Ezekiel 18
False statement condemned by the LORD verse 1- 4
The word of the LORD came unto me again
saying
What mean you
that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel
saying
The fathers have eaten sour grapes
and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
As I live – says the Lord GOD
you shall not have occasion any more
to use this proverb in Israel
BEHOLD – all souls are MINE
as the soul of the father
so also the soul of the son is MINE
the soul that sins – it shall die
LORD states that the just shall live verse 5- 9
BUT if a man be just – and do that which is lawful and right
AND has not eaten upon the mountains
neither has lifted up his eyes to the
idols of the house of Israel
neither has defiled his neighbor’s wife
neither hath come near to a menstruous woman
and has not oppressed any but has restored
to the debtor his pledge
has spoiled none by violence
has given his bread to the hungry
has covered the naked with a garment
He that has not given forth upon usury
neither has taken any increase
that has withdrawn his hand from iniquity
has executed true judgment
between man and man
has walked in MY statutes
and has keep MY judgments
to deal truly
HE IS JUST – HE SHALL SURELY LIVE
says the Lord GOD
LORD states that the wicked must die verse 10- 13
If he beget a son that is a robber – a shedder of blood
and that does the like to any one of these things
AND that does not any of those duties
BUT even has eaten upon the mountains
and defiled his neighbor’s wife
has oppressed the poor and needy
has spoiled by violence
has not restored the pledge
has lifted up his eyes to the idols
has committed abomination
has given forth upon usury
and has taken increase
SHALL HE LIVE?
He shall not live – he has done all these abominations
he shall surely die – his blood shall be upon him
LORD states son will not be judged for sins of father verse 14- 18
Now – lo – if he beget a son
that sees all his father’s sins which he has done
and considers
and does not such like
that has not eaten upon the mountains
neither has lifted up his eyes
to the idols of the house of Israel
has not defiled his neighbor’s wife
neither hath oppressed any
has not withheld the pledge
neither hath spoiled by violence
BUT has given his bread to the hungry
and has cover the naked with a garment
that has taken off his hand from the poor
that has not received usury nor increase
has executed MY judgments
has walked in MY statutes
He shall not die for the iniquity of his father
he shall surely live
As for his father – because he cruelly oppressed
spoiled his brother by violence
and did that which is not good among his people
lo – even he shall die in his iniquity
LORD states that if wicked turn from sin – live verse 19- 22
Yet say you – WHY?
Does not the son bear the iniquity of the father?
When the son has done that which is lawful and right
and has kept all MY statutes and has done them
HE SHALL SURELY LIVE
The soul that sins – it shall die
The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father
neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son
the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him
and the wickedness of the wicked
shall be upon him
BUT if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed
and keep all MY statutes
and do that which is lawful and right
he shall surely live – he shall not die
all his transgressions that he has committed
they shall not be mentioned to him
In his righteousness that he has done
he shall live
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?
say the Lord GOD
And not that he should return from his ways and live?
LORD states that if righteous turn to sin – die verse 24
BUT when the righteous turns away from his righteousness
and commits iniquity and does according to all the
abominations that the wicked man does
shall he live?
All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned
in his trespass that he hath trespassed
and in his sin that he has sinned
in them shall he die
LORD states that we can’t blame HIM verse 25- 29
Yet you say – The way of the Lord is not equal
Hear now – O house of Israel
Is not MY way equal?
Are not your ways unequal?
When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness
and commits iniquity – and dies in them
for his iniquity that he has done shall he die
AGAIN – when the wicked man turns away
from his wickedness
that he has committed
and does that which is lawful and right
he shall save his soul alive
BECAUSE he considers
and turns away from all his transgressions
that he has committed
he shall surely live – he shall not die
Yet says the house of Israel
The way of the Lord is not equal
O house of Israel – are not MY ways equal?
Are not your ways unequal?
