231105 Ezekiel 18: Accountability, Insufficiency and Assurance

WHAT'S MY END GOAL - THE PUNCH - Crowns? Fear? Assurance? Gospel well fleshed out

Themes

Justification by faith (Works righteousness impossibility)

INTRODUCTION

Biblical accountability - what are people accountable for

Example: Hezekiah/Manasseh

Negative Example:

Propositional truth:

Jeremiah 31/Ezekiel 18/Jeremiah 31/Joel 2/Acts 2 .

Romans 7/Ek 18/Romans 8. Christian Specific

Luke 18:9–14“And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying these things to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

MAINPOINT

2 Peter 3:9“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

1 Timothy 2:4“who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.”

Romans 2:4“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

Hebrews 4:13“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we have an account to give.”

2 Corinthians 5:10“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

ALL THESE THINGS I HAVE DONE SINCE MY YOUTH (LAW, INABILITY, NEED)

Romans 1:17“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH.””

Galatians 3:21“Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law.”

ROADMAP

I. Rejecting Blame-Shifting (v1-4) This isn’t our fault

Romans 2:1–3“Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you presume this, O man—who passes judgment on those who practice such things and does the same—that you will escape the judgment of God?”

II. Life for the Righteous (v5-9) - Oh good, I thought so… I am righteous so I will live forever

Letting the wind out of the argument

Romans 3:10–11“as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;”

III. Death for the Ruthless (v10-13) Furthering the counter argument regarding our own evil

Our wickedness is actually worse than we think

Romans 3:12–18“ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.””

IV. Each One Accountable (v14-18) ‌The soul that sins will die - all have sinned and passing bad unequal judgement limits our ability to understand our own culpability, presupposing righteousness where there is none

In fact in judging everyone else we neglect that the same standard will be applied to us

Romans 2:1–2 “Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.”

V. Clarifying the Consequences (v19-20)

Romans 2:3“But do you presume this, O man—who passes judgment on those who practice such things and does the same—that you will escape the judgment of God?”

Romans 3:23–26 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

VI. Life For the Repentant (v21-23)

Romans 2:4“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

VII. Death For the Rebellious (v24-29) ‌

Romans 2:5“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,”

VIII. Calling for Repentance (v30-32)

Romans 2:4–11 | 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL REPAY TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger. 9 There will be affliction and turmoil for every soul of man who works out evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who works good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

Objections/Questions/Wrong Thinking

WT v1-4 The judgment encountered is not my fault - actually Romans 2.1-3 says that God’s judgement rightly falls upon those who practice such things

WT v5-9 I am righteous because I have not done these things either - Romans 3.10-12 says that there is none righteous not even one. Jesus said in Matt 5.28 that whoever looks with lust has committed adultery in their heart. Not only are we accountable for what we do, we are accountable for what we say (Matt 12.36) but we are also accountable for what is in our hearts (Luke 12:16-21, Hebrews 4:12–13). Jeremiah 17:9 Tells us that our heart is desperately sick, who can know it. We cannot be objective in assessing ourselves - we must allow God’s word to judge us

v10-13 Seems self explanatory - although I may need to push the point that we have more in common with the ruthless man than the righteous one. Romans 6:23“For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

WT v14-18 we are not going to going to be punished for our father’s sins - each one is accountable to God individually and that load is more than we can bear Romans 3.19-20. Even if we didn’t have Scripture to point out our sin we have our conscience Romans 2:12–16.

Disobedience earns guilt’s penalty but can also have consequences which affect others

Sin incurs guilt, earns its punishment, and generates consequences affecting others

sins sows guilt, reaps punishment and produces consequences for others

Sin’s guilt earns punishment by death but also poisons others with consequences

v5-18 might be worth using Romans 2:4-11 because it goes back and forth as do these examples in Ek 18

WT v19-21 The Jews had wrong thinking - they think that sons should bear the punishment for the sins of the fathers. Each one has enough sin to warrant God’s justice and He affirms that the soul who sins will die. The reference to bearing iniquity seems to be a reference to the eternal guilt before God - what can be done? Mark you are saying that their is no hope?!? No, but I am doing my best to strip away our self sufficiency. We cannot rely upon our adherence to the Law and be justified before God Mark 10:17–27.

