FYI: Ruminations sent out weekly before Sunday. To make use thoughts & allow Holy Spirit to help you to take part
Prayer Request: grand-niece age 5 suffered stroke & in ICU. Pray recovery, no brain damage & left side unaffected.
Ezekiel 18
By Ung
Part 1a: The Proverb of Father’s Sour Grapes (Jun 19, 2016)
Individual responsibility & righteousness
Case 1: The righteous father who does right (Ezekiel 18:5-9)
Case 2: The rebellious son of a righteous father (Ezekiel 18:10-13)
Case 3: The righteous son of a riotous father (Ezekiel 18:14-18)
1. The law governing repentance (18:19-23)
– Can a righteous son redeem his riotous father?
No (and vice versa no)
– Repentant sinner can live
– Resolves to do God’s law
– Results: he shall surely live & not die
– Safe by works? No
– God rejoices when a sinner repents
2. The law governing rebellion (apostasy) (18:24)
– The “righteous” man who turns back & continues in his past sin
– The sad condition: none of his righteous deeds will be remembered
– Consequence: the man will die – there had been no redemption
– Can a Christian lose his salvation? No. Must rise above religious ritual righteousness
– Can a Christian turn apostate? No. They gave the appearance but were never Christians.
3. The Logical Review (18:25-32)
– God’s challenge & rebuke
– God’s law concerning rebellion
– God’s law condoning the repentant sinner: just & fair
– Livid repetition & emphasis – God’s way is just & man’s way is unjust
– God’s plan
- Repent
- Remove
- Receive
- Reflect
- Recognise
- Resolve
Relevant Qs for Today
Q: What can righteousness in Ezekiel mean?
Outward ceremonial religiousness of person (not necessarily referring righteousness we receive from God)
Q: What can “die” mean?
“but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”” -Genesis 2:17
Q: Can a Christian lose his standing in Christ?
Hands grasping you. Permanently saved. You cannot be snatched out by force.
Q: Can a “Christian” apostatise?
A Christian is born again
Can an unborn Christian be unborn?
Matthew 7:21-23
Summary: Individual responsibility & righteousness