LORD will judge all according to their actions verse 30- 32
THEREFORE I will judge you – O house of Israel
every one according to his ways – says 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
whereby you have transgressed
MAKE you a NEW HEART and a NEW SPIRIT
for why will you die – O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies
says the Lord GOD
wherefore TURN yourselves
and live you
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 Behold, all souls are MINE; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is MINE: the soul that sins, it shall die. (5315 “soul” [nephesh] means life, person, mind, heart, breath, living being, human being, appetite, emotions, will, activity of the character or inner being of man.)
DEVOTION: Every individual who has ever lived or will live has to answer to the LORD for all the actions in their life. Every action is known to the LORD. HE knows us from before the foundation of the world. There are no surprises from God’s perspective. HE knows the beginning to the end of our lives.
We are judged by our actions. If we chose a life of sin HE is going to judge accordingly. If we chose to become a follower of HIM HE knows that as well. Our actions determine our place after death.
Those who are in proper relationship with the LORD will spend eternity in heaven. Those who don’t have a proper relationship with the LORD will spend eternity in the lake of fire. HE is the judge. HE will always judge righteously.
Do we completely understand our relationship to the LORD and HIS relationship to us? NO!! HE is omniscient and we are not. Sometimes we might think it would be good for the LORD to come down or send an angel down to us and give us daily instructions, so that we would know where we stand with HIM. HE DOES DO THAT THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ONCE WE BECOME A GENUINE BELIEVER.
HE has given us the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT within us if we are a believer and we are supposed to listen to HIM on a daily basis as we pray and study the Word of God.
Here we find the LORD making a statement regarding the FACT that every individual has to answer to HIM. HE states that there are consequences to sin. For a believer one of the consequences is an early death if we are not willing to confess our sin and turn from living in sin.
There is a difference between sinning and living in sin from the perspective of God. HE knows that we sin daily and gives us the command to confess our sin and HE will forgive. If we chose as a believer to not confess, HE will send chastening our way and if we don’t listen to HIS chastening, HE will end our life. We will be saved yet so as by fire. If we confess our sin daily and keep short accounts with HIM
HE will continue to use us for HIS glory while we are here on this earth.
Death comes to all individuals. The judge of the world will then judge us according to our relationship to HIM. If we have a proper relationship, we will have rewards in heaven. If we don’t have a proper relationship with HIM we will spend eternity in a lake of fire where there are degrees of punishment as well.
Again we don’t completely understand what happens after death but we know that we are in HIS hands. If you are a believer you need to listen to the HOLY SPIRIT and the Word of God (BIBLE) now.
CHALLENGE: God is the final judge. What would HE do with us if we were to die today? HE gives us a choice!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9 Has walked in MY statutes, and has kept MY judgment, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord God. (6213 “deal” [asah] means to make, manufacture, to carry out or perform an action or course of action, apply, work, act with effect, or put in order)
DEVOTION: The LORD wants us to put in order our lives in a way that is pleasing to HIM. HE wants those who claim HIM as their God and Savior to live a life of obedience to the commands of HIM.
The children of Israel in the Old Testament were HIS people and HE gave them instructions as to what HE expected of them each day of their lives. If they were obedient to HIS commands, HE would bless them and protect them from their enemies.
Israel was not faithful most of the time. They would listen to and obey when there was times of trouble but as soon as things were going well they would follow false gods that they saw in the nations around them.
God would have to judge them and they would have to repent before they could be blessed again. It was a cycle that they would practice throughout their history. It is sad to read through the Old Testament and see them go from times of blessing to times of trials because they would not stay obedient to HIM.
Even today we are individuals who seem to be prone to wander from the LORD instead of staying faithful day in and day out.
The church from its beginning has had problems with sin because believers are tempted by the world, the flesh and the devil with the temptations to wander winning more than they should.
Why did it happen in the Old Testament and even today? It is because we are individuals who think that a little sin will not hurt us. We think that the LORD will forgive us no matter what we do but HE will also send judgment to bring us back to a proper relationship with HIM.
Our nature as created beings is to think wrongly regarding sin in our life. We think HE has forgiven us in the past and will in the future but faithfulness is what HE wants from us.