v21-23 helps us understand that what can be done since we cannot keep all the statutes of God. We must repent understanding that repentance is not simply deciding to turn over a new leaf and trying even harder in our own strength to keep the Law, no, repentance is agreeing with God - at its core is faith. We ought to turn from sin, to God and live - this is what He desires Psalm 51:14–17.

v24-29 Israel is committed to believing that God is unjust - they insist on their own righteousness which cannot succeed Romans 10:1–4. I have asked and many of us think this, that the way to God’s paradise is through being good, doing good - that that is sufficient. Just yesterday, I heard, “well we all just have to try our best that is all that we can do…” friends, our best is not good enough. We are not going to be judged by a flimsy standard that can be appealed and if we have a good enough lawyer we can dodge the eternal penalty. We need better than an alibi, we need better than living according to the Law. We need perfection in every sense of the word. Unless we are perfect we have no access to heaven, only hell.

Hebrews 10:19–31/1 John 1:5–10/Galatians 5:16–25

WT v30-32 I can create within myself a new heart, a new spirit. This is wrong thinking, a spiritually dead heart cannot auto-regenerate his heart. Ephesians 2:1–3. So is there any hope at all, yes! Ezekiel 36.26 tells us that God Himself gives new hearts, He Himself gives a new spirit. When we repent in faith and believe in the righteousness of Christ and His atoning sacrifice on our behalf we become partakers with Him and no longer do we confront God’s perfect unyielding holiness with our own merit but with His! The very perfection of Christ is ours by faith 1 Cor 3.23.

What can be done:

1 Don’t argue with what God says in Scripture, don’t be like these Israelites that seek to establish their narrative at the cost of God’s righteousness. When we read Scripture and it judges us we are to submit to that judgement and agree with it

2 Keep the Law... what, why?

1 God commands it Deut 7.11, Mark 10:17-27

2 It is good, perfect, holy, righteous Romans 7.12 .

3 Repent of sin and believe the Gospel, what is the Gospel - that Jesus lived in perfect obedience to the Law in all ways at all times in a way that was never possible for us to do. He offered Himself up as a sacrifice on the cross and suffered under the righteous penalty that we justly deserved even though He was sinless. He drank to the dregs the wrath of God against the sin that He bore and when the punishment was complete, He cried out, “it is finished,” and died, was buried just as He prophesied and was raised by the Father because He had not sinned. We must repent of our sin, agreeing with God about our need of a Savior and believe in the Savior provided.

What’s our accountability

The prophet was accountable and so are we to warn of judgment Ezekiel 3.18-21.

We are to steward our life, resources, abilities for God’s glory 2 Corinthians 5:10“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Furthermore those in leadership are held to a higher standard James 3.1 , and those under their leadership are responsible for submitting to their correction Hebrews 13.17. 1 Peter 5:1–5. Tells elders that they are to do this with a right attitude to maintain a good example for the rest of the body to follow for the reward to be given by Chief Shepherd.

CONTEXT

SERMON

I. Rejecting Blame-shifting (v1-4)

Ezekiel 18 | 1 Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 2 “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 “As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. 4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

Paraphrase

The proverb used by Israelites is misleading; in its use the Israelites are stating that they are guiltless, whereas their fathers were sinners - they were blame-shifting. Yahweh states that the saying will be eliminated and everyone not only belongs to Him but all who sin are individually accountable

Notes

CICR paraphrase - rewards of life, threats of death (v4,20)

K&D paraphrase Blame-shifting a delusion that God corrects in this revelation (i.e. Adam & Eve/Cain & Abel/Saul & the people/ Pilate’s hand washing

Questions

Spiritual death or physical death - this is referencing Spiritual Death as everyone dies and the one who lives must live spiritually (CT3) or else we would have some really old people wandering around

Cross References

Genesis 18:23“Then Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”

Exodus 17:14“Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it in Joshua’s hearing, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.””

Deuteronomy 24:16““Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; each shall be put to death for his own sin.”

2 Kings 14:6“But the sons of those who struck him down he did not put to death, according to what is written in the book of the Law of Moses, which Yahweh commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor sons be put to death for their fathers; but each shall be put to death for his own sin.””

