These Three Men
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Is—or was—America a Christian nation?
The answer to that question comes down to how you define christian.
Biblical Christianity is christianity as defined and demonstrated in the New Testament.
Cultural Christianity is christianity as defined and demonstrated by people who are a part of the culture.
America was—but is no longer—a culturally christian nation
America was never, really, a biblical christian nation
That said, there were some norms of cultural christianity that were not bad
General acceptance of biblical truth, giving the Bible influence
General adherence to biblical virtues, and
General acquiescence to biblical values
As western culture has distanced itself from its biblical roots, it has had almost predictable results
General rejection of biblical truths that takes two forms
moralizing of truth, as interpreted by the reader
scandalizing of truth, as interpreted by the culture
General regard for biblical virtues apart from biblical origins. Sadly, this tension cannot last: differing philosophies will always promote and produce different values
General replacement of biblical values for values more tolerable to the broader culture
Basically, cultural christianity provided a resource rich environment where biblical christianity could grow. However, Christianity, like jalapeno peppers, is better when it grows despite a nutrient-deprived, harsh climate. That is the climate that we live in today. Which means that the next generation of christians will be better than the last generation of christians.
Better christians sounds like a very good thing—and it is—but the soil from which they will spring will be increasingly harsh. And not just humanly so. As western culture in general, and America in particular, distances itself from God (and we have begun to outpace the rest of the world in this) the judgment of God is inevitable.
Transition
Impending judgement was God’s message to—and through—Ezekiel. Interestingly, Ezekiel lived during the time of the return from exile. It was a time of revival. But the flames of revival that burned brightest was the cultural fire. A cultural belief that is prone to all the same problems we experience today.
Illumination
12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying: 13 “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. 14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God.
Four Judgments
Four Judgments
In the following verses, God describes the judgments that He would send
Famine, 13-14 (decrease in the availability or quantity or quality of food)
Wild beasts, 15-16 (the word translated beasts, is living things and can include people)
Sword, 17-18 (usually a reference to war or other, sometimes internal, armed confilcts)
Pestilence, 19-20 (generally a plague, but can also mean misfortune, that causes a quick reduction in population
Three Men
Three Men
In each of the four judgments, God references three men:
Noah
Daniel
Job
Why did God list them? What can we learn from them? Those are the questions we will explore over the next three weeks.
One thing of note that God did mention: all three men, whose lives were marked by holiness, would deliver only themselves.
14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God.
Two Problems
Two Problems
Earlier in this chapter, God defined what produced the “persistent unfaithfulness” that prompted judgment.
1 Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?
Idolatry in the heart
Stumblingblocks in the path
These were both self-induced.
One Solution
One Solution
22 Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it.
The remnant would be people who rejected cultural faith and adopted a real faith. In a word, this describes Repentance.
Conclusion
Personal holiness is Personal. You may deliver some of those closest to you, but you may not.
You are not alone, there is always a remnant of others who also have a genuine faith.
Application
Analyze our culture and see how well it aligns with what is described in Ezekiel 14. If you don’t like what you read, purpose in your heart to turn from cultural faith and to genuine faith.