So, is our salvation genuine or not? HE knows! Consistency is what HE would like in HIS servants in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament time. Our goal should be to be consistent followers of HIM with confession as we sin and a return to an obedient walk with HIM.
CHALLENGE: Where are you today in your relationship with HIM? Are you faking it or are you a genuine follower of HIM? If genuine, consistency is necessary to receive HIS blessing. This only happens as we keep short account with HIM.
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: 20 The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (5771 “iniquity” [awon] means punishment, fault, mischief, sin, perversity, depravity, activity that is crooked or wrong, or an offense against law of God.)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel were complaining that they were suffering for the sins of their fathers and not their own sins. They thought God was unfair in HIS treatment of them.
We know that the sins of the father visit to the third or fourth generation according to the Word of God. But sometimes we don’t understand the meaning of this statement.
There are family sins. When we read the story of Abraham we find that he told his wife Sarah to lie for him regarding their relationship. Isaac did the same with his wife. Next we find that Jacob or Israel did the same with his father. He tricked him by lying to him regarding his true identity. This can be found in other places in the Word of God. There are besetting sins in each family that can be overcome with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Here we find that the children of Israel thought God was unfair because they were going into captivity because of their father’s sin. They had wrong thinking.
The LORD gave Ezekiel the message that everyone is judged for their own sin. If a child continues the family sin he can’t use the excuse that his parent taught him to do this sin. He had a choice as far as the LORD was concerned. They didn’t have to worship false gods because their father’s did. They could have listened to the prophets who told them the true way to worship the LORD. They just took the easier path.
Each of us are going to be judged for the sins we commit. God is always just. The righteous will not suffer for the sins of their parents or their children. They will be rewarded for their righteousness. The wicked will be rewarded for their sin.
Don’t blame others for your sins. The LORD gives each of us power through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to overcome any besetting sin our family might pass down to us.
CHALLENGE: We can do ALL things through Christ who gives us strength. Even overcome family sin.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel? (7993 “Cast away” [shalak] means to throw, hurl, scatter, make a linear motion, abandon, fling, or shed.)
DEVOTION: This chapter is dealing with the difference between righteous and wicked in the eyes of the LORD. There are actions that the righteous performs which are lawful and right. The wicked will act in the opposite direction.
The LORD makes it plain that people are judged for their own sins and not the sins of their parents. There are three generations covered in this chapter. The first generation was righteous. The second generation was wicked. And the third generation was righteous. Each generation was judged on its own merit.
The LORD is asking the children of Israel to shed their sins. There is a possibility that they can receive a new heart and a new spirit within them. The LORD asks why they would want to die in their sins.
The chapter gives us some standards the LORD had set for the behavior of the children of Israel. If they obeyed – they would live. If they disobeyed – they would die. HE would rather that they lived. HE wanted them to do what was “lawful and right.” HE wanted them to turn and repent.
The children of Israel were stating to the LORD that HE was unjust. They thought HIS judgments were wrong. HE told them that their actions were wrong and that they would be judged by their actions.
HE wants the same of us. We know what we are doing that is wrong in the sight of the LORD. The Bible instructs us what HE expects of us. Ezekiel instructed the children of Judah of their responsibility to the LORD.
If the wicked turn from their wickedness, their sins will not be mentioned again. Isn’t that a great promise? They were promised a new heart and a new Spirit.
Our relationship is based on the shed blood of Christ. Our fellowship is based on our actions. A warning needs to be given even today. Those who think that if they have a relationship with the LORD but their actions are wicked are probably thinking like the Israelites in this chapter. Our actions speak louder than our words!!!
The Psalmist asked for “fresh oil” from the LORD to help him face the trials the LORD allowed in his life. We can ask for a fresh moving of the Holy Spirit in our life as well as we face trials daily.