Jeremiah 31:29–30““In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ “But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.”

Lamentations 5:7“Our fathers sinned; they are no more; It is we who have borne their iniquities.”

Warning

When we know the truth we are accountable

Ezekiel 33:8““When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand.”

II. Life For the Righteous (v5-9)

5 “But if a man is righteous and does justice and righteousness, 6 and does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— 7 if a man does not mistreat anyone, but returns to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8 if he does not lend money on interest or take increase, if he turns his hand from injustice and does true justice between man and man, 9 if he walks in My statutes and My judgments and is careful to do the truth—he is righteous and will surely live,” declares Lord Yahweh.

Paraphrase

If a man fully complies with both the spirit and the letter of the Law then he is declared righteous by God and will live

Notes

v7-8 CICR (paraphrase) The affections of the heart is invisible - the first portion of the ten commandments (1-4) are almost entirely of that which is inward or invisible. The second table (5-10) is a cultivation of righteousness and integrity best manifested

v9 CICR (Paraphrase) who actually walks in the statutes of God, who actually does God’s judgments… the required end is perishing away from the presence of God - or finding mercy in Christ. Indeed God does not require this integrity as admission into paradise but by way of fatherly indulgence of that which is defective, imperfect and He indulgently pardons them. Perfect obedience is impossible apart from laying aside our body of sin and been completely united with Christ.

Cross References

Acts 15:10““Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?”

Ezekiel 33:19““But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does justice and righteousness, he will live by them.”

Amos 5:4“For thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.”

Romans 8:1“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Observations:

Obedience is the minimum requirement, while God graciously rewards in no way is He required to Luke 17:10““In this way, you also, when you do all the things which are commanded of you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’””

Application

There is an expectations that we will serve Christ through serving others

Matthew 25:35–40“‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”

III. Death For the Ruthless (v10-13)

10 “Then he may have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any (ONLY PER K&D) of these things to a brother 11 (though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines and defiles his neighbor’s wife; 12 he mistreats the afflicted and needy, commits robbery, does not return a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and does abominations; 13 he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has done all these abominations; he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on himself.

Paraphrase

But supposing that the righteous man has a son that not only does the things his father had not done but enhances his wickedness through violence and abuse. Will this man avoid the death sentence? No! He is entirely responsible for his abominable behavior and its resulting judgment

Cross References

Acts 18:6“But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.””

1 Corinthians 6:9–10“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 3:9“and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”

IV. Each One Accountable (v14-18)

14 “Now behold, he has a son who has seen all his father’s sins which he has done. And he saw this but does not do likewise. 15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife 16 or mistreat anyone, or retain a pledge or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing; 17 he turns his hand away from the afflicted, does not take interest or increase, but does My judgments and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity; he will surely live. 18 “As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity.

Paraphrase

But what if he has a son who sees all that his father has done and refuses to follow suite. He is no idolater, nor is he an adulterer. He does not abuse nor take advantage. Indeed, he is generous, hospitable and seeks after God’s justice - he will not die for his father’s sin but he will live. But his wicked father will die for his sins.

Cross References

Romans 2:7“to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;”

V. Clarifying Consequences (v19-20)

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ But the son has done justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and done them. He shall surely live. 20 “The soul who sins will die. The son will not bear the iniquity of the father, nor will the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

Paraphrase

v19 Why are you still confused and ask for punishment for the son? The son has done My will and will live. v20 The soul who sins will die for his own sins, not his father’s. Nor will his father bear the guilt of the son. The righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward while the wicked will bear the penalty for his wickedness

Notes

CICR threats attest to God’s purity, promises attest to infinite love of righteousness (which cannot be unrewarded)

CICR what to do about the seeming inconsistency of God punishing future generations for the sins of the fathers which does take place, (Adam, Achan). Calvin notes that it cannot be limited to this life but that the sins when punished by God on the fathers is somewhat hardened to ultimate destruction (paraphrase)

CICR while God extends His mercy to thousands He limits His vengeance to four generations

While we might rejoice in God’s mercy and think it applies to us on the basis of some merit of our own it must be remembered… Romans 3:23“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

v19 K&D a pretext not an actual quote

Questions

So is righteousness achieved through works?

