.  Ezekiel was to speak His words whether or not the people listened.  God doesn’t expect us to understand everything about Him.  We are to be willing and obedient servants, faithful to what we know is true, right and Godly.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel 2

Additional Reading Also Referenced:
Deuteronomy 30

The Wicked Find No Favor With God

Scripture: Ezekiel 18: 24

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Scripture Commentary: Sooner or later,  wicked people are punished

A typical childish response to punishment is to say, “That’s not fair!”  In reality God is fair but when we sin, we have broken the rules.  It is not God who must live up to our idea of fairness; instead, it is we who must live up to his.

God is the God of love but He is also the God of perfect justice.  His perfect love causes Him to be merciful to those who recognize their sins and turn back to Him but He cannot wink or ignore those who willfully sin.

Wicked people die not only physically but also spiritually.  God takes no joy in their deaths.  He would prefer that they turn to Him and have eternal life.

Step forward in faith and work to live up to God’s standards

If you renounce your life’s direction of sin and rebellion and turn to God, He will give you a new direction, a new love, and a new power to change.

Don’t spend your time looking for the loopholes in God’s law.  Instead, live up to God’s standards.  You can begin in faith, trusting in God’s power to change your heart and mind.  Then determine to live each day with Him, and by being attuned, you will feel the strength of His love for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 18