CHALLENGE: Repentance is necessary in every believer, so that, fellowship and blessings can come our way from the LORD. Throw your sins away to the Savior.)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1
Statutes verse 9, 17, 21
Judgments verse 9
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 3, 9, 23, 25, 29, 30, 32
GOD – Jehovah verse 3, 9, 23, 30, 32
Lord GOD verse 3, 9, 23, 30, 32
GOD owns all souls verse 4
Way of the Lord – equal verse 25, 29
Judge according to your ways verse 30
No pleasure in death verse 32
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sin verse 4, 14, 20, 21, 24
Eating sacrifices to idols verse 6, 11, 15
Lifting eyes to idols verse 6, 12, 15
Defile neighbor’s wife verse 6, 11, 15
Near a menstruous woman verse 6
Oppressed others verse 7, 12, 16, 18
Not restored pledge for loan verse 7, 12, 16
Violence verse 7, 12, 16, 18
Not feeding or clothing the poor verse 7
Charging interest on loans verse 8, 13
Iniquity verse 8, 17, 18, 20, 24, 26, 30
Robber verse 10
Shedder of blood verse 10
Abominations verse 12, 13, 24
Not restored the pledge verse 12
Father’s sins practiced by son verse 14
Wrong actions verse 18
Soul that sins shall die verse 20
Wicked verse 20, 21, 23, 24, 27
Transgressions verse 22, 28, 30, 31
Turn away from righteousness verse 24, 26
Trespass verse 24
Way of the wicked unequal verse 25
Wickedness verse 27
Ways unequal verse 29
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Just verse 5, 9
Do what is lawful verse 5, 19, 21, 27
Do what is right verse 5, 19, 21, 27
Restored the debtor’s pledge verse 7
Not spoiled an by violence verse 7
Feeding the hungry verse 7, 16
Given clothing to poor verse 7, 16
Not given with usury (interest) verse 8, 17
Execute true judgment verse 8, 9, 17
Walked in God’s statutes verse 9, 17, 19, 21
Deal truly with others verse 9, 17
Not commit father’s sins verse 14
Son does not bear the iniquity of father verse 18
Done what is lawful and right verse 19, 21, 27
Live verse 19
Not bear iniquity of father verse 20
Not bear iniquity of son verse 20
Righteous verse 20, 24, 26
Righteousness verse 20, 22, 24, 26
Turn verse 21, 27, 28, 30, 32
Do what is lawful verse 21
Forgiveness verse 22
Return verse 23
Righteous verse 24, 26
Turn from wickedness verse 27
Save soul verse 27
Ways equal verse 28
Repent verse 30
Cast away transgressions verse 31
New heart verse 31
New spirit verse 31
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Land of Israel verse 2, 3, 6, 15, 25, 29- 31
Fathers verse 2
Eaten sour grapes verse 2
House of Israel verse 6, 25, 29, 30, 31
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Die verse 4, 13, 21, 24, 28
Not die for the iniquity of his father verse 17
Die in his iniquity verse 18, 26
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QUOTES regarding passage
A basic principle is set forth at the conclusion of v.4: “The soul who sins is the one who will die.” Life and death in this context were not eternal but physical. One enters into eternal life by faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whether by looking forward in faith to his work on the cross, as did the OT saint, or in looking back in faith, as does the believer today. Doing the works of the Mosaic covenant never saved anyone, whether in the OT, NT, or today. Eternal salvation was always by faith alone (cf. Gen 15:6; Rom 4:5; Eph 2:8–9). The stipulations of the Mosaic covenant were given to a people who were already in a trusting relationship with God. These stipulations provided a concrete, practical outworking of faith in the God who redeemed Israel from Egypt and gave the people his law. Trust in him entailed the ritual of blood sacrifice as well as obedience to his commands. If they obeyed these commands, they would show their righteousness, receive God’s blessings, and live. But if they failed to live according to God’s ways as revealed in the law, the Mosaic covenant declared that even those who had believed in the Messiah would die physically (cf. Deut 28:58–66; 30:15–20). If, however, they had never trusted in their Messiah, portrayed in the sacrifices, then they would also die eternally. (Alexander, R. H. (1986). Ezekiel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 824). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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God saw that this false proverb had to be refuted. Yet, as with all false doctrines, a kernel of truth in the teaching made it seem plausible. In the Ten Commandments God indicated that He was “a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me” (Ex. 20:5). This same threat was repeated in Exodus 34:6–7 and Deuteronomy 5:9. Even Ezekiel had traced God’s coming judgment back to the people’s past actions (cf. Ezek. 16:15–29). But the point of these passages was that the effects of sin are serious and long-lasting, not that God capriciously punishes the innocent for their ancestors’ evil ways.