Titus 3:5“He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”

Cross References

Exodus 20:5““You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,”

Deuteronomy 29:19““And it will be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will bless himself in his heart, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to sweep away the watered land with the dry.’”

Ezekiel 14:14“even though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves,” declares Lord Yahweh.”

Matthew 16:27““For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”

VI. Life For the Repentant (v21-23)

21 “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has done and keeps all My statutes and does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 “All his transgressions which he has done will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has done, he will live. 23 “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares Lord Yahweh, “is it not that he should turn from his ways and live?

Paraphrase

v21 If the wicked repents and keeps My commands, he shall surely live and not die. v22 All his sins will be forgotten because of his righteousness which he has done, he will live. v23 Do I desire that the wicked perish? Asks the Lord Yahweh, Isn’t My desire that he repents and lives?

Notes

CICR talks of an internal change that is demonstrated by outward works (Paraphrase). If the wicked turns … he will surely live. Feigned repentance may enjoy some momentary blessing (Ahab) but will still surely receive the just reward

CICR v21 paraphrase - seemingly of talking of depravity, he denies that anyone can turn to the Lord to repent, not that they will be refused if they do repent. Tears like Esau’s do not denote true repentance but only a final realization of what they had disregarded - they lament the loss of

v23 Invitations to God’s mercy tend to harden the sinner - enabling the wicked to feel that their guild is doubled while the godly may feel confident whenever they repent - God is ready to pardon them

Cross References

Psalm 18:20–24“Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless with Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore Yahweh has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands before His eyes.”

Psalm 147:11“Yahweh is pleased with those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”

1 Timothy 2:4–6“who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the witness for this proper time.”

Titus 2:11“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,”

2 Peter 3:9“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Micah 6:8“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does Yahweh require of you But to do justice, to love lovingkindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”

VII. Death For the Rebellious (v24-29)

24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, does injustice, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his unfaithfulness which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. 25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26 “When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, does injustice, and dies because of it, for his injustice which he has done he will die. 27 “Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has done and does justice and righteousness, he will preserve his life. 28 “Again, he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had done; he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 “But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

Paraphrase

v24 When righteous people abandon righteousness and turns to wickedness, will the result be life? All his righteousness will be forgotten because of his unfaithfulness , he did it, he will die. v25 You ignorantly claim that, “the way of Adonai is not right,’ Listen up, Israelites! “Is My way wrong?” Isn’t it your ways that are wrong? v26 When a righteous man abandons righteousness and dies because of it, because of his injustice which he has done he will die. v27 “Again, when a wicked man abandons wickedness and turns to justice and righteousness, he will save his life. v28 “Again, he thought about it and abandoned his transgressions, he shall surely live; he shall not die. v29 “But, you Israelites say, ‘the way of Adonai is wrong.’ Are my ways wrong, O Israelites? Isn’t it your ways that are not right?

Notes

v24/27 CICR states that sophistry (complex arguments) condone a meritorious pardon of penalties earned by sin through tears and prayer. They make a distinction between penalty and guilt - “Satisfaction then properly relate to the remission of guilt is gratuitous” through tears and prayer although there is nothing in Scripture to support the distinction

v24/27 in not remembering righteousness

CICR quotes James 2:10“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” saying even if it were possible to do works of righteousness perfectly one sin will eliminate all remembrance of the former righteousness. Perfect obedience is require, perfect obedience is expected - perfect obedience is impossible… we deserve death and destruction

Questions

Cross References

Genesis 18:25““Far be it from You to do such a thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?””

Isaiah 1:18““Come now, and let us reason together,” Says Yahweh, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”

Isaiah 55:7“Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to Yahweh, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

Zephaniah 3:5“Yahweh is righteous in her midst; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame.”

2 Peter 2:20–22“For if they are overcome, having both escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and having again been entangled in them, then the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. The message of the true proverb has happened to them, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.””