Blaming others for their misfortunes, the people were denying their own guilt. This was wrong because every individual is personally responsible to God. For every living soul belongs to Me, the father as well as the son. Those who are guilty will receive their own deserved punishment. The soul who sins is the one who will die (cf. 18:20). The people of Israel could not rightly charge God with injustice. (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Ezekiel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1260). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Where did Ezekiel’s listeners get the idea that God punished the children for the sins of their fathers? This philosophy came from two sources: (1) a misinterpretation of what the Lord had said in His law, that He visited the sins of the fathers upon the children (Ex. 20:5; 34:6–7; Num. 14:18; Deut. 7:9–10), and (2) the Jewish idea of the oneness of the nation. According to the Law of Moses, innocent animals could suffer and die for guilty sinners, but nowhere was it taught that innocent people should be punished for sins committed by guilty people. In fact, Moses taught just the opposite: “The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deut. 24:16, nkjv). The warning in Exodus 20:5 and 34:6–7 implies that the Lord punishes the children if they commit the sins their fathers committed. Furthermore, God also promised to bless those children who followed godly examples and obeyed the Lord (20:6; Deut. 7:9–10), so He gave promises of blessing as well as warnings of chastening.
As for the solidarity of the nation, the Jewish people did consider themselves one people who descended from Abraham. Since each tribe descended from one of the sons of Jacob, Israel claimed both national and tribal solidarity. If only one Israelite disobeyed the Lord, it was as though all Israel had sinned, as in the case of Achan (Josh. 7:1, 11; and see Josh. 22, especially vv. 18–20). Knowing this fact, the Jewish people concluded that the Babylonian invasion and the nation’s exile were the consequences of the sins of the previous generation.
Ezekiel answered the people’s objections and explained the truth about God’s judgment and justice by sharing some hypothetical situations and drawing some conclusions. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2000). Be reverent (pp. 84–85). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor/Cook Communications.)
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18:4 The soul who sins will die. God played no favorites, but was fair in holding each individual accountable for his own sin. The death is physical death which, for many, results in eternal death. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Eze 18:4). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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The people of Israel, notably Judah, at this time sought to impugn the righteousness of God in visiting temporal judgments upon them, on the ground that He was punishing them for the sins of their fathers; whereas they themselves were guiltless of any offences that deserved such drastic measures as God was taking with them, “The fathers,” they said, “have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.”
But God justified His governmental dealings with them from the very opposite standpoint. He was the moral Governor of the world. All men (souls) should be subject to Him because He created them all. He deals with each one individually according to his record or behavior. Therefore, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” This was what the law declared. God had said, “He that doeth these things shall live in them” (Leviticus 18:5). This was not a promise of eternal life in heaven, but of long life on the earth to him who was obedient to the divine law. The violation of that law exposed one to the penalty of death.