Observations:

We are not perfected through the works of righteousness

Galatians 3:3–5“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”

Warning

Application

VIII. Calling For Repentance (v30-32)

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his way,” declares Lord Yahweh. “Turn back and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. 31 “Cast away from yourselves all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Now why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares Lord Yahweh. “Therefore, turn back and live.”

Paraphrase

So judgement has come, Israelites, for each one’s sins,” declares Adonai Yahweh. “Repent, repent from transgression and iniquity so that you might not fall. v31 Abandon your sins, create within yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O Israel? v32 Is this what I want? I have no pleasure in the death of those who die - so repent and live, declares Adonai Yahweh.

Notes

v31 Make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit

Ezekiel 11:19–21““And I will give them one heart and give within them a new spirit. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. “But as for those whose hearts walk after their detestable things and abominations, I will give what is due for their way on their heads,” declares Lord Yahweh.”

Jeremiah 31:31–34““Behold, days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, but I was a husband to them,” declares Yahweh. “But this is the covenant which I will cut with the house of Israel after those days,” declares Yahweh: “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “And they will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares Yahweh, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.””

Jeremiah 13:23““Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil.”

Psalm 51:10“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Jeremiah 32:39“and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.”

Ezekiel 36:26““Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

K&D God’s ways are right

Questions

If we think we can create within ourselves a new heart should we not examine our speech to see if our heart has indeed changed

Cross References

Ephesians 4:22–23“to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,”

1 Peter 1:17“And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your sojourn,”

Observations:

Warning

Application

OBSERVATIONS

Yahweh is consistent over time

Exodus 34:7“who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.””

Yahweh allows our decisions to impact others

Joshua 7:1–3“But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things devoted to destruction. Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things; therefore the anger of Yahweh burned against the sons of Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. Then they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to strike down Ai; do not have all the people toil up there, for they are few.””

Joshua 7:24–26“Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? Yahweh will trouble you this day.” And all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. Then they raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and Yahweh turned from His burning anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the valley of Achor to this day.”

We must give an account for everything that we have ever said

Matthew 12:36““But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”

WARNING

Elders and those with oversight have a special level of accountability as do the people in their charge

Hebrews 13:17“Obey your leaders and submit to them—for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they will do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

James 3:1–2“Do not, many of you, become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the entire body as well.”

APPLICATION: What does it look like to live by faith

Hebrews 10:38“BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH, AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”

Habakkuk 2:4““Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.”

Galatians 3:11“Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.””

Romans 1:17“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH.””

Not seek to establish our own righteousness

What did Abraham do?

James 4:17“Therefore, to one who knows to do the right thing and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Galatians 6:5–10 “For each one will bear his own load. And the one who is instructed in the word is to share in all good things with the one who instructs him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

CONCLUSION

Romans 2 .

STRONG GOSPEL PRESENTATION Acts 2 . Joel 2 / Jeremiah 31

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SUM TOTAL TIME 6:15Hrs

0:25Hrs Daily Reading of Text

0:05Hrs Reset Manuscript with notes outline etc

0:05Hrs Various research and confirm text to be studied

0:05Hrs Copy passages in the sermon template in italics

0:15Hrs Write Sermon Outline

1:45Hrs Review all Cross References to see what I have missed

0:05Hrs Draft Title/Main Point that connects the passages

3:00Hrs Read theology CT3/CICR/OTT3

1:30Hrs Read Book commentary NAC/K&D/WAL

0:00Hrs Hand write text for comprehension

0:00Hrs Read Passages in LSB/NIV/NKJV/LXX/BHS

0:00Hrs Make notes

0:00Hrs Parallel Passages

0:00Hrs Determine conclusion

0:00Hrs Check Biblemaps.com

0:00Hrs Context

0:00Hrs Write Sermon

0:00Hrs Read Logos Commentary on secondary passages

0:00Hrs Write Introduction/prayer

0:00Hrs Practice

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- indeed as one theologian (Millard Erickson,733-734) said, it is something of the transcript of the nature of God

Again, keeping the Law cannot give righteousness, no, far from it Gal 3.24 It is our tutor but the Law is good. Romans 7.12 says that it is holy, righteous and good. Will we keep it perfectly? No! Will we be made righteous because of it? No! Why do it? Psalm 19:7–9 .