But God who is long-suffering and merciful did not visit this penalty upon the offender immediately. He left room for repentance and reformation of life, as so often illustrated in His dealings with men. So He shows how ready He is to pardon and set aside the immediate judgment of physical death if there be evidence of a changed attitude on the part of the offender. Wherever men are found who endeavor to do what is just and right toward God and their fellows, they are promised life even though none can claim to have kept the law in every point. (Ironside, H. A. (1949). Expository notes on Ezekiel, the prophet. (pp. 116–117). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 4. Behold, all souls are mine, &c.] By creation; they being the immediate produce of his power; hence he is called the Father of spirits, or the souls of men; these he has an apparent right unto; a property in; a dominion over; they are accountable to him, and will be judged impartially by him: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine; and therefore must be thought to have as great a respect and affection for the one as for the other; for the soul of a son as for the soul of a father; and not deal partially in favour of the one, and cruelly and unrighteously with the other: the soul that sinneth, it shall die; the soul that continues in sin, without repentance towards God, and faith in Christ, shall die the second death; shall be separated from the presence of God, and endure his wrath to all eternity: or the meaning is, that a person that is guilty of gross sins, and continues in them, shall personally suffer; he shall endure one calamity or another, as the famine, sword, pestilence, or be carried into captivity, which is the death all along spoken of in this chapter; the Lord will exercise no patience towards him, or defer punishment to a future generation, his offspring; but shall immediately execute it upon himself. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 87). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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Romans 8:2 The Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. These are two opposite laws or principles. The characteristic principle of the Holy Spirit is to empower believers for holy living. The characteristic principle of indwelling sin is to drag a person down to death. It is like the law of gravity. When you throw a ball into the air, it comes back down because it is heavier than the air it displaces. A living bird is also heavier than the air it displaces, but when you toss it up in the air, it flies away. The law of life in the bird overcomes the law of gravity. So the Holy Spirit supplies the risen life of the Lord Jesus, making the believer free from the law of sin and death. (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1708). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Running to Christ
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
When one realizes that he is lost and that only Christ can save him, he should not delay a moment but come immediately to Christ. There are, in fact, several men in the New Testament who actually ran to Him.
There was the man possessed with a whole legion of demons. “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him” (Mark 5:6), and Jesus set him free.
Then there was a young man who wanted to learn of Christ. When he found that Jesus was going away, he came “running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Unfortunately, his sincerity failed when he realized the cost. Zeal without sacrifice is dead, as is faith without works.
There was another wealthy man who was willing to pay the price. “And [Zacchaeus] ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way” (Luke 19:4). The conversion of Zacchaeus was genuine, and he demonstrated it by a changed and sacrificial life.
In Christ’s suffering on the cross, He spoke of His awful thirst, and an unknown observer “ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink” (Mark 15:36). Christ will not forget this expression of concern and sympathy.
After His burial, Mary Magdalene came back to tell Peter and John that the tomb was open. “So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. . . . and he saw, and believed” (John 20:4-8).
All who hasten wholeheartedly to Christ, sincerely seeking to know and serve Him, will find salvation in His name, for “the name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem in hopes of fostering a livelihood.
INSIGHT
When Boaz, a noble and godly man, hears of Ruth’s noble and godly actions, he is moved with appreciation for the kind of person she is.
When he finds her gleaning in his fields, he bestows kindnesses on her. Ruth asks why he should take notice of her since she is a foreigner. Boaz replies that it is because of all that she has done for Naomi. The way we live our everyday lives communicates a “life message” to others. When we live for the Lord, that message is a beacon of light to others. (Quiet Walk)
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The Lord Our Maker
“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” (Psalm 95:6)
Psalms 95–100 seem to form a unit with several common themes running through them, all involving praise to the Lord.
One of these major themes is the recognition of the Lord as Maker of heaven and Earth. For example, consider Psalm 95:5: “The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.” Thus, God made the earth, including both land and sea. But He also made the heavens! “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5).
Higher and far more complex than any planet of the solar system, or any star in the heavens, are the living organisms found only on planet Earth—especially human beings—and He made these too. “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3).
It is significant that these verses all emphasize the activities of God as Maker, rather than as Creator. In the first chapter of Genesis, both types of activity are stressed, the account finally concluding with the summary: “All his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:3).
The two types of work are almost synonymous when referring to the divine activity, but not quite (otherwise “created and made” would be redundant). Specifically, the three acts of true creation in Genesis are the creation of the physical elements of the cosmos, the entity of biological life, and the spiritual image of God in man (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27). These entities God simply called into being, ex nihilo, by His omnipotent Word.
Everything else He made, or formed or let be, out of the three basic entities that were specially created. He is both Creator and Maker of all things, and we should worship Him as such. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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GOD’S JUDGMENT
…should not perish… John 3:16
Jesus taught about God the Father by showing God’s wrath against sin. “But what about John 3:16?” asks someone.
Listen to John 3:16, my friend. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish,” but apart from Him they would have perished; that is the only way to avoid perishing. Indeed, we also find in John 3 a statement that if a man does not believe, “the wrath of God abideth on him” (verse 36).
Part of our Lord’s teaching about the Father is that the Father is absolutely holy, that He hates sin and had pledged to destroy it and punish it with everlasting destruction. “Blessed,” He said, “are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). No one else can see God because only the pure in heart could stand the sight of Him. To look at God is hell to a man unless he has been made pure in heart—“…holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). So He revealed the character of the Father as a holy Father.
But Christ also told us about the Father’s love and compassion. That is why, He tells us, He came into the world—it was because of the love of God. He shows us this same love and compassion in His life. That is why He worked His miracles, not simply to heal the people, but to reveal, to manifest, His glory and the love and compassion of God. He said in effect, “If you do not believe My words, then as I do these things, see the Father in Me.” For this holy God is a God of love and compassion. As our Lord went about healing the sick and doing good, He told us that God is like that.
A Thought to Ponder: The Lord Jesus Christ revealed the character of the Father as a holy Father. (From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 128-129, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Temporary Difficulties
BY BARBARA RAINEY
Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy? JOB 30:25
You’ve been through the same type of difficulties your children are facing now, whether as preschoolers, school-age kids or teenagers. But have you forgotten what it was really like to be their age? When they suffer setbacks, are you there to give them the emotional support they need—from someone who’s been there?
Our oldest daughter, Ashley, tried out for the cheerleading squad three times in a row but failed to be chosen on each occasion. Still, she decided to give it one final effort during her junior year, and this time we went all out. I arranged for her to take lessons. I videotaped her practicing. Together we critiqued her moves. We prayed and prayed about it, feeling surer each time that God wanted her to make the team this year. It would give her a strong platform for influencing her public school for Christ.
But when the tryouts came around, she didn’t make it. This time, I was as heartbroken as she was. It seemed so unfair. We cried for hours, so upset that she had to endure this loss a fourth time in a row. I could have said to her, “Ashley, cheerleading really isn’t all that important. You’re making too much of a fuss over this.” But this was the most important thing in her life at the time, and she needed me to let her know it was okay for her to cry, to feel sad . . . even to wonder why God had said no again. Through an amazing set of circumstances, Ashley ended up being selected for the squad a week later. But as I look back on that experience now, I realize that the biggest thing God accomplished in our lives at that time was to knit our souls together, mother and daughter, in sorrow.
DISCUSS
Name the biggest challenges facing your children right now. How can you walk with them in the valleys yet still help them trust a sovereign and loving God?
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Christ’s Call TO REFORM the Church by John MacArthur
It’s a shocking list of deviant behaviors: adultery, homosexuality, incest, bestiality, and child sacrifice. Those vile perversions were everyday activities in Egypt, Canaan, and every other culture dominated by paganism. (p. 88)
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In fact, some believers are so enamored with their freedom in Christ that they view any discussion of worldliness as a worn-out legalistic imposition. (p. 89)
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Many churches today are indistinguishable form the concert venues and theaters of the world. (p 89)
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Refusing to be an offense to anyone, they emphasize physical emotion, not spiritual worship; affirmation, not conviction; sentimentality, not theology; entertainment, not edification; and frivolity, not solemnity. (p. 90)
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It’s a therapeutic church culture, designed to make sinners feel comfortable, welcome, and validated at any cost. (p. 90)
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Since the earliest days of the church, believers have caved under pressure to accommodate the world. (p. 91)
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Tradition holds that Antipas was a leader in the church, and that he was roasted to death inside a brass bull during Domitian’s campaign of persecution. (p. 94)
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